Chapter 4798 | Occupational Regulations

Section 4798.01 | Definitions.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this chapter:

"Certification" means a voluntary program in which a private organization or the state grants nontransferable recognition to an individual who meets personal qualifications established by the private organization or state law.

"Individual" means a natural person.

"Lawful occupation" means a course of conduct, pursuit, or profession that includes the sale of goods or services that are not themselves illegal to sell irrespective of whether the individual selling the goods or services is subject to an occupational regulation.

"Least restrictive regulation" means the public policy of relying on one of the following, listed from the least to the most restrictive, as a means of consumer protection: market competition; third-party or consumer-created ratings and reviews; private certification; specific private civil cause of action to remedy consumer harm; actions under Chapter 1345. of the Revised Code; regulation of the process of providing the specific goods or services to consumers; inspection; bonding or insurance; registration; government certification; specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement; and occupational license.

"Occupational license" means nontransferable authorization in law that an individual must possess in order to perform a lawful occupation for compensation based on meeting personal qualifications established by statute, or by a rule authorized by statute. "Occupational license" does not include a commercial or other driver's license issued under the Revised Code.

"Occupational licensing board" means any board, commission, committee, or council, or any other similar state public body, and any administrative department enumerated under section 121.02 of the Revised Code, and any agency, division, or office of state government, that issues an occupational license. "Occupational licensing board" does not include a committee or office created under section 101.34 of the Revised Code.

"Occupational regulation" means a statute, policy, rule, adjudication order, practice, or other state law requiring an individual to possess certain personal qualifications to use an occupational title or work in a lawful occupation. "Occupational regulation" includes registration, certification, and occupational license. "Occupational regulation" excludes a business license, facility license, building permit, or zoning and land use regulation, except to the extent those laws regulate an individual's personal qualifications to perform a lawful occupation, and excludes sections of the Revised Code related to commercial or other driver's license.

"Personal qualifications" mean criteria related to an individual's personal background and characteristics including completion of an approved educational program, satisfactory performance on an examination, work experience, other evidence of attainment of requisite skills or knowledge, moral standing, criminal history, and completion of continuing education.

"Registration" means a requirement to give notice to the government that may include the individual's name and address, the individual's agent for service of process, the location of the activity to be performed, and a description of the service the individual provides. "Registration" does not include personal qualifications but may require a bond or insurance.

"Specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement" is a nontransferable authorization in law for an individual to qualify for payment or reimbursement from a government agency, for providing identified medical services, based on meeting personal qualifications established in law, which may be recognized by a private company.

(B) For purposes of this chapter:

(1) The terms "certification" and "registration" are not synonymous with "occupational license."

(2) The use of the words "certification" and "certified" in other statutes to mean requiring an individual to meet certain personal qualifications to work legally shall be interpreted for the purposes of this chapter as requiring an individual to meet the requirements of an "occupational license."

(3) The use of the words "registration" and "registered" in other statutes to mean requiring an individual to meet certain personal qualifications to work legally shall be interpreted for the purposes of this chapter as requiring an individual to meet the requirements of an "occupational license."

Last updated August 24, 2021 at 2:29 PM

Section 4798.02 | General Provisions.

• Effective: April 5, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 255 - 132nd General Assembly

With respect to occupational regulation of individuals, all of the following are the policy of the state:

(A) Occupational regulations shall be construed and applied to increase economic opportunities, promote competition, and encourage innovation.

(B) Where the state finds it is necessary to displace competition, the state will use the least restrictive regulation to protect consumers from present, significant, and substantiated harms that threaten public health, safety, or welfare. The policy of employing the least restrictive regulation shall presume that market competition and private remedies are sufficient to protect consumers. Where needed, regulations shall be tailored to meet the predominate identified need to protect consumers, as follows:

(1) If regulations are intended to protect consumers against fraud, the appropriate state action shall be to strengthen powers under deceptive trade practices acts.

(2) If regulations are intended to protect consumers against unsanitary facilities and general health, safety, or welfare concerns, the appropriate state action shall be to require periodic inspections.

(3) If regulations are intended to protect consumers against potential damages to third parties who are not party to a contract between the seller and buyer, and other types of externalities, the appropriate state action shall be to require b onding or insurance.

(4) If regulations are intended to protect consumers against potential damages by transient providers, the appropriate state action shall be to require registration with the secretary of state.

(5) If regulations are intended to protect consumers against asymmetrical information between the seller and buyer, the appropriate state action shall be to offer voluntary certification, unless suitable, privately offered voluntary certification for the relevant occupation is available.

As used in this division, "suitable" means widely recognized as reflecting established standards of competency, skill, or knowledge in the field.

(6) If regulations are intended to facilitate governmental reimbursement for providing medical services for an emerging medical specialty, the appropriate state action shall be to require a specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement.

(7) If regulations are required to perform services regulated by both federal laws and laws of this state, require the state to recognize an individual's occupational license from another United States state or territory to allow that individual to practice in this state, and are based on uniform national laws, practices, and examinations that have been adopted by at least fifty United States states and territories, the appropriate state action shall be to require an occupational license.

For purposes of this division, a uniform national law is one that has been adopted in a substantially equivalent manner in at least fifty United States states and territories.

(C) An occupational regulation may be enforced against an individual only to the extent the individual sells goods and services that are included explicitly in the statute that defines the occupation's scope of practice.

(D) Nothing in this chapter is intended to restrict an occupational licensing board from requiring, as a condition of licensure or renewal of licensure, that an individual's personal qualifications include obtaining or maintaining certification from a private organization that credentials individuals in the relevant occupation.

By establishing and executing the policies in this section, in concert with section 107.56 of the Revised Code, the state intends to ensure that occupational licensing boards and board members will avoid liability under federal antitrust laws.

Section 4798.03 | Construction of chapter.

• Effective: April 5, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 255 - 132nd General Assembly

This chapter preempts any ordinance or other local law or regulation, which conflicts with or is inconsistent with any policy of the state expressed in this chapter, by any political subdivision that regulates an occupation that is also regulated by the state.

Section 4798.05 | No requirement for photograph or physical description.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 509 - 134th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Revised Code, no occupational licensing board shall require a photograph or physical description of an applicant who is an individual as a condition of issuing or renewing an occupational license, specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement, certification, or registration.

Last updated March 22, 2023 at 4:57 PM

Section 4798.06 | Virtual continuing education.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 509 - 134th General Assembly

An occupational licensing board may allow an individual who is required to complete continuing education for renewal of an occupational license, specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement, or certification to do so virtually.

Last updated March 22, 2023 at 4:58 PM