Illinois professionals can now renew their licenses online
Switching to an electronic system from a paper-based licensing program is expected to save taxpayers millions of dollars over the next few years – as well as provide better and faster service for the state’s licensed professionals.
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or DFPR, instituted online professional-license renewals in February as part of an overhaul Gov. Bruce Rauner ordered to the state’s outdated information systems .
Rather than sending people postcards reminding them to renew their licenses, the state has begun sending email reminders that include the information necessary for online renewals, said DFPR Secretary Bryan Schneider in an interview with WUIS Springfield.
DFPR has also started sending the professional licenses themselves electronically, rather than mailing paper copies.
In addition to overseeing banks, credit unions and other financial institutions, DFPR licenses 1.1 million professionals in over 250 different categories, such as physicians, accountants, barbers and security officers.
DFPR estimates the switch to electronic communications will save taxpayers $3 million over the next five years. “We think we can get at least $600,000 a year [in] savings based on avoided postage, paper, printing costs, ” Schneider said.
And the professionals dealing with the department are pleased with the changes. Schneider noted the department now conveys licensing-related information to professionals “like they communicate with their kids, with their bank, with their car service.”
The department is still working on changing professionals’ initial post-graduation interactions with DFPR from paper to online applications, and electronic changes for the financial industry are in progress as well.
Switching to an electronic system from a paper-based licensing program is a commonsense way to save taxpayers millions of dollars – as well as provide better and faster service for professionals trying to get started and continue working in their fields. In a cash-strapped state that cannot afford to lose any more workers due to poor policies and inefficient services, taxpayers need their government agencies to do a better job at a lower cost.
And though streamlining and reducing the cost of licensing procedures is undoubtedly a good thing, Illinois also needs to reduce the number of occupations for which Illinois workers need licenses. The fact that 25 percent of the state’s workforce must have licenses to practice their professions means many people who want to work are kept out of their chosen fields due to expensive, state-erected barriers. By reducing the number of occupations subject to licensure, the hurdles involved in obtaining licenses, and the cost of the licensing system, Illinois can make it easier to work while lowering the burden of professional regulation for taxpayers.