Healthcare workers in some states are facing unusually long wait times for licensure and delaying their service to patients because of backlogs worsened by the pandemic. "If we don't have efficient, consistent processing of these licensing applications, it's just snowballing the overwhelming need," warns Deborah Baker, the American Psychological Association's director of legal and regulatory policy. COVID-19 prompted emergency rules to bring in temporary healthcare workers and accommodate new telehealth providers, which swelled application volumes and sometimes required an entirely new emergency licensing system. Difficulties have been especially pronounced for agencies in states that still largely rely on manual processing. Also compounding the situation are chronic understaffing and high turnover. The license approval delay is "holding people up as far as getting jobs," says New York State Psychological Association President Barbara Kapetanakes.

Read More