Committee hears push to allow online continuing education for licensed occupations

Summary

Representative Linting told the committee house bill 48 95 would allow occupational continuing education to be completed entirely online, easing burdens for rural workers and parents and aligning Michigan with other states; the department supported the language and no new rulemaking was required, the sponsor said.

Representative Linting told the House Rules Committee that house bill 48 95 would let licensed professionals satisfy continuing education requirements entirely online. "This reform does not lower professional standards," Linting said. "It simply allows for workers the flexibility to meet them without needless barriers."

Linting described in-person CE mandates as particularly burdensome for rural Michiganders and people juggling multiple jobs or childcare, citing added travel, time and cost. She said some professions already allow online CE and that the department worked cooperatively on the bill language and "Laura is in support." The sponsor told members no additional rule promulgation would be required to implement the change.

Representative Martin asked whether in-person CE providers would lose business. Linting said she was not aware of organized pushback and said the bill would preserve in-person options for those who prefer them. The committee recorded the sponsor’s offer to follow up if further detail on training-provider impacts was needed.