As the battle for regulatory relief rages on, the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs, or simply LARA, is taking a quantum leap forward with new technology to streamline the entire licensing process for nurses in the state of Michigan.
Michigan’s 190,000 licensed nurses will now use a state-of the-art system for the entire licensing process allowing them to enter the nursing profession sooner and more efficiently. This week, LARA’s Bureau of Professional Licensing launched a new online portal – the Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPlus) www.michigan.gov/miplus that replaces an outdated system that was inefficient for users and staff.
The new system utilizes the Accela platform and makes Michigan a leader in licensing technology. It eliminates the time-consuming snail mail back and forth between nursing applicants and LARA staff. Applicants now apply online, and can track the status of their license and receive electronic notifications. MiPlus also improves consumer protections by making the complaint process more transparent, and enhancing the services to submit and track complaints.
Shelly Edgerton is Director of LARA. She says, “Nurses are LARA’s largest number of licensees and play a tremendous role in serving Michigan residents. This innovative system will save nurses and their employers time and resources so they can enter their profession sooner to perform their important duties.” At the same time Edgerton notes, “The platform also gives consumers user friendly tools in the complaint process and allows our department to deliver our services more efficiently.”
MiPlus saves Michigan nursing applicants a significant amount of time and resources. Applicants can now:
- Apply online and track every step of their application in real-time.
- Upload documents and edit application information electronically.
- Receive electronic notification on exam requirements and licensure completion.
- Receive an electronic copy of their license to print.
Michigan consumers filing complaints against licensed nurses are also given additional tools. Consumers can create their own account to upload documents, track the status of their complaint online and receive electronic notifications throughout the entire complaint and enforcement process.
The new system will be used by nursing licensees that include:
- Registered nurses
- Licensed practical nurses
- Nurse anesthetists
- Nurse practitioners
- Nurse midwives
Linda Taft, who is President of the American Nurses Association, Michigan Chapter says, “LARA’s new customer-focused platform makes significant time-saving improvements to the licensing process for our members.” Taft adds, “We appreciate the department’s collaborative effort with our association and the entire Michigan nursing industry to ensure the seamless and effective launch of MiPlus.”
The Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) is responsible for licensing and regulating more than 758,000 individuals who are regulated by either the Michigan Occupational or Public Health Codes. BPL will soon implement MiPlus throughout the bureau’s other license types.
