On Thursday, January 18, the Wisconsin Assembly will take up AB 332, a Reciprocal Credential Bill. If passed, this reciprocal licensing bill will undermine the safety of workers and consumers, depress wages, and lower standards by weakening Wisconsin’s strong licensing system.
Assembly Bill 332 was introduced by Representative Nate Gustafson (R-Neenah) and Senator Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond). This bill would indiscriminately hand out reciprocal professional and occupational licenses to individuals who live in another state or even in another country without regard to educational, apprenticeship, or clinical requirements or standards. If it were to pass, the effect will be lesser-trained workers coming or “zooming” into our state, providing a potentially lower quality product, driving down wages for Wisconsin professionals, and increasing safety risks for consumers and workers alike.
From the exam room to the elevator to the bubbler, and all places in between, we rely on the state licensure of trained professionals every day. Wisconsin’s trained workers also rely on the value of our licenses, which ensure our colleagues and co-workers have received training and appreciate high safety standards and also ensure a consistent work product. Wisconsin’s strong licensing system protects the industries within our state as the industries have been built by trained employees and therefore ensure the skills are high.
Wisconsinites expect and deserve to receive high quality work by licensed, trained, and tested professionals. The foundation of Wisconsin’s licensing system is unique training and educational standards set by experts who serve on our credentialing boards. This foundation of unique training, examination, and experience for various occupations protects both license holders and the public, and serves as the critical link between consumer and worker safety.
Assembly Bill 332 runs counter to Wisconsinites’ expectation of high quality work by licensed, trained, and tested professionals.
Please contact your Assembly Representative today and ask that they oppose AB 332.
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