“Occupational and professional regulation is a process by which a government agency grants permission
to individuals to engage in a specified occupation or profession upon finding that applicants have
attained at least the minimal degree of competence required to ensure that the public’s health, safety,
and welfare will be reasonably well protected.” 1 The structures of the regulatory entities vary:

• fully autonomous/independent (Model A);
• autonomous but with a central agency responsible for housekeeping/administrative functions
(Model B);
• autonomous/independent decision-making authority but with a central agency responsible for
housekeeping/administration, budget, personnel, investigations, and discipline (Model C);
• central agency with decision-making authority on all substantive matters while boards are
delegated responsibility for some functions (Model D); or
• central agency, commission, or council with final decision-making authority and boards serving
only in an advisory capacity (Model E).