Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

 

GDForum ID: 2820

Description of Proposed Guidance Document Changes

The following regulatory boards have adopted new guidance regarding applications for licensure or certification that disclose criminal convictions or prior regulatory discipline to the regulatory board: Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA Board) Virginia Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors (ALHI Board) Auctioneers Board Board for Branch Pilots Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists (PSSWPG Board) Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals (WWWOOSSP Board) The new guidance documents generally (i) provide for a delegation of authority to DPOR staff to conduct predetermination fact-findings and license eligibility fact-findings in accordance with applicable portions of the Administrative Process Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-4000 et. seq.); and (ii) authorize DPOR staff to approve without further review by the regulatory board applications and predetermination requests that disclose certain criminal convictions. Some of the new guidance documents also authorize DPOR staff to approve without further review by the regulatory board applications that disclose certain prior disciplinary actions. Applicants whose applications fall within the scope of the regulatory board’s application matrix will not be required to have their applications reviewed and decided by the regulatory board, which entails administrative processing by DPOR on behalf of the regulatory board, including an informal fact-finding conference. These changes are designed to reduce the burden on applicants with criminal convictions or prior disciplinary history and decrease the number of applications that must go through the informal fact-finding process. Please refer to the ORM review form for additional information.

 

Guidance Document(s) for this Comment Forum

Document ID	Document Title	Current Document	Proposed Document	Revised Proposed
7944	APELSCIDLA Application Matrix	n/a	Proposed Document		Posted with original changes on 01/04/2026
7945	Branch Pilot Application Review Matrix	n/a	Proposed Document		Posted with original changes on 01/04/2026
7946	PSSWPG Application Matrix	n/a	Proposed Document		Posted with original changes on 01/04/2026
7947	Auctioneers Application Matrix	n/a	Proposed Document		Posted with original changes on 01/04/2026
7948	WWWOOSSP Criminal Matrix	n/a	Proposed Document		Posted with original changes on 01/04/2026
7949	ALHI - Criminal Matrix	n/a	Proposed Document		Posted with original changes on 01/04/2026

 

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