Survey Finds Voters Support Professional Licensing; Cite Public Safety and Welfare

Industry News

February 5, 2020

Survey Finds Voters Support Professional Licensing; Cite Public Safety and Welfare

With professional licensing under assault in state houses across the country, a recent survey by the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) reports that 75 percent of voters believe it is important to license professionals in certain professions.

A majority of voters stated that current professional licensing requirements protect the public and should not be reformed.

Among the other findings of the survey, which was conducted by Benenson Strategy Group:

• More than 70 percent 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 percent 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 percent 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.

Click here to read the executive summary of the survey

All comments to blog posts will be moderated by ACEC staff.