Category: News

Workforce shortages, talent pipelines at a trickle and expensive labor are all-too-familiar challenges facing businesses and the public sector. In an attempt to tackle these problems, there is a growing trend of exploring the weakening or elimination of certain key job requirements. These proposals include getting rid of college degree requirements without equivalency alternatives, doing away with…

Read more

Floridians Right to Demand Rigorous Professional Licensing By: Christopher Sharek, President, ASCE Florida Section Tallahassee Democrat A recent article in the Democrat, Deregulate it? Florida lawmakers aim to boost employment by cutting licensing requirements (Feb. 7, 2020), described efforts by some state legislators to weaken or eliminate licensing requirements for Florida professions. While lowering barriers…

Read more

Let’s start by saying the quiet part out loud: There are differences between us. We represent different political parties in the Illinois House of Representatives. We live in different parts of our state. But in these polarized times, we think it is important to look deeper and notice our similarities. As legislators, we both seek…

Read more

As governors and state legislators work to boost the economy in the face of inflation, supply-chain disruptions and lingering challenges from the coronavirus pandemic, the issue of licensing reform is once again coming to the fore. It is disappointing but not surprising that a small but vocal group of hardliners, backed by wealthy and powerful…

Read more

As West Virginia prepares to spend billions of dollars in new federal infrastructure funds, citizens of our state must have faith in the integrity of these new construction projects. The best way to ensure this important public confidence is to make sure the people behind the projects have rigorous training and qualifications. The truth is,…

Read more

With the recent enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, engineers and surveyors will be called upon to work with similar professionals to improve the physical infrastructure in our country. They will work to improve the safety of the roads we drive, the bridges we cross, the water we drink, and countless other areas…

Read more

Making it easier for professionals to practice across state lines is appealing, but if it isn’t done right, it can endanger the public’s health and safety.   As states move toward reopening and more Americans are vaccinated, policymakers across the country are prioritizing a quick economic recovery. The latest trend among state lawmakers looking to…

Read more

As the United States works to reverse the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, state legislatures will once again consider occupational licensing reform as a way to jumpstart the economy and get Americans back to work. However, there is no silver bullet to this complex set of challenges. Lately, anti-licensing groups have set their sights on so-called “universal licensing” (proposals from lawmakers…

Read more

Point of View: Be Careful with broad-brush approach to occupational licensing reform By: Tricia H. Hatley, President, National Society of Professional Engineers The Oklahoman   “States need to cut licensing red tape permanently” (Point of View, Sept. 9) describes a push to weaken occupational licensing nationally. However, proponents failed to acknowledge the daily and invaluable…

Read more

Licensing for landscape architects By: Ryan R. Binkowski, Landscape Architect, Bonita Springs, FL The News-Press I was surprised to read a recent column in the Naples Daily News arguing for the elimination of licensing for landscape architects. As a licensed landscape architect for 17 years and as a partner and chief operating officer of Waldrop Engineering,…

Read more