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Universal licensing reciprocity helps moving Americans


May 18, 2020

Last year, Arizona became the first state to recognize other states’ occupational licenses for people moving in. “Universal recognition” legislation allows any professional who has met the requirements and maintained licensure for a year in any other U.S. state to transfer that license to Arizona and begin working.

In less than a year, over 750 people have been able to move to Arizona and begin working immediately. This helps not only those moving to Arizona but the Arizonans who are now able to receive services from these professionals.

Universal recognition is gaining traction across several states. MontanaPennsylvania, and Utah have recently joined Arizona and passed universal recognition legislation of their own, removing one of the most daunting hurdles workers face while moving to a new state.

When people move between states, we don’t make them sit for the learner’s permit exam or retake the driving test to get a new license. Instead, we trust other states’ screening mechanism for the ability to drive a car, which is far more dangerous than most licensed occupations.

Licenses restrict the entrance of new professionals, artificially raise wages and the prices consumers pay, slow down innovation and entrepreneurship, and erect barriers to low-skilled workers trying to enter the labor market. All that, with no measurable effect on quality, according to a 2015 White House report. Similar findings have come from researchers at ideologically diverse places like the National Bureau of Economic Research, the University of Minnesota, the Center for the Study of Economic Liberty, and the Council of Economic Advisors.

Article source: Catalyst

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