Professional Licensing Boards Partner with Software Companies to Manage Online Licensing Services
There is significant variation in the way states issue and manage occupational licenses. Beyond differences in education and training requirements to obtain a license, states also differ in how they process and issue licenses. While some states still use paper application processes, others have migrated to online centralized licensing systems for most or all occupations […]
CSG Report on Universal License Recognition
Since 2019, 14 states have either established or revised universal license recognition (ULR) laws. These statutes define a framework where a state determines its unique process to grant an occupational license to an individual who already holds a license in another state or U.S. territory. ULR laws generally set less restrictive and more uniform license portability standards across most or all licensed occupations in a state. However, […]
Micro-credentialing: Function and Future in State Policy
Micro-credentials are a form of credentialing gaining popularity to allow career advancement without full stops for additional degrees in licensed professions. Similar to continuing educations requirements, micro-credentials (sometimes known as ‘badges’) focus on practicing professionals looking to gain skills or specific content knowledge to increase their value to employers and patients, students and clients. They […]
New Study: Stringent Occupational Licensing Hinders Teacher Mobility, but not Out-of-State Teacher Quality
“The Effect of Occupational Licensing Stringency on the Teacher Quality Distribution,” a recent study sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research, finds stricter licensing laws diminish teacher mobility but does not meaningfully affect the quality of teachers coming from other states. The study’s findings may be particularly illuminating for states with teacher shortages, where […]
Comparing Universal Licensure Recognition Policies
As states seek ways to improve occupational licensure portability for out-of-state workers, “universal licensure recognition” laws have gained popularity. Since 2019, eight states have either implemented new or reworked existing license portability policies that may be defined under the universal licensure recognition model. The model generally sets less restrictive and more uniform licensure portability standards across most […]
Comparing Military Fee Waivers for Licensed Occupations
Military service members, their spouses, and veterans, are among those disproportionately impacted by occupational licensure policy. With frequent interstate relocations and a propensity for employment in licensed occupations, this population is particularly affected by licensure fees, which must be paid to keep a license active or upon each relocation to a new state. The adverse impact is exacerbated by […]
Sunrise Review Processes by State
As states assess ways to improve the occupational licensure policy process, the use of “sunrise reviews” has garnered renewed interest. A sunrise review is a specific, data-informed analysis completed before proposed regulations are considered by a state legislature. The result is better information about the proposed benefits, and potential drawbacks, of the considered regulation. For occupational […]
Understanding Arizona’s Universal Occupational Licensing Recognition Bill
In his 2019 State of the State address, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, former CSG Toll Fellow, urged the Legislature to pass legislation granting universal recognition for occupational licenses, saying “workers don’t lose their skills simply because they move to Arizona.” HB 2569 which was signed into law by Gov. Ducey in April, makes Arizona the […]