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U.S. BUSINESSES IN AGREEMENT: LOWERING LICENSING STANDARDS RAISES BUSINESS RISK

U.S. BUSINESSES IN AGREEMENT:

LOWERING LICENSING STANDARDS RAISES BUSINESS RISK

92% of business decision-makers emphasize importance of responsible professional licensing standards for complex, technical professions

Washington, D.C. – The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL)—a national coalition of responsible licensing advocates—today released new research findings that show businesses are concerned about the weakening of licensing standards and the resulting rise in business risk.

In recent years, several states and state governments have considered the weakening or elimination of licensing requirements to alleviate workforce challenges. While the proposals are often labeled as “pro-business”, new research finds that many businesses have reservations. They express strong concern that the proposals will create business challenges and even increase public exposure to harm.

85% would have less confidence in the competence of professionals.
84% would be concerned about increased public exposure to physical and financial risks.
84% would worry about hiring unqualified professionals that would jeopardize their reputation.

The research also finds that businesses value licensing standards and consider them critical for identifying and hiring qualified professionals, building a strong reputation, and keeping the public safe.

“Licensing is essential to ensure that businesses can identify qualified and competent professionals,” said Marta Zaniewski, ARPL Executive Director. “It provides a critical assurance of skills and expertise, which is vital for businesses operating in highly complex and technical fields.”

90% agreed that licensing protects and enhances their business reputation.
92% agreed that licensing plays a crucial role in accurately assessing qualifications and making confident hiring decisions.
92% agreed that licensing ensures professionals meet continuing education standards.

“Professional licensing has long been considered a safeguard for customers,” Zaniewski emphasized. “This new research underscores that it is a safeguard for businesses as well. Eliminating or weakening licensing requirements is not an effective solution for businesses or the public they serve.”

For more information about the research findings or to request an interview with an ARPL representative, please contact Joe Sangiorgio at JSangiorgio@craftdc.com or 202-550-2709.

About ARPL: The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) is a unique coalition that brings together professional organizations and their licensing boards at a time when there is significant concern over the appropriate level of licensing required by law. The coalition was formed to ensure their voices are heard by policymakers and the public amid the growing debate around licensing. You can learn more about the Alliance and the importance of professional licensing at responsiblelicensing.org.

Members of ARPL include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

Methodology: Benenson Strategy Group (BSG) conducted online interviews with 600 decision-makers for small and medium-sized businesses nationally from February 10th to February 26th, 2023. The margin of error is 5.74% for decision-makers at firms that provide complex, highly technical services (e.g., accounting, engineering, architectural, landscape architectural and surveying firms), and 5.58% for decision-makers at companies that rely on firms that provide complex, highly technical services. BSG is a strategic research consultancy that specializes in opinion research, messaging, and strategy for leading political, corporate, and advocacy clients.

Louisiana Voters Concerned About Anti-Licensing Effort

New Survey Finds Strong Bipartisan Support for Maintaining Rigorous Professional Licensing Standards

BATON ROUGE – The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) today announced the results of a survey of Louisiana voters showing they are deeply concerned about anti-licensing proposals being discussed in Baton Rouge during this legislative session. The results also showed widespread public support for maintaining rigorous professional licensing standards for professions that have a clear impact on public health, safety, and welfare.

“An overwhelming, bipartisan majority of Louisiana voters want to protect rigorous professional licensure because it is the best way to safeguard the public’s physical and financial well-being,” said Ron Gitz, Executive Director of the Society of Louisiana CPAs. “Lawmakers in Baton Rouge may wish to consider the views of their constituents as they look at lessening professional licensing requirements.”

The bills look to lessen state licensing requirements for professions and occupations in Louisiana. Some bill provisions would mandate that licensing can only be required after public harm has occurred. They would also do away with minimum qualifications for professionals hired to construct public buildings, bridges, financial systems, and other public infrastructures. Proposals also encourage individuals to file lawsuits if they believe there are too many requirements to practice an occupation or profession.

