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Indiana Licensure Update Information
January 2012 – Genetic Counselor Newsletter
Genetic Counselor licenses are issued and regulated by the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana.
UPCOMING RENEWALS
Renewals for genetic counselors are fast approaching. All genetic counselor licenses will expire on June 30, 2012. Around May 1st, you will receive notification, via email, that your license is now available to renew online. You cannot renew your license until 60 days prior to the expiration date. Please make sure that IPLA always has your current address and email address on file. The cost to renew your license is $30. If you fail to renew by June 30, 2012, there will be a $50 late fee assessed to your license. Renewals will be available at www.pla.IN.gov after May 1, 2012. Your login ID is your full license number (with the A at the end) and your password is the last 4 digits of your social security number.
ADDRESSES ARE PUBLIC RECORD
While doing an online license verification search, it will only display the city, state and zip code of the address that we have on a licensee’s record. However, all addresses that are listed are considered to be public record and can be obtained by contacting IPLA. Your address of record can either be a home address, practice address or PO Box. You may change your address anytime by logging on at www.pla.IN.gov, or you may email your change of address to the board at pla3@pla.in.gov. You will also have an opportunity during the renewal process to change your address.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
To renew a genetic counselor license, you must complete continuing education every two (2) years. The continuing education must meet the requirements of IC 25-1-4 and consist of:
- fifty (50) contact hours that have been approved by the National Society of Genetic Counselors; or
- the successful completion of a reading assignment and proctored examination in medical genetics provided by the American Board of Medical Genetics.
Unfortunately there is nothing in the law that allows the pro-rating of continuing education if one has not been licensed the full 2 years. The entire 50 contact hours of CE will need to be completed, regardless of the date of licensure. However, there is nothing that would prohibit the board from accepting CE that was completed prior to licensure as long as it was completed within the past 2 years.
The board may grant an applicant seeking renewal of a license a waiver from all or part of the continuing education requirement for the renewal period if the applicant was not able to fulfill the requirement due to a hardship that resulted from any of the following conditions:
- Service in the armed forces of the United States during a substantial part of the renewal period.
- An incapacitating illness or injury.
- Other circumstances determined by the board.
It is not necessary to submit proof of the continuing education with your renewal application. By submitting your renewal application online, you are attesting that you have completed the required CE. The board will conduct a random audit following the renewal cycle so please make sure to keep record of your CE up to three (3) years following the renewal cycle.
Feel free to contact the board staff with any questions regarding CE.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Effective July 1, 2011, genetic counselors seeking initial licensure will be required to submit to finger printing and a national criminal background check by the Indiana State Police (this is the background check that utilizes the criminal history record system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation). The individual applicant will be responsible for the cost of the background check in addition to any of the usual costs associated with obtaining their license (the fees will be paid separately to different agencies). The results of the background check will be shared with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency – in our case, with the Medical Licensing Board specifically – and after that, only confidentially with the appropriate government agencies and law enforcement entities listed in statute.
During the review of an application, if the background check evidences a prior criminal history, the board will have the discretion to determine whether or not the crime has a current and direct bearing upon the ability of the individual to practice safely and to determine whether a license should be granted or denied (i.e., a Board may grant a license even if an applicant has a criminal conviction on their record if it is determined that the applicant is safe, competent, and no longer a threat to the public as a result of their conviction).
The bill also allows the board to perform a random audit of currently licensed individuals during their license renewal period who would then have to submit to a background check in order to renew their license. It has not been decided how, if, or when this component of the bill will be implemented.
Criminal background checks are NOT required prior to obtaining a temporary permit.
For more details about the legislation please refer to http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2011&session=1&request=getBill&docno=363 where you can read in detail the ill Digest, the actual changes made to law and the respective amendments and votes.
STAFF & CONTACT INFORMATION
Kristen Kelley – Director
Jody Edens – Assistant Director
Donna Moran – Litigation/Probation Specialist
Meredith Shirley – Case Manager
Dawn Shaffer – Case Manager
Elizabeth Sangar – Case Manager
Kathy Garner – Case Manager
Professional Licensing Agency
Medical Licensing Board of Indiana
402 West Washington Street, Room W072
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Office hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Phone number – (317) 234-2060
Fax number – (317) 233-4236
Email pla3@pla.IN.gov
Web www.pla.IN.gov
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MEDICAL BOARD MEMBERS
All members of the Board are appointed by the Governor in increments of four (4) year terms. They consist of five (5) medical physicians, one (1) osteopathic physician and one (1) consumer member who are the following:
Stephen Huddleston, J.D. – Consumer Member, Board President, Franklin, IN
Bharat Barai, M.D. – Vice President, Merrillville, IN
Donald Vennekotter, M.D. – Secretary, Jasper, IN
Worthe Holt, Jr., M.D. – Fishers, IN
Robert Allen, M.D. – Columbus, IN
Lynda Smirz, M.D. – Carmel, IN
Kirk Masten, D.O. – Roanoke, IN
2012 MEDICAL BOARD MEETING DATES
Please note that meeting dates are subject to change or may be cancelled due to lack of business. Board meetings are held in the Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
- January 26
- February 23
- March 22
- April 26
- May 24
- June 28
- July 26
- August 23
- September 27
- October 25
- Dec 6
A list of disciplinary actions may be found on our license litigation system at http://www.in.gov/ai/appfiles/pla-litigation/ Free online licensure look-ups may be obtained at https://extranet.in.gov/WebLookup/Search.aspx This is a real time database and is the best resource for accurate data.
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