Healthcare Licensing Periodic Review

The Office of Professional Licensure Review (OPLR) was established to review Utah’s occupational licensing laws and make recommendations for improvement (see About OPLR).

OPLR evaluates licensing laws using criteria in Utah Code 13-1b-302, including:

  • Risk to public health, safety and financial well-being;
  • Consumer access to services;
  • Barriers to individuals seeking to enter or practice a profession; and
  • Current and potential alternative forms of oversight

Each year OPLR reviews a group of licenses, called “periodic reviews”, based on a ten-year cycle. During 2025 and 2026 OPLR is reviewing healthcare occupational licenses.

Licenses reviewed in 2025:

  • Nursing & Related: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Direct Entry Midwifery, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Medication Aide, Physician Assistant (PA), Registered Nurse (RN), Respiratory Care Practitioner
  • Allied Health – Physical: Acupuncturist, Athletic Trainer, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapist Assistant, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Allied Health – Speech/Hearing:  Audiologist, Hearing Instrument Specialist & Intern, Speech Language Pathologist

Licenses reviewed from Fall 2025 through Summer 2026:

  • Anesthesiologist Assistant
  • Chiropractor
  • Dentist & Dental Hygienist
  • Dietitian
  • Genetic Counselor
  • Health Facility Administrator
  • Medical Language Interpreter
  • Naturopath
  • Pharmacist & Pharmacy Technician
  • Physician & Surgeon (MD and DO)
  • Podiatrist
  • Radiologic Technician & Assistant

OPLR connects with numerous stakeholders over the course of periodic reviews to test findings and discuss recommendations.

OPLR presents the findings and recommendations from these reviews to the Interim Business & Labor Committee over Summer and Fall each year:

  • May/June: Present early findings
  • August/September: Present more detailed findings and recommendations
  • October/November: Provide input as needed on any Committee-sponsored legislative bills based on OPLR’s recommendations