The survey yielded these findings of Louisianans’ views on the role and value of licensing:

91% of Louisiana voters believe it is important that licensing systems keep consumers and the public safe by establishing standards for professions that impact public health and safety.
91% of Louisiana voters believe it is important that licensing systems ensure that competent, qualified professionals are servicing the public.
90% of Louisiana voters say licensing is important to them because it helps consumers identify qualified professionals and access information about the professionals they hire.
89% of Louisiana voters would be “concerned” if Louisiana eliminated minimum qualifications for engineers, architects, landscape architects, surveyors, and CPAs – including 77% of the public who would be “very concerned” if such legislation passed.

The survey also found significant concern on the part of voters about the downstream effects of weakening or eliminating licensing:

Two-thirds of voters (65 percent) oppose legislation filed in Louisiana that would eliminate professional licensing requirements – and the public assurances they provide – and would mandate that licensing can only be required after public harm has occurred in Louisiana.
A majority of voters (54 percent) say it is a “bad idea” to encourage individuals to file lawsuits if they believe there are too many requirements to practice an occupation or profession, which is exactly what the proposed legislation would do.
A majority of voters (55 percent) believe that eliminating licensing would make it harder for Louisiana businesses to know if their employees are qualified, putting them at greater risk and liability for bad work performed by unqualified employees.
Two-thirds of voters (64 percent) believe that eliminating minimum qualifications assured through licensing would put consumers at greater risk of harm from unqualified practitioners in Louisiana.

“Louisiana voters recognize that rigorous professional licensure is the most effective way to protect the public’s overall health, safety, and welfare,” said David Cox, CEO of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). “The ideas being talked about in Baton Rouge will harm Louisiana businesses and erode consumer confidence in professions with high public impact. Allowing a flood of confusing, costly new lawsuits is a poor substitute for smart, established professional licensure. Voters understand this and are wary when they hear about such proposals.”

Access the survey’s key findings and executive summary here.

Background:

ARPL is a unique coalition that brings together professional organizations and their licensing boards at a time when there is significant concern over the appropriate level of licensing required by law. The coalition was formed to ensure their voices are heard by policymakers and the public amid the growing debate around licensing. You can learn more about the Alliance and the importance of professional licensing at www.responsiblelicensing.org.

ARPL members include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

Advantage, Inc. surveyed 600 Louisiana voters from March 23 to March 28, 2022

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For ARPL media inquiries, please contact Joe Sangiorgio by email at jsangiorgio@craftdc.com or by phone at 1-202-550-2709

Professional Licensing Associated with 6.5% Average Wage Increase Across All Professions and Occupations: National Report

2/2/2021

Professional Licensing Associated with 6.5% Average Wage Increase Across All Professions and Occupations: National Report

New research methodology shows that weakening licensing negatively impacts an important tool that helps fight pay inequity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL)—a national coalition of responsible licensing advocates—today released Valuing Professional Licensing in the United States, a new, first-of-its-kind report that was developed in partnership with the internationally recognized research firm Oxford Economics (executive summary attached). Oxford Economics’ economists analyzed all professions and occupations in the U.S. and found that licensing is associated with 6.5% higher wages on average.

The ARPL-Oxford Economics report comes as licensing reform is emerging as a hot topic of debate in statehouses across America, which are now kicking off their 2021 legislative sessions. The Valuing Professional Licensing report delivers a red flag to lawmakers and policy setters who are considering applying one-size-fits-all legislation in an attempt to roll back their state licensing programs. In 2020, several states attempted to pass bills that would eliminate licensure for various occupations and professions as a way to ease occupational mobility challenges caused by the pandemic or generate economic growth.

“Licensing impacts professions, occupations and populations differently and is a clear driver of higher wages and stronger economies. It also creates strong consumer protections and many professions – especially those that ARPL represents – have several decades of mobility and reciprocity programs that work. These are critical insights that must be acknowledged as part of any thoughtful consideration of licensing policy,” said Marta Zaniewski, Vice President for State Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for the American Institute of CPAs. “One size does not fit all. Time and again we have seen that broad-brush policy doesn’t work, but responsible licensing does.”

