In a world in which more and more high-paying jobs are subject to state licensing, people’s ability to make it into or remain in the middle class is often dependent on their ability to obtain or retain some form of license. For that reason, it is critically important that licensing requirements are no stricter than absolutely necessary to protect public health and safety.

This week’s Highlights features the work of two Virginia agencies that decided that licensing requirements could be relaxed while still protecting the public.

 

The Board of Nursing provides greater autonomy for licensed certified midwives.

In routine pregnancies that do not require specialized care, many families choose to use a midwife rather than incur the greater costs associated with delivery in a hospital setting. Midwives often practice under the supervision of other healthcare professionals.  Requiring supervision can help ensure public safety, but it can also limit the supply of qualified professionals.

In response to legislation, the Board of Nursing recently issued a regulation (see Action 6766) providing that licensed certified midwives who have logged 1,000 hours of practice are qualified to practice independently. The regulation also allowed midwives who have practiced for two or more years to supervise other midwives. This regulation strikes the right balance between safety and access, helping control healthcare costs by expanding the supply of qualified professionals.

 

The Board of Accountancy eliminates post-baccalaureate education requirements for Certified Public Accountants.

Like many states, Virginia faces a shortage of certified public accountants (CPAs), with the number of new licenses issued dropping precipitously in the last two decades. To address this problem, the General Assembly passed legislation that allowed students with bachelor’s degrees and two years of experience to apply for a CPA license. The Board of Accountancy recently issued an exempt regulatory action (see Action 6847) adopting this new standard.

As a recent Wall Street Journal article suggested, this change will prove valuable for Virginia students hoping to enter the workforce and start building successful careers.  As rising VCU senior Kameron Samuel put it, “Not only will I be able to save more money by not paying for additional schooling and possibly having to take out more loans, I could get more experience as well . . . It was very appealing.”

With this change, Virginia will hopefully start addressing its CPA deficit. And ambitious students like Mr. Samuel will be able to earn a solid living by doing important and meaningful work.