NJ S1387

New Jersey professional licensing boards must collect data from all U.S. states on the time required to approve initial credential applications for each regulated profession or occupation.

Boards must calculate a national average approval time for each profession, which becomes the mandatory standard timeline for processing applications in New Jersey after approval by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

After one year, the Division of Consumer Affairs will review whether boards are meeting the national average timelines; boards failing to meet standards must use licensing fees to hire third-party consultants to identify and implement best practices.

Initial data collection must be completed within six months of the act's effective date, with annual reviews thereafter to verify calculation accuracy.

Boards may retain all credential fees (initial, renewal, reactivation, reinstatement) to administer this program until they meet or exceed the national average approval times.