New York (State). Education Dept. Office of the Professions.

In the State Education Department (SED), the Office of the Professions (OTP) is responsible for licensing, registration, discipline, and general oversight of 38 professions regulated by education law. OTP is organized into nearly four dozen program units, including administrative offices which process license and registration applications, oversee professional discipline, monitor professional education programs, develop and administer professional exams, and conduct numerous other duties needed to support professional licensure.

In addition, OTP includes the 26 Board/Committee offices that oversee professional practice in 38 regulated fields.The 25 state boards (and the Committee on Athletic Training, which acts similarly) have important responsibilities to advise the Board of Regents and the SED (the Regents' administrative arm) on matters of professional preparation, licensure, practice, and discipline for the 38 professions. In each case, board members are appointed by the regents based on applications and nominations to OTP. The boards meet regularly (typically, four or five times a year) to consider pending issues and recommend actions to improve the practice and SED oversight of their respective professions.

The first boards were organized in the latter years of the 19th century. Other boards have been formed during the 20th century as specific professions have come under jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.