NSPE and the American Council of Engineering Companies submitted testimony to members of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development as it investigates the prevalence of occupational licensing, its effects on economic growth and upward mobility, and what is being done to address those and other issues within states and across state boundaries.
The joint NSPE-ACEC letter acknowledged “the House subcommittee’s interest in reviewing licensing requirements for various occupations to ensure a proper balance between the free flow of commerce and the need to protect the public interest.…” However, the letter noted that “if this effort weakens the stringent standards that apply to professional engineers who design solutions to many of society’s most pressing challenges, this balance will be disrupted and the public interest will be compromised.”
NSPE will continue to vigorously advocate for professional engineer licensure at the federal level as well as promote awareness and recognition of the value of the PE license.