Calling for IL Occupational Licensing Reform

Occupational licenses should protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Unfortunately, some occupational licenses are unnecessary and burdensome. They create unwarranted barriers for Illinois entrepreneurs and those interested in working in new professions.

Needless occupational licenses also keep people from moving to Illinois. Needless occupational licenses, or those which are overly restrictive, also hurt small businesses struggling to find qualified employees.

Illinois policymakers can support small businesses, create jobs and empower entrepreneurs by guarding against the imposition of unnecessary red tape through new occupational licenses. Legislation has already been filed which, if passed, will establish a process to investigate and review whether new occupational and professional licenses are necessary.

Illinois House Bill 4012 will permit any individual or interested party to ask the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to review proposed legislation establishing new licenses or expanding the scope of those already in existence. The department will then be empowered to make recommendations to legislators before they vote to establish another occupational license.

Illinois legislators should also eliminate or modify unnecessary and burdensome licenses already on the books in Illinois. For example, a barber in Illinois must complete 1,500 hours of education, which is often costly, before being able to cut hair or start their own business.

This is only one example of a license that creates barriers for people trying to work.

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