COVID-19

description Application Forms

• Time-Limited Emergency License Application
  To be used by the following professionals:
  • Physican/Surgeon, Osteopathic Physician/Surgeon, Physician Assistant
  • Dentist, Dental Hygienist
  • Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), APRN-CRNA, Certified Nurse Midwife, Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Temporary Emergency Pharmacist Application
• Temporary Emergency Pharmacy Tech Application
• Temporary Emergency Pharmacy Class C Application
• Temporary Emergency Pharmacy Class D Application
• Temporary Emergency Pharmacy Class E Application

Practice Exemptions During Declared Emergency

The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) is committed to protecting the health and safety of Utahns during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The following information, developed in collaboration with DOPL’s licensing boards, applies for the duration of the declared emergency.

Healthcare professionals who do not hold a current Utah license may work in Utah within their scope of practice under the following temporary emergency exemptions and other existing exemptions.  See Utah Code §§ 58-1-307 and 58-81-101 et. seq.

Select from the submenu for the specific exemptions.

Physicians

• A physician who is licensed and lawfully practicing medicine in another U.S. state or territory without restrictions or conditions may practice in Utah for the duration of the declared emergency by obtaining a DOPL Time-limited Emergency License.  Time-limited Emergency Licenses expire upon the earlier of 180 days, 30 days from the end of the declared emergency, or upon 10 days’ notice from DOPL.  All DOPL fees are waived for these applicants.

  To apply: download, complete, and return the Time-Limited Emergency License Application .

• A physician formerly licensed in Utah or in another U.S. state or territory, whose license was unrestricted and in good standing, may apply for a volunteer health care practitioner license to work exclusively as a volunteer at a qualified location (clinic, hospital, church, etc.).  This practitioner would work under a delegation of service agreement with an actively licensed supervising professional.  All DOPL fees are waived for these applicants.

  Apply for a Volunteer Health Care Practitioner license at: https://dopl.utah.gov/md/.

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Please Note:

The above provisions currently exist in statute or through interstate compacts.  In the coming days, DOPL may announce other temporary measures to better address any increasing demands on Utah’s healthcare system.  In the meantime, we continue to encourage online applications for licensure through our website at http://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html.  All professionals should be aware of reimbursement and liability concerns beyond the date of license expiration.

Nurses

• A nurse who is part of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) may work in Utah without the need to obtain a license, per the eNLC rules.  (If the eNLC nurse decides to designate Utah as the nurse’s primary state of residence, the nurse must notify DOPL and their previous home state and obtain a Utah license.)
• Per Utah Code Subsection 58-1-307(4)(b)(ii) for the duration of the declared emergency, an LPN who is licensed in good standing may dispense as a "practitioner" in accordance with Utah Code Section 58-17b-309.7 and Utah Admin. Code R156-17b-309.7.
• A nurse who is licensed and lawfully practicing in another U.S. state or territory without restrictions or conditions may practice in Utah for the duration of the declared emergency by obtaining a DOPL Time-limited Emergency License.  Time-limited Emergency Licenses expire upon the earlier of 180 days, 30 days from the end of the declared emergency, or upon 10 days’ notice from DOPL.  (Time-limited Emergency licenses are issued as a single-state license valid only in Utah, and will not be eligible as a Nurse Interstate Licensure Compact license.)  All DOPL fees are waived for these applicants.

  To apply: download, complete, and return the Time-Limited Emergency License Application .

• A nurse formerly licensed in Utah or in another U.S. state or territory, whose license was unrestricted and in good standing, may apply for a volunteer health care practitioner license to work exclusively as a volunteer at a qualified location (clinic, hospital, church, etc.).  The nurse would work under a delegation of service agreement with an actively licensed supervising professional.  All DOPL fees are waived for these applicants.

  Apply for a Volunteer Health Care Practitioner license at: https://dopl.utah.gov/nurse/.

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Please Note:

The above provisions currently exist in statute or through interstate compacts.  In the coming days, DOPL may announce other temporary measures to better address any increasing demands on Utah’s healthcare system.  In the meantime, we continue to encourage online applications for licensure through our website at http://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html.  All professionals should be aware of reimbursement and liability concerns beyond the date of license expiration.

Mental Health

The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) and the Utah mental health professional licensing boards are committed to protecting the health and safety of Utahns during the COVID-19 outbreak. The following information applies for the duration of the declared emergency.

