Iowa Admin. Code r. 653-20.6 - Application requirements
(1)
Application for licensure. To apply for a license to practice
genetic counseling, an applicant shall:
a.
Submit the completed application, including required credentials and documents,
a completed fingerprint packet, and a sworn statement by the applicant
attesting to the truth of all information provided by the applicant;
b. Pay the nonrefundable initial application
fee identified in 653-subrule 8.13(1) and pay the fee identified in 653-subrule
8.13(6) for the evaluation of the fingerprint packet and the national criminal
history background checks by the division of criminal investigation (DCI) and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
(2)
Contents of the application
form. Each applicant shall submit the following information on the
application form provided by the board:
a. The
applicant's full legal name, date and place of birth, home address, mailing
address, principal business address, and personal email address regularly used
by the applicant or licensee for correspondence with the board;
b. A chronology accounting for all time
periods from the date the applicant entered a genetic counseling training
program or educational institution to the date of the application;
c. The other jurisdictions in the United
States or other nations or territories in which the applicant is authorized to
practice genetic counseling, including license, certificate of registration or
certification number and date of issuance;
d. Full disclosure of the applicant's
involvement in civil litigation related to the practice of genetic counseling
in any jurisdiction of the United States or other nations or territories.
Copies of the legal documents may be requested if needed during the review
process;
e. A statement disclosing
and explaining any informal or nonpublic actions, such as letters of warning,
letters of education, any confidential retraining, or any kind of confidential
action taken toward a genetic counselor's certification or license that is not
public discipline; warnings issued, investigations conducted, or disciplinary
actions taken, whether by voluntary agreement or formal action, by a medical,
genetic counseling or professional regulatory authority, an educational
institution, a training or research program, or a health facility in any
jurisdiction;
f. A statement
disclosing and explaining any charge of a misdemeanor or felony involving the
applicant filed in any jurisdiction, whether or not any appeal or other
proceeding is pending to have the conviction or plea set aside;
g. A letter sent directly from the ABGC or
ABMGG to the board verifying the applicant holds active certification in
genetic counseling by the ABGC or ABMGG for genetic counselor licensure or a
letter sent directly from ABGC or ABMGG to the board verifying the applicant
has been granted active candidate status for provisional licensure;
h. A completed fingerprint packet to
facilitate a national criminal history background check. The fee for evaluation
of the fingerprint packet and the DCI and FBI criminal history background
checks will be assessed to the applicant.
(3)
Application cycle. If
the applicant does not submit all materials within 90 days of the board's
initial request for further information, the application is inactive.
a. To reactivate the application, an
applicant shall submit a nonrefundable reactivation of application fee
identified in 653-subrule 8.13(2) and shall update application materials if
requested by the board. The period for requesting reactivation is limited to 30
days from the date the applicant is notified that the application is inactive,
unless the applicant is granted an extension in writing by the committee or the
board.
b. Once the application
reactivation period is expired, an applicant must reapply and submit a new,
nonrefundable initial application fee and a new application, including required
documents and credentials.
(4)
Applicant
responsibilities. An applicant for licensure to practice genetic
counseling bears full responsibility for each of the following:
a. Paying all fees charged by regulatory
authorities, national certifying organizations, health facilities, and
educational institutions providing the information specified in subrule
20.6(2);
b. Providing accurate,
up-to-date, and truthful information on the application form including but not
limited to that specified under subrule 20.6(2) related to prior professional
experience, education, training, active certification, licensure, and
disciplinary history.
(5)
Licensure application review process. Licensure applications
will be reviewed pursuant to the process outlined in rule
653-9.7 (147,148).
(6)
Grounds for denial of
licensure. The board, on the recommendation of the committee, and
after consultation with an Iowa-licensed genetic counselor, may deny an
application for licensure for any of the following reasons:
a. Failure to meet the requirements for
licensure specified in this chapter pursuant to Iowa Code section
148H.3.
b. Pursuant to Iowa Code section
147.4, upon any of the grounds
for which licensure may be revoked or suspended as specified in Iowa Code
sections 147.55 and
148H.7 or in rule
653-20.20
(147,148H,272C).
(7)
Preliminary notice of denial. Prior to the denial of licensure
to an applicant, the board issues a preliminary notice of denial that is sent
to the applicant by regular, first-class mail at the address provided by the
applicant. The preliminary notice of denial is a public record and cites the
factual and legal basis for denying the application, notifies the applicant of
the appeal process, and specifies the date upon which the denial will become
final if it is not appealed.
(8)
Appeal procedure. An applicant who has received a preliminary
notice of denial may appeal the denial and request a hearing on the issues
related to the preliminary notice of denial by serving a request for hearing
upon the executive director not more than 30 calendar days following the date
when the preliminary notice of denial was mailed. The applicant's current
address shall be provided in the request for hearing. The request is deemed
filed on the date it is received in the board office. If the request is
received with a USPS nonmetered postmark, the board considers the postmark date
as the date the request is filed. The request shall specify the factual or
legal errors and that the applicant desires an evidentiary hearing and may
provide additional written information or documents in support of
licensure.
(9)
Hearing. If an applicant appeals the preliminary notice of
denial and requests a hearing, the hearing will be a contested case open to the
public and conducted in accordance with 481-Chapter 506.
(10)
Finality. If an
applicant does not appeal a preliminary notice of denial in accordance with
subrule 20.6(8), the preliminary notice of denial automatically becomes final.
A final denial of an application for licensure is a public record.
(11)
Failure to pursue
appeal. If an applicant appeals a preliminary notice of denial in
accordance with subrule 20.6(8) but the applicant fails to pursue that appeal
to a final decision within one year from the date of the preliminary notice of
denial, the board may dismiss the appeal. The appeal may be dismissed only
after the board sends a written notice by first-class mail to the applicant at
the applicant's last-known address. The notice will state that the appeal will
be dismissed and the preliminary notice of denial will become final if the
applicant does not contact the board to schedule the appeal hearing within 30
days of the date the letter is mailed from the board office. Upon dismissal of
an appeal, the preliminary notice of denial becomes final. A final denial of an
application for licensure under this rule is a public record.
(12)
Waiver prohibited.
Provisions of this rule are not subject to waiver pursuant to 653-Chapter 3 or
any other provision of law.
Notes
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(1) Each applicant for licensure under Iowa Code chapter 148H shall:
a. Submit an application form and supporting documentation as prescribed by the board .
b. Hold active certification as a genetic counselor by the American Board of Genetic Counseling , as a genetic counselor by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, or as a medical geneticist by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, or the successor to any of the aforementioned organizations.
(2) A licensee shall maintain active certification as a genetic counselor by the American Board of Genetic Counseling , as a genetic counselor by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, or as a medical geneticist by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, or the successor to any of the aforementioned organizations.
(3) The board may deny an applicant a license due to the commission of a disqualifying offense, as provided in 653-subrule 9.3(3).