The ARPL-Oxford Economics report also shows that women and minorities in job fields requiring advanced education and training (e.g., engineers, surveyors, architects, landscape architects, and CPAs, among others) benefit significantly from licensing. For these workers, the results show that a license narrows the gender-driven wage gap by about one third and the race-driven wage gap by about half.

Key report findings:

The results show that across all professions and occupations, licensing is associated with a 6.5% average increase in hourly earnings, even after accounting for the job holder’s educational attainment, gender, and racial demographics.
The results show that among professionals in technical fields requiring significant education and training, a license narrows the gender-driven wage gap by about one third and the race-driven wage gap by about half.
Minority engineers, surveyors, architects, landscape architects, and CPAs can expect an 8.1% hourly wage increase on average after becoming licensed in their field.
Female engineers, surveyors, architects, landscape architects, and CPAs can expect a 6.1% hourly wage increase on average after becoming licensed in their field.
Both white professionals and male professionals were shown to benefit from licensing too, but to a lesser degree. White engineers, surveyors, architects, landscape architects, and CPAs can expect a 2.9% hourly wage increase after becoming licensed; and males in these professions can expect a 0.7% hourly wage increase after becoming licensed.
Those in trade and vocational occupations (e.g., barber, plumber, etc.) can expect a 7.1% hourly wage increase after becoming licensed, while those in a profession requiring advanced education and training (e.g., engineer, architect, etc.) can expect a 3.6% wage increase after becoming licensed.

“The report findings suggest licensing is an important economic tool for professionals,” said Oxford Economics Senior Economist Alice Gambarin, who served as project lead. “These new findings also reflect the distinctions between each profession and occupation, and the licensing systems that support them should take those differences into consideration.”

Access the full report, executive summary, and key findings here.

The Valuing Professional Licensing report was commissioned by the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL), which is a coalition composed of national associations that represent highly complex, technical professions and their state licensing boards. Members of ARPL are licensed in all 50+ U.S. states and territories. Associations within ARPL have established uniform education, examination, and experience standards and a proven national mobility path for professionals.

The Alliance was formed to ensure their voices are heard by policymakers and the public amid the growing debate around licensing. You can learn more about ARPL, its members and the importance of professional licensing by visiting responsiblelicensing.org.

Members of ARPL include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

For more information about the study click here or to request an interview with an ARPL or Oxford Economics representative, please contact Joe Sangiorgio at JSangiorgio@craftdc.com

New Survey: Consumers Concerned About Rush to Eliminate Professional Licensing

2/5/2020

New Survey: Consumers Concerned About Rush to Eliminate Professional Licensing

Clear Support for Rigorous Professional Licensing to Protect the Public Exists

Findings Come as State Legislatures Weigh Weakening or Eliminating Licensing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) today announced the results of a national survey that indicated widespread public support for maintaining rigorous professional licensing standards for professions that have a clear impact on public health, safety and welfare. These findings were announced as many state legislatures are considering broad proposals to overhaul or eliminate state licensing requirements in the current legislative session.

Legislation weakening state professional licensing requirements was introduced in the West Virginia legislature earlier this month. Similar legislation is expected to be introduced in other states in the coming weeks and months.

Eliminating licensing has become a top priority of groups such as the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity, with model legislative proposals that include the complete elimination of all professional and occupational licensing.

The survey was conducted by Benenson Strategy Group and yielded these key findings:

75% of voters believe that it is important to ensure qualifications for professionals in certain industries. A majority of voters believe that current professional licensing requirements protect the public and should not be reformed.
More than 70% of voters believe that regulating professionals in accounting, engineering, architecture, landscape architecture,and related fields with high impact on public safety and welfare is important.
71% of voters believe professional licensing should be required unless it can be proven that eliminating licensing will not have a negative impact on public health and safety. The public is wary of the alternative approach: requiring licensing only when it is proven necessary for health and safety.
67% of voters believe that consumers are best protected by a system that regulates education, examination and experience standards—all of which are overseen by a professional licensing board.