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License Exemptions and COVID-19 Time-Limited Licenses

Mental health professionals who do not hold a current Utah license may work in Utah within their scope of practice under the following temporary emergency exemptions and other existing exemptions. See Utah Code §§ 58-1-307 and 58-81-101 et. seq. Exemptions from licensure specific to mental health professions can also be found in Utah Code § 58-60-107

COVID-19 Time-Limited Emergency License

A mental health professional who is licensed and lawfully practicing in another U.S. state or territory without restrictions or conditions may practice in Utah for the duration of the declared emergency by obtaining a DOPL Time-limited Emergency License. These include:

• Social Worker
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Clinical Mental Health Counselor
• Substance Use Disorder Counselor

Time-limited Emergency Licenses expire upon the earlier of 180 days, 30 days from the end of the declared emergency, or upon 10 days’ notice from DOPL.

All DOPL fees are waived for these applicants.

To apply: download, complete, and return the Time-Limited Emergency License Application.

Formerly Licensed Healthcare Professionals

1. If a mental health professional’s former Utah license to practice expired or lapsed while in good standing, the professional may obtain expedited licensure in their profession by submitting a regular application for renewal or reinstatement of licensure.

   To apply, visit the specific profession page on DOPL’s website at https://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html.

2. Mental health professionals who were formerly licensed in Utah or in another U.S. state or territory, whose license was unrestricted and in good standing, may apply for a volunteer health care practitioner license to work exclusively as a volunteer at a qualified location (clinic, hospital, church, etc.). These professionals would work under a delegation of service agreement with an actively licensed supervising professional.

   All DOPL fees are waived for these applicants.To apply, visit the specific profession page on DOPL's website at: https://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html

Military Members/Spouses & Federal Agency Employees

1. A mental health professional serving in the U.S. armed forces, the U.S. Public Health Service, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or other federal agency may practice in Utah as a part of employment with that federal agency if the individual holds a valid license to practice issued by any other state or jurisdiction recognized by the division.

   No DOPL application or registration is required.

2. A military spouse who has been relocated to Utah by military orders and has an active license in good standing from another state, may practice in Utah within the scope of their license.

   No DOPL application or registration is required.

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Notice of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications

To reduce opportunities for the transmission of COVID-19, DOPL in collaboration with the Utah mental health professional licensing boards issues the following guidance to permit Utah licensed mental health professionals to engage in telehealth remote communications with Utah patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency:

Utah telehealth requirements are in Utah Admin. Code §§ R156-1-601 and R156-1-602:https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r156/r156-01.htm#T39. However, during the COVID-19 public health emergency, providers may adhere to the requirements and recommendations set forth by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services:

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html

Note: This guidance is not intended to alter the applicable standard of practice for any mental health profession. All providers shall be held to the same standards of practice, including maintaining patient confidentiality and recordkeeping, that would apply to the provision of the same services in an in-person setting.

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Remote Supervision

In order to reduce opportunities for the transmission of COVID-19, supervision may be conducted via real time electronic means. When providing services remotely, licensees must protect the security of electronic, confidential data and information.

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Continuing Education

Please refer to Director Steinagel’s letter regarding continuing education. https://dopl.utah.gov/docs/COVID-19_CE_signed.pdf

Military Members/Spouses & Federal Agency Employees

• An individual serving in the U.S. armed forces, the U.S. Public Health Service, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or other federal agency may practice in Utah as a part of employment with that federal agency if the individual holds a valid license to practice issued by any other state or jurisdiction recognized by the division.

  No DOPL application or registration is required.

• A military spouse who has been relocated to Utah by military orders and has an active license in good standing from another state, may practice in Utah within the scope of their license.

  No DOPL application or registration is required.

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Please Note:

The above provisions currently exist in statute or through interstate compacts.  In the coming days, DOPL may announce other temporary measures to better address any increasing demands on Utah’s healthcare system.  In the meantime, we continue to encourage online applications for licensure through our website at http://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html.  All professionals should be aware of reimbursement and liability concerns beyond the date of license expiration.

Formerly Licensed Healthcare Professionals

• If a healthcare professional’s former Utah license to practice expired or lapsed while in good standing, the professional may obtain expedited licensure in their profession by submitting a regular application for renewal or reinstatement of licensure.

