LABOR REVIEW We believe this article is the first to uncover and analyze instances of the successful de-licensing of occupations at the state level. Of course, some cases may have been overlooked. The reasons are many, including that no central clearinghouse exists that collects records of de-licensing as well as that some state legislative audits are incomplete and not always available. In addition, imprecision and ambiguity are often found in the use of the terms “license,” “certification,” and “registration.” Unfortunately, the three terms are sometimes used interchangeably, with confusion the occasional result. Furthermore, often what appear to be occupational licenses are in fact simply business licenses. Occupational licenses are issued to individuals giving them the right to practice, whereas business licenses are issued to companies. Still, the de-licensing of an occupation no doubt rarely occurs. Recent attempts in nine states to collectively de-license groups of occupations have shown more potential, but as of yet, they have been almost uniformly unsuccessful. Finally, we believe the several instances of de-licensing that we uncovered give researchers an unusual opportunity to analyze the effects that de-licensing has had on the numbers of practitioners and on earnings levels. As such, they constitute interesting natural experiments. A small but growing number of studies have found that licensing reduces practitioner numbers while it raises earnings. But what about the reverse effects of de-licensing on numbers and earnings? How sizable are these effects and how rapidly do they occur? SUGGESTED CITATION Robert J. Thornton and Edward J. Timmons, "The de-licensing of occupations in the United States," Monthly Labor Review, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015, https://doi.org/10.21916/mlr.2015.13 NOTES 1 H. G. Lewis, Unionism and Relative Wages in the United States (Chicago: University of Chicago Press), 1963; and Morris M. Kleiner and Alan B. Krueger, “The prevalence and effects of occupational licensing,” British Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 48, no. 4, 2010, pp. 676–687; and Morris M. Kleiner and Alan B. Krueger, “Analyzing the extent and influence of occupational licensing on the labor market,” Journal of Labor Economics, vol. 31, April 2013, pp. S173–S202. 2 For more information on union decertification elections, see National Labor Relations Board, “Decertification elections,” https:// www.nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/whats-law/employees/i-am-represented-union/decertification-election. 3 Morris M. Kleiner, Licensing Occupations: Ensuring Quality or Restricting Competition? (Kalamazoo, MI: Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 2006), p. 13, http://research.upjohn.org/up_press/18/. 4 For more information on sunset and sunrise review processes, see “Sunrise, sunset, and state agency audits,” Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation, November 21, 2005, http://www.clearhq.org/. 5 The Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation describes itself as a “neutral forum to encourage and provide for the sharing of best [regulatory] practices” and “as a resource for any entity or individual involved in the licensure, non-voluntary certification or registration of the hundreds of regulated occupations and professions.” Its website includes regular updates on licensing developments, both in the United States and other countries, and sunset reviews. 6 See, for example, Robert J. Thornton and Edward J. Timmons, “Licensing one of the world oldest professions: massage,” Journal of Law and Economics, vol. 56, May 2013, pp. 371– 388. 7 The National Association of Barber Schools, which later changed its name to the National Association of Barber Styling Schools, dissolved approximately 10 years ago. 8 The grandfather clause in the statute reads, “Any person who can establish within six months after August 19, 1971, that he or she is a barber or an apprentice as defined under this chapter and can establish reasonable proof that he or she is practicing barbering in U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 16 MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW a barbershop under sanitary conditions will be given a certificate to practice barbering or an apprentice certificate without any examination upon paying the required fees as prescribed by this chapter.” 9 Kendra Majors, “Regulations for barbers?” Andalusia Star News, April 19, 2012, http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/2012/04/19/ regulations-for-barbers/. 10 The Board of Cosmetology expanded to include barbers and was renamed Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. See Alabama House bill 184, Regular Session, LegiScan, May 20, 2013, http://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HB184 /2013. 11 “Funeral directors,” Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 29, 2012), https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ personal-care-and-service/funeral-service-occupations.htm. 12 “Colorado revised statutes: professions and occupations, mortuary science code,” Title 12, Article 54, 12-54-111, July 1, 2011. 13 Jerry Kopel, “Mortuary licensing,” May 18, 2007, http://www.jerrykopel.com/2007/Mortuary %20Licensing.htm. 14 “Naturopathic physicians—the path to licensure,” CLEAR News, Spring 2004, http://www.clearhq.org/resources/ spring_2004_newsletter.pdf. 15 “What is a naturopathic doctor?” Naturopathic