“An overwhelming, bipartisan majority of the American people understand that professional licensing is rigorous for good reason and they want to keep it that way,” said Skip Braziel, a member of the ARPL, who also serves as Vice President for State Regulatory and Legislative Affairs at the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). “Consumers want to know that the professionals they hire are qualified and as this survey makes clear, voters want to see responsible licensing protected.”

“The public recognizes the critical role that licensing and licensing boards play in protecting the public,” said Marta Zaniewski, an ARPL member who also serves as the Assistant Vice President of External Engagement for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). “This is why consumers are understandably wary of the anti-licensing proposals being floated in their state capitals. Licensing boards not only establish qualifications for a profession, but act on the public’s behalf to uphold the highest standards for our profession and take action against bad practitioners. This indispensable public protection role will be lost if licensing is eliminated.”

You can read the survey summary here.

Background:

Members of ARPL include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

For more information about the study or to request an interview with an ARPL representative, please contact Joe Sangiorgio at JSangiorgio@craftdc.com or 1-202-550-2709.

ASLA Joins New Coalition to Protect Professional Licensing

1/16/20

ASLA Joins New Coalition to Protect Professional Licensing

American Society of Landscape Architects and Others Unite as Public Put at Risk by Calls to Eliminate or Weaken Licensing

Washington DC – The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has joined the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) — a coalition of advanced professions focused on educating policymakers and the public about the importance of rigorous professional licensing standards.

ASLA will work with other ARPL members to ensure the voices and concerns of advanced professions are heard by lawmakers amid the growing debate around licensing. The coalition was formed last summer to advocate for the critical importance of maintaining licensing standards for highly complex, technical professions like landscape architecture that have a clear impact on public health, safety, and welfare.

“The practice of landscape architecture includes keeping the public safe from hazards, such as those brought on by security threats, natural disasters, and climate change. For the sake of public protection and to ensure practice competency, ASLA worked hard to ensure landscape architecture is a licensed profession throughout the country. Now those licensure laws are in jeopardy from overbroad deregulation proposals in state legislatures,” said Elizabeth Hebron, Director of State Government Affairs at ASLA.

“Becoming a member of ARPL and joining forces with so many other advanced professional organizations will help us amplify our licensure education and advocacy efforts as we face the challenges ahead,” Hebron added.

“With highly-complex, technical professions at risk of being swept up in broad calls to reduce licensing requirements for occupations and vocations, ARPL will enable landscape architects and their registration boards to educate lawmakers about the value of our rigorous education, examination and experience requirements and the need to preserve them,” said Veronica Meadows, Senior Director of Strategy for the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB).

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Background on ASLA

Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is the professional association for landscape architects in the United States, representing more than 15,000 members. The Society’s mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship.

Background on ARPL

The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) aims to educate policymakers and the public on the importance of high standards, rigorous education, and extensive experience within highly complex, technical professions that are relied upon to protect public health, safety, and welfare, and enhance public trust. They seek to offer best practices and solutions drawn from experience to serve as models that work for the public and members of a given profession.

The Alliance advocates for licensing practices within professions that deliver uniform qualifications, standards, safety, and consistency, while also providing individuals with a clear career path and fair opportunities to pursue and maintain that career.

ARPL Member organizations other than ASLA include: Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB); The American Institute of Architects (AIA); the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPAs); National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB); the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA); National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE); and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

CLARB Helps Launch New Coalition to Protect Professional Licensing

8/12/2019

CLARB Helps Launch New Coalition to Protect Professional Licensing

Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards and Others Unite as Standards Put at Risk by Calls to Eliminate or Weaken Licensing

Washington, DC – The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) has helped found the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) – a new coalition of advanced professions focused on educating policymakers and the public about the importance of rigorous professional licensing standards.

