Research shows that voters strongly oppose weakening the rigorous qualifications needed to ensure professionals in high-impact fields like landscape architecture can perform their work safely. Instead, they support approaches that maintain rigorous licensing standards while creating more accessible ways for candidates to meet those standards.
In response to workforce shortages, the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) developed this resource to help explain the public’s opinion on addressing shortages in highly technical professions.
Key takeaways
- The public strongly endorses rigorous requirements for ARPL professions, including landscape architecture.
- The public has concerns over weakening licensing to address workforce shortages.
- The public supports alternative paths to licensure, not lowering standards.
Balancing accessibility and rigor in licensing
- 79% of voters support “earn-and-learn” models allowing students to make money while accruing experience for licensure.
- 76% of voters support integrating highly technical professions into STEM curricula. Landscape architecture is a STEM designated profession.
- 70% of voters support ESL accommodations and offering free or discounted practice exams.