  To apply, visit the specific profession page on DOPL’s website at https://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html.

• Many other healthcare professionals who were formerly licensed in Utah or in another U.S. state or territory, whose license was unrestricted and in good standing, may apply for a volunteer health care practitioner license to work exclusively as a volunteer at a qualified location (clinic, hospital, church, etc.).  These professionals would work under a delegation of service agreement with an actively licensed supervising professional.

  All DOPL fees are waived for these applicants.  To apply, visit the specific profession page on DOPL's website at: https://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html

  • podiatrist
  • physical therapist
  • recreational therapist
  • occupational therapist
  • nurse midwife
  • mental health professional (social worker, marriage and family therapist, clinical mental health counselor, substance use disorder counselor)
  • psychologist
  • dentist or dental hygienist
  • physician assistant
  • pharmacist; or
  • optometrist

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Please Note:

The above provisions currently exist in statute or through interstate compacts.  In the coming days, DOPL may announce other temporary measures to better address any increasing demands on Utah’s healthcare system.  In the meantime, we continue to encourage online applications for licensure through our website at http://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html.  All professionals should be aware of reimbursement and liability concerns beyond the date of license expiration.

Other Exemptions/Volunteers

As of March 17, 2020, DOPL has not issued any order modifying or restricting the health services that may be provided by health practitioners registered under the Department of Health’s Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act.  Under that Act, a health practitioner registered with a compliant registration system may practice in Utah to the extent authorized by the Act as if the practitioner were licensed in Utah.  For more information, visit the Department of Health.

As of March 17, 2020, DOPL has not been notified of any individuals activated as members of a volunteer medical reserve corps by a local health authority per Utah Code § 26A-1-126.  DOPL has not issued any exemptions or modifications for licensure of such individuals.

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Please Note:

The above provisions currently exist in statute or through interstate compacts.  In the coming days, DOPL may announce other temporary measures to better address any increasing demands on Utah’s healthcare system.  In the meantime, we continue to encourage online applications for licensure through our website at http://dopl.utah.gov/licenses.html.  All professionals should be aware of reimbursement and liability concerns beyond the date of license expiration.

Pharmacy Notices

The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing in collaboration with the Utah Board of Pharmacy is committed to protecting the health and safety of Utahns during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The following information is for the duration of the declared emergency.

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COVID-19 Out of State Emergency Licenses

Your license must be current and in good standing in your home state in order to obtain an emergency license.

To apply for an emergency license, click on Application Forms in the left-hand menu.

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Guidance regarding Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Prescriptions
Approved on 3/26/2020

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Authorizing Emergency Compounding of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products

Approved on 3/16/2020

To reduce opportunities for the transmission of COVID-19 and mitigate possible shortages, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing and the Utah Board of Pharmacy issues the following guidance to permit the compounding and sale of certain alcohol-based hand sanitizer products by Utah-licensed pharmacies.  Compounders must adhere to the requirements and recommendations set forth in the FDA’s Policy for Temporary Compounding of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency. https://www.fda.gov/media/136118/download  This guidance is in effect until rescinded by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

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Reuse of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Compounding Activities

Approved on 3/16/2020

To mitigate reported shortages, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing and the Utah Board of Pharmacy issues the following guidance to permit licensees conducting sterile compounding to reuse certain personal protective equipment (PPE).  To reuse sterile compounding garb, a licensed compounding facility shall comply with all the following:

• Develop and implement policies and procedures for the appropriate reuse of PPE that will not compromise the microbial state of control in the compounding rooms.
• Train compounding staff on the policies and procedures developed for reusing PPE.
• For the reuse of masks:
  • The identification of personnel is clearly stated on the mask (i.e. initialed).
  • Masks are removed on the dirty side of the ante-room or outside of the perimeter line of the segregated control area (SCA) without touching the inside of the mask.
  • Each mask for reuse is placed in its own small bag.
  • All masks in bags must be placed in a container located near where masks would normally be donned.
  • Compounding personnel must inspect the mask each time it is reused to ensure the mask provides adequate control (i.e. condition of the mask, whether it is visibly soiled, handling technique, etc.) in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.
• For the reuse of gowns:
  • Please refer to recommendations from USP Compounding Resource for COVID-19.
  • Compounding personnel must inspect the gown each time it is reused to ensure the gown provides adequate control (i.e. condition of the gown, whether it is visibly soiled, handling technique, etc.) in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.

