Chicago Center for Jewish Genetics Disorders - Genetics Counseling Licensure

Genetic Counseling Licensure

Why Should Genetic Counselors Become Licensed?
Learn About the Most Current Legislation
Legislative Update

Why Should Genetic Counselors Become Licensed?

The progress of the Human Genome Project has created a need and a demand for genetic information. Newspapers, websites, and other media outlets offer an overflow of information, but often leave the reader with many questions, and nowhere to turn for answers. As science and technology advance, learning more about the way our DNA can affect our health and lifespan, we need a way to find out how these advances apply to us, personally.

Most physicians are not experts in genetics or hereditary diseases, and do not always know how to advise concerned patients with regards to genetic issues. However, physicians can, and do, refer their patients to genetic counselors, who then provide patients with accurate information regarding the likelihood of occurrence of genetic disease in a family, the need for genetic screening or testing, and technologies currently available.

Although the need for genetic counselors is rapidly expanding, the number of trained genetic counselors is still small. Unfortunately, not all individuals claiming to be genetic counselors are truly qualified to give advice on such intensely private matters, nor are there regulatory guidelines in the majority of states. As genetic research and technology continue to push forward, it is important that patients feel confident that they are indeed receiving quality advice from reliable professionals.

It is for these reasons that the issue of licensure for genetic counselors has emerged in state legislatures. Currently, only California and Utah have enacted a statewide protocol for the licensure of genetic counselors. Fifteen additional states are in the process of creating such legislation, including Illinois. It is our hope that other states soon follow this example.

Learn About the Most Current Legislation

The Genetic Counseling Licensing Act, introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives as HB4200 and in the Illinois Senate as SB2889, will:

Assure that genetic counselors are qualified to provide genetic information to clients.
Increase the safety and welfare of the greater public health in Illinois.
Protect the public in Illinois from untrained or unskilled practitioners through licensing procedures and requirements.
Insure that all practicing genetic counselors are current in their knowledge of genetic information and technologies.
Provide a mechanism to hold genetic counselors accountable for their practices.
Require continuing education for all practicing genetic counselors in Illinois.
Promote higher standards of professionalism within the industry.
Create better access to genetic counseling services.
Raise awareness of genetic counseling and genetic information to the public.
Establish an arena for recourse in the event that a genetic counselor(s) provides inaccurate or erroneous information

Legislative Update
As of 1/18/06:
Governor Rod Blagojevich signed HB4200, making Illinois only the third state in the nation to require that genetic counselors become licensed. Licensure will be overseen by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The IDFPR has not yet begun writing the rules for licensure, and it is unclear when licensure will be required for genetic counselors in Illinois. Click here to read the press release from the Office of the Governor.

For more information or if you have any questions on this legislation, please contact Judy Miller, at 217.383.5084 or via e-mail at miller12@uiuc.edu, or Len Lieberman, at 217.753.1010 or via e-mail at LeonardLieberman@juf.org.

This page last updated on January 19, 2006.