One of the methods by which current practitioners and their respective licensing boards limit competition within their field is through overly burdensome educational requirements. Some common-sense changes to licensing rules can reduce the burdens of the educational requirement in a way that will benefit consumers. House Bill 448, which modifies the requirements for hearing instrument specialists, makes some of those beneficial changes.
Even supporters of strict licensing must acknowledge the simple fact that tighter licensing rules increase prices. If there are fewer electricians, dentists, and plumbers in an area due to licensing rules, it will cost, on average, more to hire a member of that trade.
