Want to Fix Mental Health Workforce Shortages? Speed up the Licensing Boards: An interview with Dr. Ben Caldwell

Curt and Katie interview Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, about licensing board inefficiencies leading to incredible delays in folks getting licensed. We talk about the impacts of paperwork processing delays as well the inadequate infrastructure of most licensing boards. We also explore policy and individual options to mitigate or address these problems.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how the mental health workforce shortages are exacerbated by licensing boards

Curt and Katie decided to invite Dr. Ben Caldwell back onto the podcast to talk about how licensing board inefficiencies are exacerbating mental health workforce shortages.

Impacts of delays of paperwork processing on clients and clinicians

·   Delays of folks increasing income as a licensed clinician

·   Lack of mental health clinicians in the work force

·   Prospective clinicians dropping out of the process to become licensed due to the time and financial burden

Licensing board infrastructure is often inadequate to get individuals licensed timely

·   Computer systems that licensing boards use are not typically modern

·   The contracts for streamlining processes are often restrictive to specific systems or to how quickly these improvements can move

·   There is little that is automated, but rather includes manual entry which is inefficient and introduces opportunities for error

What are potential solutions for the pervasive inefficiency found in licensing boards?

·   Scanning and using optical recognition software for applications and counting hours

·   Contracting with private technology companies that are already gathering this data

·   Finding automated systems that are set up properly from the beginning to minimize training needs

·   Legislation to put pressure on state licensing boards to update computer systems

·   Hiring more people to take on these tasks

·   Using financial reserves to improve systems

·   Mitigating the effects of the delays on the workers (i.e., being able to take required exams for licensure while accruing your hours)

·   Simplifying processes wherever possible (i.e., less buckets of hours with minimum and maximum hours that need to be met)

·   Simplifying applications to make them more understandable for both applicants and reviewers

·   Policy analysis related to the rules – boards make the inaccurate assumption that if a rule exists it must be good

·   Using the legislative process to hold licensing boards accountable for not getting through applications timely and potentially even giving folks provisional licenses while waiting for the application to be reviewed

What can individual therapists do to address the delays in processing licensing paperwork?

·   Be as clear as possible in applications and communication to the board to decrease confusion

·   Don’t apply for licensure early (i.e., before requirements are completed)

·   Show up to board meetings and let the licensing board know that delays are a huge problem

·   Advocate with your professional org and/or to your legislators

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

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Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/