Licensing Examinations Caught in Crossfire of Layoffs in California
The California Department of Consumer Affairs has laid off about 2,400 part-time proctors for professional licensing exams, raising challenges for the state agency charged with licensing registered nurses, dental professionals, psychologists and other professionals, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Last month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) ordered layoffs for more than 10,000 temporary and part-time state workers as part of an effort aimed at preserving state funds while state lawmakers continue budget negotiations.
According to the Bee, the Department of Consumer Affairs was stung particularly hard, absorbing 3,284 of the 10,133 layoffs.
Because of the layoffs, state boards administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs have reassigned permanent employees to proctor exams, and some have opted to reschedule exams.
The Dental Board of California was able to administer an ethics and law test last weekend, and the Committee on Dental Auxiliaries, which licenses dental assistants, is proceeding with a scheduled exam in San Francisco this weekend after deeming it cost prohibitive to reschedule the exam (Calvan, Sacramento Bee, 8/13).