HF2246: Professional Education Requirements

Mandates that continuing education requirements for licensed professions, including those overseen by the board of education and the Iowa Supreme Court, must be directly related to the practice of the licensed profession unless otherwise required by law. It also removes the requirement that a person must graduate from an ABA-accredited law school prior to sitting for the Iowa bar examination. Boards and the Supreme Court are directed to update rules accordingly.

Key Points & Impacts

• Adds that continuing education requirements must relate directly to the licensed profession, unless otherwise required by law.

• Prohibits professional licensing boards from imposing continuing education requirements not directly related to the practice of the licensed profession.

• Amends attorney licensing rules to ensure continuing education for attorneys is limited to topics directly related to the practice of law, unless otherwise mandated by law.

• Removes the requirement that bar exam candidates must graduate from an ABA-accredited law school to be eligible to sit for the Iowa bar examination.

• Requires the Iowa Supreme Court to update court rules to reflect the new standards for attorney continuing education and bar exam eligibility.

• Maintains the exemption from renewal requirements for practitioners with at least ten years of employment and an advanced degree, except for those with evaluator approval endorsements.