CLARB will work with other ARPL members to inform lawmakers of the need to maintain licensing standards for highly complex, technical professions like landscape architecture that have a clear impact on public health, safety, and welfare. The coalition was formed to ensure the voices and concerns of advanced professions are heard by lawmakers amid the growing debate around licensing.

“Professional licensing for landscape architects is rigorous for good reason. Landscape architects are responsible for designing and planning the outdoor environment to enhance property values (including parks, streetscapes, and gardens); ensuring public accessibility related to transit and habitat; reducing impacts to property caused by flooding, sea-level rise, and fire through trained resilience planning; and creating spaces that enhance public health and well-being,” said Veronica Meadows, Senior Director of Strategy for CLARB. “It is vitally important lawmakers understand our profession plays an indispensable role in protecting public health, safety, and welfare. With advanced professions like ours at risk of being swept up in broad calls to reduce licensing requirements for occupations and vocations, ARPL will enable landscape architects and their registration boards to educate lawmakers about the value of our rigorous education, examination and experience requirements and the need to preserve them.”

You can learn more about ARPL and the importance of professional licensing by visiting the group’s newly-launched website: http://www.responsiblelicensing.org/.

ARPL members include the American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).

For ARPL media inquiries, please contact Joe Sangiorgio by email at jsangiorgio@craftdc.com or by phone at 1-202-550-2709

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The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) promotes a responsible, balanced approach to professional licensing. We aim to educate policymakers and the public on the importance of high standards, rigorous education, and extensive experience within highly complex, technical professions that are relied upon to protect public safety and enhance public trust. For more information, visit www.responsiblelicensing.org

AIA, NCARB Help Launch New Coalition to Represent Complex Professions and Licensing Boards

8/12/2019

AIA, NCARB Help Launch New Coalition to Represent Complex Professions and Licensing Boards

Architects, Registration Boards, and Others join effort to ensure a unified voice for professions in growing debate around licensure, regulation, and public safety

Washington, DC – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) are among several organizations who have helped found the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) — a new coalition of technical professions focused on educating policymakers and the public about the importance of rigorous professional licensing standards.

ARPL is a unique coalition that brings together professional organizations and their registration boards at a time when there is significant concern over the appropriate level of licensing required by law. The coalition was formed to ensure their voices are heard by policymakers and the public amid the growing debate around licensing.

“NCARB and AIA may approach the licensing debate from different perspectives but we fundamentally agree that rigorous standards must be maintained in order to protect the public we both serve,” said NCARB CEO Michael J. Armstrong. “Complex professions are at risk of being swept up in broad calls to reduce licensing requirements for occupations and vocations. It is important for us to work with other technical professions to ensure public safety isn’t compromised by broad brush deregulatory efforts.

“When an architect designs a hospital or a school, the public must have confidence in its safety and structural integrity,” said AIA EVP/CEO Robert Ivy, FAIA. “The best way to maintain the public’s confidence is to continue to require that architects demonstrate rigorous and ongoing education, examination, and experience. Attempts to weaken or undermine professional licensing requirements for architects not only harm our profession, but could potentially endanger public health, safety, and welfare.”

The formation of the Alliance reflects mutual interest between regulatory organizations and their professional society counterparts in making the case for reasonable regulation. Although the regulatory associations’ mission is the protection of the public, and the professional societies are the voices of their respective professions, recent trends and challenges in the regulatory and legislative environment have called for these groups to proactively engage together in the narrative around the importance of reasonable regulation and licensing.

In addition to AIA and NCARB, members of the ARPL include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

You can learn more about ARPL and the importance of professional licensing by visiting the group’s newly-launched website http://www.responsiblelicensing.org.

About NCARB

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate.

Connect with NCARB on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

About AIA

Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing.

AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards.

