An Introduction to CLEAR

An Introduction to CLEAR

Hosts:Charles Barner, Jr.

James L. GuffeyKara Schmitt

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona


Founded 1980

• In 1980, a group of professional and occupational regulators and a few private sector representatives, met in New Orleans to discuss their need to share information.


Goal of New Organization

• The goal was to better achieve their shared mission of public protection.

• The result was The Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR).


A Resource for All

• They decided the new organization must include representatives of

- all governmental sectors

- the private sector

- others with an interest in the field


A Broadly-Based 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.


Holistic Approach

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


The Early Years

• CLEAR was originally supported by state regulatory agencies and The Council of State Governments.

• CLEAR’s original leaders designed and implemented many of the programs and projects that continue today.


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 of its founding, 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

CLEAR meets its mission through conferences and training publications answering Inquiries consulting providing opportunities for peer-to-peer

networking


No Lobbying or Resolutions

• As a not-for-profit educational organization, CLEAR does not lobby.

• Because of its diverse constituency, CLEAR does not adopt resolutions or take stands on policy issues.


Diversity Welcomed

CLEAR does

• identify significant issues affecting the field

• provide a forum for the presentation of all viewpoints on these issues.


An Educator, Not a Regulator

• CLEAR does not license, enforce or regulate anything.

• Rather, it is in service to those charged with carrying out these important public 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


Inquiry Areas

• There are three distinct areas of substantive inquiry that CLEAR supports on an ongoing basis.

• The annual conference program is structured around these areas.


Area 1: Professional Discipline

• The percentage of budgets that most state and provincial agencies spend on professional discipline activities is quite high.

• Current issues include best practices in the investigative process from complaint to final decision.


Area 2: Credentialing/Exams

• Candidate entry into professions and occupations is a critical part of the regulatory process. Issues include:

- computerized testing

- examination security

- candidate accommodation

- item writing


Area 3: Policy/Administration

Agencies of every size confront the same policy and operational issues.

Current policy issues include:• Barriers to professional mobility• Scopes of practice• Continued Professional Competence• Technological Change


Special Interest Groups

• CLEAR sponsors five special interest groups:

- autonomous agency administrators

- central agency administrators

- facilities regulation

- health issues

- legal issues


The General Audience

Some of CLEAR’s products are designed for general use by all those interested in the field.


CLEAR EXAM REVIEW

• CLEAR Exam Review (CER)

- a semi-annual part-journal

- focused on licensing examination issues

- intended for all audiences.


CLEAR News Online

• 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 notices by subscribing to CLEAR’s ListServe.


Conferences and Beyond

CLEAR offers• The premier annual professional

regulation conference• board member training• leadership development training• regional conferences & seminars in

specialized areas upon request


Training Programs

• Board Member

• Regulatory Leadership Development

• NCIT

- Basic Investigator

- Specialized Investigator

• On Demand


Board Member Training

• With annual Conference

• Online

• Upon Sponsor Request


Online BMT Curriculum

• The History and Purpose of Regulation• Role of a Board Member• Administrative Rulemaking• Licensure Examinations• Professional Discipline• Continuing Competence

A self-paced course – each module takes about 40 minutes to complete


Regulatory Leadership Development Training

• Prepared by Canadian and US regulators to meet the needs of both

• Three-day program

• Offered in conjunction with the annual conference and upon request


Leadership Training Curriculum

- Regulatory leadership

- Organizational culture and change

- Creating a positive regulatory public relations program

- Creating appropriate relationships/Art of negotiation


The NCIT

• The National Certified Investigator/Inspector Training (NCIT)

• Started in 1984

• Programs held several times a year throughout the US and Canada.

• Programs coordinated between CLEAR and host agencies.


About the Basic NCIT

• Training modules include lectures, role playing, and video presentations

• Basic program concludes with an examination that can lead to certification

• Investigator/inspector training is available on two levels, basic and specialized.


Basic NCIT Curriculum

• administrative law and the regulatory process,

• professional conduct and inter-agency relations,

• investigative process (includes complaint intake as well as the planning and execution of an investigative plan),


Basic Curriculum Cont’d.

• principles of evidence,

• evidence collection, tagging and storage,

• interviewing techniques,

• report writing,

• administrative and criminal proceedings (US & Canadian versions offered)


Specialized NCIT Curriculum

• Provides advanced certification in

– Advanced Interviewing– Investigative Analysis– Investigative Report Development

Completion of the Basic NCIT is a prerequisite for attending the specialized program.


Faculty

• All CLEAR’s training programs are presented by faculty members expert in handling the challenges faced by professional and occupational regulators


Training on Demand

CLEAR can also meet various training needs – you don’t have to shoulder the entire burden by yourself


Committees

• Much of CLEAR's work is carried out through various standing committees and special interest groups

• These groups meet at least twice a year to conduct business.


Volunteers

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

• You are invited to join one or more of these committees. To participate, fill out the form in your packet.


CLEARHQ.ORG

• Last is CLEAR's much-beloved Web site. The address is http://www.CLEARHQ.org

• On this site, we have links to all the regulatory agencies and associations we've identified, and a host of other information.

http://www.clearhq.org/


The End and Thank You

We thank you for attending this orientation session

All questions are welcome

Documents

An Introduction to CLEAR