News Releases

DCA Director Waives Requirements for Veterinary Telemedicine and Prescription Refills The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued new waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship to give pet owners more options when seeking treatment for their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. The waivers authorize veterinarians to diagnose and treat new or different…

The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) announces the appointment of Loretta S. Melby RN, BSN, MSN as its new Executive Officer effective June 4, 2020. Ms. Melby has 25 years of healthcare experience including 19 years as a registered nurse with 13 of those years being in a variety…

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today issued new waivers for health care students and professionals to enable them to help provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new waivers allow supervision, physician examinations, and training requirements for specific license types to be conducted via appropriate electronic means. Previously, such…

Exercising the authority under Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-39-20, the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has waived physician assistant (PA) supervision requirements to allow physicians and surgeons to supervise more than four physician assistants at a time. “In order to allow physician assistants the flexibility to…

Exercising the authority under Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-39-20, the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) waived restrictions on nursing student clinical hours. This waiver will allow approximately 9,000 nursing students to complete their clinical training programs, some of which have been discontinued by nursing programs and…

Students will not violate the Nursing Practice Act SACRAMENTO – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow and California prepares for a medical surge, the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) wants nursing students to know they can help. During this public health crisis Business and Professions Code section 2727(d) provides…

Consumers and licensees are urged to protect themselves  The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) is encouraging consumers and licensees at hair and nail salons, spas and barber shops to take precautionary steps to protect themselves from diseases. “The profession of our licensees requires physical contact with consumers. It…

The Medical Board of California (Board) has appointed William J. Prasifka as its new executive director. A native of California, Prasifka comes to the Board from the Medical Council of Ireland, where he has served as its chief executive officer (CEO) for the past four years. Prasifka will officially start…

Smog Check stations caught using “clean gassing” to issue fraudulent certificates SACRAMENTO, CA – The Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) has filed, for prosecution by the Attorney General’s Office, accusations against nine Smog Check stations because investigations showed them to be issuing fraudulent certificates. Through analysis of Smog Check Program…

New Bureau of Automotive Repair Program Sends Cars to Schools Your clunker car could be put to good use in the classroom. The Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) new Cars for Schools program provides retired vehicles to public high schools, community colleges, and regional occupation programs, offering students the opportunity…