CLEAR An Introduction to The Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation

Founded 1980 Once upon a time, in the not-too-distant- past (1980 to be exact), a group of professional and occupational regulators, along with a few private sector representatives, met in New Orleans, Louisiana to discuss their need to share information.

Goal of New Organization Goal of New Organization The goal of the proposed cooperation was to help professional regulation stakeholders carry out their shared mission of consumer protection. That initial discussion resulted in the formation of a new association, The Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR).

The Beginning CLEAR was originally supported by seed money from state regulatory agencies, and The Council of State Governments. During its first year, CLEAR’s leaders designed and implemented many of the programs and projects that continue today.

A Resource for all A Resource for all CLEAR's founders decided that the new organization would be most useful if it included representatives of - all governmental sectors - the private sector - others with an interest in the field

A Broad Constituency The organization would thus be a resource to everyone involved in the licensure, certification or registration of the hundreds of regulated occupations and professions, both non-health and health.

This holistic approach worked well for CLEAR's members and continues as an excellent vehicle for responding to a necessarily diverse constituency.

Mission Statement CLEAR is an association of individuals, agencies and organizations that comprise the international community of professional and occupational regulation. CLEAR is a dynamic forum for improving the quality and understanding of regulation in order to enhance public protection.

Purpose To bring together the professional regulatory community for: - the exchange of information - education and training - a central information clearinghouse - the identification of best practices

Regular Membership Regular CLEAR membership is open to governmental agencies concerned with professional and occupational regulation, and other approved governmental jurisdictions and individuals.

Associate Membership Associate CLEAR membership is open to approved non-governmental organizations, individuals representing an organization not eligible for regular membership, and private individuals.

Membership Community Within a few years, CLEAR's leaders began to recruit members from beyond the United States. CLEAR's organizational culture was enriched as first Canadian members, then Western European and others decided to participate.

International Office CLEAR’s Office of International Affairs based in England provides assistance to all non-North American constituencies.

Meeting its Mission Through conferences, publications, training, inquiry and other services, CLEAR provides a resource for sharing of regulatory licensure issues among all groups involved or interested in the field.

No Lobbying or Resolutions No Lobbying or Resolutions As a not-for-profit educational organization, CLEAR does not lobby. Nor does it adopt resolutions or take stands on policy issues. Certainly, it would be almost impossible to draft items reflecting the collective viewpoint of CLEAR’s extremely diverse constituency.

Diversity Welcomed CLEAR does identify significant issues affecting the field provide a forum for the presentation of all viewpoints on these issues.

Committees Much of CLEAR's work is carried out through various standing committees and special interest groups which meet at least twice a year to conduct business. You are invited to join one or more of these committees. To participate, fill out the form in your packet.

Volunteers It is primarily through the extraordinary contribution of its many highly involved volunteer members that CLEAR accomplishes its mission.

Inquiry Areas There are three distinct areas of substantive inquiry that CLEAR supports on an ongoing basis. Its annual conference program committee is structured into three subcommittees in these areas.

1. Professional Discipline The percentage of budgets that most state and provincial agencies must spend on professional discipline activities is quite high. Since 1984, to meet the critical need for skilled investigative staff members, CLEAR has provided certification training in investigation and inspection techniques and procedures.

The NCIT The National Certified Investigator/Inspector Training (NCIT) program holds training programs several times during the year at locations throughout North America. Training session are coordinated between CLEAR and host agencies.

NCIT Sessions The sessions, which include lectures, role playing, and video presentations, conclude with an examination that can lead to certification. Investigator/inspector training is available on two levels, basic and specialized.

Basic Training Curriculum administrative law and the regulatory process, professional conduct and inter-agency relations, investigative process (includes complaint intake & the planning & execution of an investigative plan),

Basic Cont’d. principles of evidence, evidence collection, tagging and storage, interviewing techniques, report writing, administrative and criminal proceedings (US & Canadian versions offered)

2. Credentialing/Exam Issues The area of candidate entry into professions and occupations is critical to the regulatory process. CLEAR is fortunate to have in its membership the key representatives of the regulatory psychometric community at large.

Exam Issues Topics in this area include - computerized testing - examination security - candidate accommodation - item writing

CLEAR Exam Review A significant project CLEAR is the CLEAR Exam Review (CER), a semi-annual part- newsletter, part-journal of useful information on licensing examination issues that is intended for all audiences.

3. Policy and Administration Agencies of every size confront the same issues, including interpreting their mandates through regulations and public policies. CLEAR provides new, useful information that policy makers and administrators can add to their "tool kits."

Policy Areas Current areas of significance include - barriers to professional mobility - scopes of practice - continued professional competence - the impact of technological change on geographical boundaries

Leadership Development Training Training Modules: - Creating a positive public relations program - Creating an appropriate working relationship with legislators (US & Canadian versions) - Regulatory leadership

Special Interest Groups CLEAR hosts three special interest groups: - autonomous agency administrators - health issues - legal issues

Central Agency Committee The heads of central agencies charged with administering professional and occupational regulation programs in provinces, states or districts automatically are eligible to serve on this committee.

The General Audience Some of CLEAR’s products are designed for general use by all those interested in the field and therefore cut across all areas of inquiry.

CLEAR News CLEAR News, a quarterly online newsletter, provides timely information relative to the CLEAR organization and on general issues of interest to professional regulators. Anyone may receive the newsletter by subscribing to CLEAR’s ListServe.

Resource Briefs Resource Briefs, an occasional paper series, provides brief overviews of topical issues as defined by CLEAR members.

Conferences & Beyond CLEAR offers The premier annual professional regulation conference board member training leadership development training regional conferences & seminars in specialized areas upon request

Other Services CLEAR’s other services, include - assistance to legislative committees - inquiry and referral service - fee based services association management consulting research

CLEARHQ.ORG Last, but very important is CLEAR's much- beloved Web site. The address is On this site, we have links to all the regulatory agencies and associations we've identified, and a host of other information.

Why is CLEAR Unique? As is true of associations everywhere, it is CLEAR's philosophy and core values that distinguish it from all other groups in service to segments of the professional and occupational regulatory community.

Neutral Ground CLEAR is also unique among credentialing stakeholders in offering neutral ground to all those interested in professional and occupational regulation. In brief, CLEAR's hallmark is its inclusiveness.

An Educator, Not a Regulator An Educator, Not a Regulator CLEAR does not license, enforce or regulate anything. Rather, it is in service to those whose responsibility it is to carry out these important consumer protection functions as well as to those with complementary missions.

CLEAR’s Role CLEAR has defined its educator role through: - proactively identifying critical issues - providing a dynamic, interactive forum - collecting and disseminating information

THE END CLEAR thanks you for the opportunity to present information on its programs and products and welcomes any questions you may have. Please enjoy the conference and let us hear from you!