To protect the citizens of Minnesota by regulating practitioners of specified allied healthcare occupations to assure they meet professional standards and provide safe and competent services to consumers.

Scope

The Health Occupations Program is a section in the Health Regulation Division. The Health Occupations Program has policy analysis, credentialing, investigation and enforcement authority for a number of allied health care occupations. Most health-related occupations are regulated by separate licensing boards located at Health Licensing Boards.

Our Activities

Policy Analysis:

Review applications for regulation from unregulated human service occupations and report recommendations to the legislature.
Evaluate existing regulatory schemes for human service occupations and report recommendations to the legislature.
Develop rules and legislation to establish and amend regulations for health-related occupations.

Credential occupations:

Examine applicants
Identify qualified practitioners
Staff advisory councils
Monitor and approve continuing education coursework
Provide public information and education.

Investigation and Enforcement:

Receive consumer/client complaints.
Investigate allegations of illegal conduct.
Take disciplinary action through administrative proceedings, and refer to criminal authorities when appropriate.
Develop consumer brochures describing legal rights.

Activity Objectives

Regulate audiologists, speech-language pathologists and hearing instrument dispensers by issuing credentials to applicants and receiving and investigating consumer complaints against practitioners.
Regulate body art procedures by licensing technicians and establishments.
Investigate complaints and take appropriate enforcement action against unlicensed complimentary and alternative health care practitioners.
Operate a consumer information center for potential and actual purchasers of hearing aids.
Convene meetings of occupational advisory councils and committees related to each occupation regulated by the activity.