How to Reform Licensing
This study—and copious other research—suggests many licenses are unnecessary or unnecessarily burdensome. To rein in licensing, or at least mitigate some of its negative effects, there are several strategies policymakers can employ:
Importantly, while this report focuses on a sample of lower-income occupations, these strategies can help states implement evidence-based reforms for occupational licenses beyond those we study here.
Resources for Licensing Reform
Comparing licensing across states
- License to Work, 3rd ed., online “Compare States” tool
- The Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation’s online database
- National Conference of State Legislatures’ National Occupational Licensing Database
Evaluating existing and proposed licenses
- Searchable archive of government-issued sunrise reports evaluating 200+ occupations
- Council on Licensure, Enforcement & Regulation’s Questions a Legislator Should Ask, 3rd ed.