IMPORTANT: The following sterile compounding garb cannot be reused:

• Shoe covers and sterile gloves

If items are unavailable, the facility should develop a risk based approach.

USP Compounding Resource for COVID-19

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General Reminders for Pharmacy Personnel to Mitigate Risk of Exposure

1. Please ensure your staff use appropriate social distancing and avoid close contact to reduce spread.  Also remind staff to be cautious about touching medications.  Disinfect counting trays and spatulas routinely.  Consider implementing policies similar to food service workers where staff are required to set a timer and wash their hands at regular intervals (30 minutes to 1 hour).
2. Establish a process for reducing or eliminating the amount of time older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions wait in line to pick up medications.
3. Implement infection control procedures, especially for waiting areas:
   1. Staff should maintain a distance of 3 feet from asymptomatic patients or other staff members and at least 6 feet from those actively coughing.
   2. Regularly clean counters, waiting areas, and other spaces where public interaction occurs with disinfectant.  It is recommended to clean at least every hour or after every 10 patients, whichever is more frequent.
   3. Place alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol next to the cash register or check out area so people can sanitize their hands after using common items like pens.
   4. Wash hands with soap and water frequently and for at least 20 seconds.  Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
   5. Cover cough and sneeze with tissue and discard.
4. Monitor all staff for sickness regularly. Staff should stay home if they have symptoms of a respiratory infection.
5. Pharmacies should consider using alternative delivery options (mail or delivery) for patients to help maintain social distancing recommendations.
6. Pharmacy staff may use alternative methods to document patient counseling to avoid close contact and reduce spread according to a local policy and procedure.
7. A pharmacy may mail stable oral medication to patients.

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COVID-19 Guidance for Refills

Pharmacists may provide patients with a 3-day emergency supply of medications according to Utah Code 58-17b-608 Emergency refills.

1. In the interest of the patient's health, a pharmacist or pharmacy intern may, in an emergency, refill a prescription for a patient, but only if the prescribing practitioner is not available promptly to authorize the refill and only if in the professional judgment of the pharmacist or pharmacy intern the prescription should be refilled.
2. Only sufficient medication as necessary in the emergency may be furnished by the pharmacist or pharmacy intern, not to exceed a three-day supply.
3. The practitioner shall be contacted as soon as possible for further instructions concerning the emergency.

Pharmacist may dispense a one-time early dispensing of a Schedule II prescription, using professional judgement, and shall document the reason for early dispensing.

Contracting Notice

Prelicensure Course & Coronavirus

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

There is a change in the prelicensure course requirement. Because of the difficulty in conducting the course at this time, unless you have already taken the course or qualify for an exemption from the course, DOPL is requiring the following as satisfaction of the 25 or 30 hour contractor prelicensure course at this time:

1. You must sign up for the course for a future, undetermined date with one of the approved course providers (AGC, UHBA, or ABC). You will not actually take the course at this time.
2. You must pay the provider in advance for the course.
3. The course provider will give you a receipt of payment or other documentation that you signed up for the course.
4. You will submit a copy of the receipt or other documentation along with your contractor application to DOPL as satisfaction of either 25 or 30 hour prelicensure course requirement.
5. If you meet all of the other requirements for licensure, you will be issued a contractor’s license.
6. After the coronavirus emergency has ended, you will receive an email notification from the Division and from the course providers that you have 60 days to attend the prelicensure course and provide the certificate of completion to DOPL.
7. The course providers will then notify DOPL of any students that did not complete the course.
8. DOPL may take disciplinary action on the applicant, including revocation of license, if the course is not completed as outlined above.

BE ADVISED THAT THIS IS PROCESS IS TEMPORARY AND THAT THIS PROCESS WILL BE DISCONTINUED AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY HAS ENDED.

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IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU MAY CALL THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES BUREAU at 801-530-6628 OR ANY OF THE PRELICENSURE COURSE PROVIDERS.

local_pharmacy Pharmacy Notices

The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing in collaboration with the Utah Board of Pharmacy is committed to protecting the health and safety of Utahns during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The following information is for the duration of the declared emergency.

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COVID-19 Emergency Licenses

Your license must be current and in good standing in your home state in order to obtain an emergency license.

