Teachers, doctors urged to renew licenses in anticipation of shutdown

In anticipation of a possible government shutdown on July 1, many in fields licensed by the state find themselves scrambling to renew their licenses in order to keep working. Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson wrote a letter to staff encouraging them to renew expiring licenses quickly, while a physicians group has struck a deal with the state so doctors whose licenses will expire this summer can file early.

“It is imperative that employees who require educator licenses take immediate action to ensure that their license is appropriately renewed this year,” wrote Johnson Thursday in an email obtained by the Minnesota Independent. “Licenses to be renewed in 2011 expire on June 30. You must submit your renewal application as soon as possible, as the Minnesota Department of Education online licensing system will not be available after 5:00 p.m. on June 28, 2011.”

“I urge you not to wait until July to check your status,” she wrote, addressing non-instructional staff members, who also may need license renewals.

The Pioneer Press reports that there are around 11,000 teachers with standard teaching licenses expiring this summer and 2,400 more with limited licenses.

The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, anticipating a shutdown, outlines on its website how its licensing will work in the event of a shutdown:

• The July 9, 2011 board meeting will be postponed and no licenses will be issued and no disciplinary actions taken.
• All temporary permits expiring on July 9, 2011 are valid until the next board meeting. The new board meeting date will be announced when the board re-opens.
• During this period of shutdown, online services including online renewal will be unavailable.
• Online renewals for those with licenses expiring through September 30, 2011 may renew online prior to 12:00 Noon June 30th, 2011.

But according to MPR’s Lorna Benson, the board has struck a deal that’ll allow only doctors with licenses expiring during July, August or September to renew early. That includes some 3,800 doctors.