Occupational Licensing - Maintenance: Policy Issue
Overview
Occupational licensing requirements are typically enacted under the guise of improving quality or public safety, but this argument rarely holds up to scrutiny. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Treasury has shown that tougher professional licensing regulations are not indicative of the quality of service being rendered. Overall, licensure requirements drive up costs for consumers, act as a barrier to entry into the labor force and limit the mobility of individuals who possess a professional license.
NAA Position
NAA urges lawmakers to reject proposals that require licensing of property maintenance staff, and instead consider less burdensome approaches such as allowing certification through qualifying programs, such as CAMT.
As an Owner or Operator, How Does this Affect My Business?
In the context of the apartment industry, states often require property maintenance staff to submit to licensing requirements when they perform routine maintenance on a community’s electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. From the perspective of labor unions and their advocates, licensure laws and regulations protect the work of tradesmen who are highly trained to perform extensive work such as a major electrical installation. Whereas, apartment maintenance staff should be exempt from such requirements because their duties are far more limited in scope.
Contact Information
To learn more about this issue, please contact NAA's Government Affairs team.
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