New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and Make the Road New Jersey Host Forum on Updates to Occupational Licenses in New Jersey

Immigrant Rights Organization Make the Road New Jersey Held an Online Forum with New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs to Share Information on the Expansion of Occupational Licenses to Individuals Regardless of Immigration Status

March 30, 2022 — New Jersey – Immigrant members of Make the Road New Jersey joined representatives from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs for a bilingual discussion of changes and updates to the occupational licenses application process that removes barriers to immigrant applicants. New Jersey licenses hundreds of professions, from physicians, to movers, manicurists, nurses and CPAs. In September 2020, Governor Murphy signed A4225/S2455 into law which removed arbitrary and unconstitutional barriers to occupational licenses so all qualified and trained New Jersey residents can obtain an occupational license, pursue their profession, and contribute to our state. Before, New Jersey law prevented hundreds of thousands of immigrants from becoming physicians, nurses and health care workers in a time when our state needs more medical workers to properly respond to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Without the law New Jersey would have an estimated shortage of 11,400 nurses by 2030 – the third largest nursing shortage in the country. At the same time, 14,000 immigrants in New Jersey have an under-utilized health-related undergraduate degree, of which 6,000 are immigrants with a nursing degree.

“After years of organizing led by immigrant community members, we are thrilled to join the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs to hear about updates to the occupational license process that removes barriers to immigrant applicants. With this law in place, our communities have more access to pursue a profession and our dreams, and today we share important information with the community,” said Janessa Vargas, youth leader at Make the Road New Jersey.

“We want to remind qualified candidates who meet the requirements for licensure that they can obtain a professional or occupational license regardless of their immigration status,” said Sean P. Neafsey, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “Applicants who do not have a Social Security number or an ITIN can access a certification form on our website that allows them to obtain an alternative identification number. The occupational and professional boards we oversee stand ready to assist them with any questions they may have about the process.”

Individuals interested in more information on the occupational license process can contact: www.njconsumeraffairs.gov.

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