Please go to the following link to apply for an emergency license. https://dopl.utah.gov/pharm/

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Authorizing Emergency Compounding of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products

Approved on 3/16/2020

To reduce opportunities for the transmission of COVID-19 and mitigate possible shortages, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing and the Utah Board of Pharmacy issues the following guidance to permit the compounding and sale of certain alcohol-based hand sanitizer products by Utah-licensed pharmacies.  Compounders must adhere to the requirements and recommendations set forth in the FDA’s Policy for Temporary Compounding of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency. https://www.fda.gov/media/136118/download  This guidance is in effect until rescinded by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

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Reuse of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Compounding Activities

Approved on 3/16/2020

To mitigate reported shortages, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing and the Utah Board of Pharmacy issues the following guidance to permit licensees conducting sterile compounding to reuse certain personal protective equipment (PPE).  To reuse sterile compounding garb, a licensed compounding facility shall comply with all the following:

• Develop and implement policies and procedures for the appropriate reuse of PPE that will not compromise the microbial state of control in the compounding rooms.
• Train compounding staff on the policies and procedures developed for reusing PPE.
• For the reuse of masks:
  • The identification of personnel is clearly stated on the mask (i.e. initialed).
  • Masks are removed on the dirty side of the ante-room or outside of the perimeter line of the segregated control area (SCA) without touching the inside of the mask.
  • Each mask for reuse is placed in its own small paper bag with the personnel’s initials on the outside of the bag.  A new bag must be used each time the mask is removed for reuse.
  • All masks in bags must be placed in a container located where masks would normally be donned.
  • Compounding personnel must inspect the mask each time it is reused to ensure the mask provides adequate control (i.e. condition of the mask, whether it is visibly soiled, handling technique, etc.) in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.
• For the reuse of gowns:
  • Gowns may only be reused over the course of a single day.
  • Compounding personnel must inspect the gown each time it is reused to ensure the gown provides adequate control (i.e. condition of the gown, whether it is visibly soiled, handling technique, etc.) in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.

IMPORTANT: The following sterile compounding garb cannot be reused:

• Shoe covers and sterile gloves

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General Reminders for Pharmacy Personnel to Mitigate Risk of Exposure

1. Please ensure your staff use appropriate social distancing and avoid close contact to reduce spread.  Also remind staff to be cautious about touching medications.  Disinfect counting trays and spatulas routinely.  Consider implementing policies similar to food service workers where staff are required to set a timer and wash their hands at regular intervals (30 minutes to 1 hour).
2. Establish a process for reducing or eliminating the amount of time older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions wait in line to pick up medications.
3. Implement infection control procedures, especially for waiting areas:
   1. Staff should maintain a distance of 3 feet from asymptomatic patients or other staff members and at least 6 feet from those actively coughing.
   2. Regularly clean counters, waiting areas, and other spaces where public interaction occurs with disinfectant.  It is recommended to clean at least every hour or after every 10 patients, whichever is more frequent.
   3. Place alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol next to the cash register or check out area so people can sanitize their hands after using common items like pens.
   4. Wash hands with soap and water frequently and for at least 20 seconds.  Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
   5. Cover cough and sneeze with tissue and discard.
4. Monitor all staff for sickness regularly. Staff should stay home if they have symptoms of a respiratory infection.
5. Pharmacies should consider using alternative delivery options (mail or delivery) for patients to help maintain social distancing recommendations.
6. Encourage people to buy cold medicine and refill prescriptions now, if possible, so they do not have to go out if they develop COVID-19.

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COVID-19 Guidance for Refills

Pharmacists may provide patients with a 3-day emergency supply of medications according to Utah Code 58-17b-608 Emergency refills.

1. In the interest of the patient's health, a pharmacist or pharmacy intern may, in an emergency, refill a prescription for a patient, but only if the prescribing practitioner is not available promptly to authorize the refill and only if in the professional judgment of the pharmacist or pharmacy intern the prescription should be refilled.
2. Only sufficient medication as necessary in the emergency may be furnished by the pharmacist or pharmacy intern, not to exceed a three-day supply.
3. The practitioner shall be contacted as soon as possible for further instructions concerning the emergency.

Pharmacist may dispense a one-time early dispensing of a Schedule II prescription, using professional judgement, and shall document the reason for early dispensing.