Importance of licensure in 2025

As regulatory reform efforts continue, several jurisdictions are evaluating how licensing departments are structured, staffed and funded, as well as which professions should remain regulated. States such as Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Michigan have expressed interest in reforming their licensing departments. Iowa recently overhauled their licensing department and additional jurisdictions continue to express similar interest.

Additionally, many jurisdictions are adding scrutiny to any proposed regulatory changes, often requiring statewide reviews of existing statutes and regulations for licensed professions. In Ohio, for example, a recent review of occupational and professional regulations resulted in a recommendation to maintain landscape architecture licensure in its current form—reinforcing the importance of professional oversight of the profession.