OH SB158

Requires dentists, nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, physicians, ophthalmologists, psychologists, and social workers to complete cultural competency instruction to obtain or renew licensure.

Each state professional board must adopt rules establishing the required hours of initial instruction and continuing education in cultural competency for licensure or renewal.

Boards must establish criteria for granting waivers of cultural competency requirements when applicants demonstrate substantially equivalent experience.

Boards must consider race and gender-based disparities in health care treatment when developing cultural competency rules and consult with nationally recognized professional organizations.

Each state board must approve at least one cultural competency continuing education course within 90 days of the law's effective date, including instruction on addressing race and gender-based disparities in health care.