In the never-ending saga that is state occupational licensing, a new job has come to the attention of the State of Georgia, that of “lactation consultant.” House Bill 649, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R- 43), Rep. Valerie Clark (R- 101), Rep. Pam Stephenson (D- 90), Rep. David Knight (R- 130) and Rep. Darrel Ealum (R- 153), would require the licensure of lactation consultants, provide for an advisory committee, provide for licensure applications and establish examinations and license fees. The bill would be added to Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (the compilation of all Georgia laws), “relating to physicians, acupuncturists, and others.”
Lactation consultancy is something many readers may not be aware of but there are both regional and national organizations dedicated to proper lactation consulting and lobbying groups at both levels as well. Last year, Governor Nathan Deal signed a statewide proclamation, declaring August 4 as Georgia State Breastfeeding Awareness Month. The SouthEastern Lactation Consultant Association, SELCA, has a long history, dating back to 1988 when it was founded by 4 International Board Certified Lactation Consultants.
Some are questioning the necessity of having a state board certify lactation consultants, particularly when there is already a private organization that does so, the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
In fact, Georgia has a number of occupations that require licensing that many see as outside the scope of traditional government responsibilities. Athletic trainers, hair “designers, barber apprentices, interior designers, master barbers, hearing aid dealers and auctioneers all require special licensing. A report last year by the Brookings Institute found that nearly 30% of workers in the U.S. need a license to do their job. Some of these jobs, such as electricians or doctors, have a sufficient level of risk where it may be appropriate for the government to act as a last resort of certification proof. Other jobs, such as florists or make-up artists, that may not have this level of risk are still required to satisfy often expensive and time-consuming requirements before they are legally permitted to perform these positions.
Although union membership in the United States has seen a significant drop over the last few decades, occupational licensing has seen a large increase, from 5% in the 1950s to around 30% today. Over 1,000 occupations are currently regulated in the U.S. According to Brookings, twenty-one states require a license to be a travel guide. In Nevada, a hopeful travel guide has to put in 733 days of training and pay $1,500 for the license. Sometimes, the differing regulations between occupations shows no relation between licensing requirements and the potential harm to consumers. In Michigan, nearly 1,500 days of education or training are require to become an athletic trainer, to become an emergency medical technician requires as twenty-six.
Occupational licensing limits employment opportunities and can slow job growth. Customers also end up paying a price for licensing. Brookings data shows that customers may pay as 15% more due a higher perceived level of quality and a willingness to pay more or alternatively the extra training may result in a barrier to entry that reduces market competition and allows providers to charge higher prices.
A 2007 report from the Reason Foundation identified some of the most outrageous examples of unnecessary licensing requirements. Maine requires them for beekeepers, Vermont requires them for chimney sweeps, Louisiana for florists and Maryland for fortune tellers (fortune tellers? What are the rules for that one?). Georgia at the time qualified with recreation administrator/leader/supervisor.
Read more at the Reason Foundation: http://reason.org/files/762c8fe96431b6fa5e27ca64eaa1818b.pdf
