Scope of Practice

Licensure permits a person to practice within his or her expertise. This is outlined by the scope of practice. Practicing outside of a profession's scope of practice is a violation. It can result in an individual losing his or her license to practice. Changes to the scope of practice for a profession are made by passing a law or amending a current law. Most practice laws allow for extending the scope of practice during a declared emergency. The state can authorize an emergency extension of the scope of practice without passing a law.

The 2009 H1NI Influenza Pandemic

States temporarily expanded the scope of practice for many states, temporarily expanding the scope of practice for many professionals. This allowed them to perform vaccinations. An example was the extension of scope for pharmacists to give flu shots. Today, most pharmacists administer many types of vaccines. This has improved access to this type of healthcare service for many individuals. It has impacted the health of the population.

The 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic

States temporarily expanded the scope of practice to provide additional personnel to support patient care. This was done due to the number of cases. The extension of the scope of practice continues as long as the emergency declaration is still in effect.