For ARPL media inquiries, please contact Joe Sangiorgio by email at jsangiorgio@craftdc.com or by phone at 1-202-550-2709

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AICPA, NASBA Help Launch New Coalition to Protect Professional Licensing

8/12/2019

AICPA, NASBA Help Launch New Coalition to Protect Professional Licensing

CPAs, Boards of Accountancy and Others Unite to Maintain Public Protection as Licensing Standards Put at Risk

Washington, DC – The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) have helped found the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) – a new coalition of advanced professions focused on educating policymakers and the public about the importance of rigorous professional licensing standards.

AICPA and NASBA will work with other ARPL members to inform lawmakers of the need to maintain standards for highly complex, technical professions like the CPA profession that have a clear impact on the public’s fiscal health and welfare. The coalition was formed to ensure the voices and concerns of the advanced professions are heard by lawmakers amid the growing debate around licensing.

“Weakening professional licensing standards on a state-by-state basis will destroy the confidence in qualifications and completely disrupt existing mobility models for advanced professions like ours,” warned Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, president and CEO of AICPA. “Employers will be less inclined to accept out-of-state licenses if some states have rigorous requirements and others have weak requirements. The result: it will become more difficult for CPAs to move and maintain their careers across states.”

“When a CPA performs an audit of a business or government, the public must have confidence in its accuracy, thoroughness, and integrity,” explained NASBA CEO Ken Bishop. “The most effective way to maintain this confidence is to continue to have CPAs show rigorous education, examination, and experience for their licensing requirements. Broad-brush attempts to weaken or undermine licensing requirements threaten to sweep up advanced professions like certified public accounting, diminish public protection and jeopardize the fiscal integrity of the work our professionals do.”

You can learn more about ARPL and the importance of professional licensing by visiting the group’s newly-launched website http://www.responsiblelicensing.org.

For ARPL media inquiries, please contact Joe Sangiorgio by email at jsangiorgio@craftdc.com or by phone at 1-202-550-2709

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ASCE, NCEES, NSPE Launch New Coalition to Protect Professional Licensing

8/12/2019

ASCE, NCEES, NSPE Launch New Coalition to Protect Professional Licensing

Civil Engineers, Professional Engineers, Licensing Boards and Others Unite as Standards Put at Risk by Calls to Eliminate or Weaken Licensing

Washington, DC – The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) are founding members of the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL), a new coalition of advanced professions focused on educating policymakers and the public about the importance of rigorous professional licensing standards.

ASCE, NCEES and NSPE will collaborate with other ARPL members to inform lawmakers of the need to maintain standards for highly complex, technical professions like engineering that have a clear impact on public health, safety and welfare. The coalition was formed to ensure the voices and concerns of the advanced professions are heard by lawmakers amid the growing debate around licensing.

“When civil engineers design and build critical infrastructure projects like roads, airports, bridges and dams, the public must have confidence in their safety and structural integrity,” said ASCE President Robin A. Kemper, P.E. “The best way to ensure the public’s confidence is to continue to require civil engineers to demonstrate rigorous education, examination and experience as part of their licensing. Recent state-by-state attempts to weaken professional licensing requirements pose a real danger to the public’s health, safety and welfare.”

“Engineers, surveyors and other advanced professions are at risk of being swept up in efforts by state legislatures to reduce licensing requirements for occupations and vocations,” said NCEES CEO David Cox. “Calls to eliminate or weaken licensing make no distinction for advanced, highly complex, technical professions that impact public safety, trust and welfare. These broad-brush proposals have real, negative repercussions, including the dismantling of carefully developed professional licensing systems that have historically protected the public.”

“Advanced professions like ours already have licensing models that work, making it possible for our engineers to move from one state to another and have their licenses acknowledged,” said NSPE CEO Mark Golden. “This is only possible because well-structured licensing systems have established consistency in qualifications and standards within our profession. This uniformity establishes a baseline of trust in the qualifications of our engineers to do their work and keep the public safe.”

For more information about ARPL and the importance of professional licensing as a life-saving credential, visit the group’s newly-launched website http://www.responsiblelicensing.org/.

For ARPL media inquiries, please contact Joe Sangiorgio by email at jsangiorgio@craftdc.com or by phone at 1-202-550-2709

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