A new research study, "Occupational Licensing and Interstate Migration in the United States," published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Monthly Labor Review finds no evidence of licensing affecting interstate migration. The research question was: "Is high licensing preventing people from moving into certain states?" The research indicates that evidence supporting that statement is weak and that other complex factors, such as where a state is located, the ability to work remotely, and connection to the community, play a larger role.
September 22, 2022
August 31, 2022
New book on licensing's effects on efficiency and quality
Morris Kleiner, professor of economics at the University of Minnesota, has shared with CLEAR that his new book, Grease of Grit? International Case Studies of Occupational Licensing and Its Effects on Efficiency and Quality, will be published September 15. From the cover: “Regulating labor markets through occupational licensing could help increase service quality but is likely to also reduce labor supply and increase prices. This fascinating book examines many occupations across five countries and shows that there is no clear positive impact of licensing on quality. It is a must read for everyone interested in the practical impact of regulation—as well as those seeking reforms.”
To order a copy: https://www.amazon.com/International-Studies-Occupational-Licensing-Efficiency/dp/0880996862/
August 04, 2022
FSMB grants for medical regulatory complaint-data research
State medical boards are invited to apply for a newly launched grant program with Federation of State Medical Boards. "FSMB Foundation State Medical Board Complaints-Data Grants are designed to offer state medical and osteopathic boards and other organizations funding support for the study of the use of complaint-data in medical regulation. The long-term goal of the program is to help individual state boards improve their understanding and use information about complaints to advance patient protection; to advance dialogue within the medical regulatory community about the use of complaint-data; and to encourage consistency and best practices among state boards in the way complaint data is collected and used."
March 23, 2022
Opinion article on downgrading professional licensing
An opinion piece published on governing.com highlights recent economic research on occupational licensure as a counter to the argument for "downgrading" professional licensure. The research from Oxford Economics and the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing shows that licensure is associated with 6.5% higher wages on average and that licensure narrows the gender wage gap by one-third and the racial wage gap by one-half in fields requiring advanced education and training. The article makes a distinction between occupational licensing and professional licensing, urging that one size does not fit all for licensing reform.
March 02, 2022
Institute for Justice releases study about sunrise reviews
The Institute for Justice, a non-profit, public interest law firm, has released a new study, Too Many Licenses? Government “Sunrise” Reviews Cast Doubt on Barriers to Work. From the IJ: "It’s a systematic survey of state sunrise laws, plus an analysis of nearly 500 sunrise reviews. It also features interviews with state officials who do the reviews. The report has a lot to say about when licensing is a good idea and when it isn’t. We also created an online archive of nearly 500 reviews covering 200+ occupations, providing a rich data source for those interested in particular fields."
February 23, 2022
Research: professional regulation and pandemic response - international comparison
A new research paper considers whether "some nations may have been better positioned" to implement needed regulatory policy change during the pandemic "due to their systems of healthcare professional regulation." The article explores three research questions: (1) Did healthcare professional regulators and governments respond differently to the COVID-19 pandemic across the three countries [the UK, Australia, and Canada]? (2) Did national-level professional regulations in the UK and Australia lead to a more effective pandemic response than in Canada, with its system of provincial professional regulation? (3) How did professionals view these pandemic policy responses?
February 09, 2022
Canada: article supports graduated medical licensure
An article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal proposes replacing high-stakes summative examinations with graduated medical licensure. The article states that there is no evidence supporting the effectiveness of current licensure exams in ensuring patient safety. The authors also note that directing resources toward passing an exam could detract from actual preparation for practice. Instead, the authors propose graduated licensure, a model of assessment that "integrates both training programs’ competency-based assessments and clinical practice data derived from trainees’ clinical work would better align with evidence-informed educational practices, underscore the importance of continuous quality improvement for practitioners and refocus licensure on real-world clinical practice."
January 19, 2022
Report Released on Review of USPAP and AQB Criteria
An independent analysis of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (AQB Criteria), funded by the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) and managed by CLEAR, has been completed. The report is intended to represent a comprehensive and independent review of the appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications to ensure that neither encourage or systematize bias, and that both consistently support or promote fairness, equity, objectivity and diversity in both appraisals and the training and credentialing of appraisers.
From the report: "An appraiser has the unique power to determine the value of a home, which for most Americans, is their single most important financial asset and holds the key to wealth, stability, and opportunity for their family and generations to come. In addition, home values affect the tax base, school funding, and community investments. Moreover, time and again, our nation’s economy and financial markets have been significantly impacted by home valuations, with communities of color often bearing the brunt of failings in the mortgage market and the home appraisal process. Given the importance of homeownership to American families, particularly families of color, governmental and private organizations have called for reforms and a comprehensive examination of the structure and governance of the appraisal industry.
In response to these calls for reform, we have assembled the research and recommendations in this report. We urge federal and state governmental entities, The Appraisal Foundation, the GSEs, lenders, appraisers, researchers, and civil rights and consumer advocates to work together to address the concerns raised in the report:
- Questions About the Governance of the Appraisal Industry
- Gaps in Fair Housing Requirements and Training
- Barriers to Entry to the Appraisal Profession
- Compliance and Enforcement
We hope that this report will encourage conversations among key stakeholders in the appraisal and housing industries to seek workable, sustainable solutions that benefit the whole of the housing market, including borrowers of color."
September 29, 2021
New research on nurse independent practice and effect on opioid deaths
New research published by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University shows that allowing nurse practitioners to practice without physician supervision reduced opioid-related deaths by 9.3%. Specifically, prescription-opioid-related deaths were reduced by 7.6%, and illegal-opioid-related deaths were reduced by 5.5%. The reduction is more pronounced in rural counties, with opioid-related deaths reduced by 14-28%. Contrary to claims that granting nurse practitioners independent practice authority would result in more opioid prescriptions, opioid prescriptions actually decreased. The changes to nurse practitioner authority also increased access to care and treatment options for opioid use disorder.
September 08, 2021
Research: occupational therapy practice educators' move to digital platforms
A new research study in Australia was conducted to "explore the experiences of practice educators who supervised occupational therapy students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia." Findings of the report are as follows: "the experiences of the occupational therapy practice educators were interpreted into three themes: (1) Opportunities lost and then created (as two subthemes); (2) The relationship between the student and practice educator (comprising subthemes of practicing self-care and connection and support); and (3) Signing-off of students' competencies. While digital platforms were initially viewed as limiting, they also were used to create new opportunities for student learning. Participants spoke of being mindful of their and students' wellbeing and finding ways to provide connection and support. Participants were challenged by the need to adapt how they evaluated students in the context of a pandemic."
