Regulation of Professions

State governments are responsible for regulating those occupations that are practiced within their jurisdictions and deemed to require licensure and oversight in order to protect public health, safety, and economic well-being. Most states regulate the same occupations, but there are variations from state to state and usually no reciprocity regarding recognition of qualifications or licenses. Some professions have national qualifying examinations that are recognized in most states as part of the licensing process, but there is no federal-level licensure that supersedes state regulation.

State Licensing Agencies

Council on Licensing, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR) is the North American association representing the state and provincial licensing agencies in the United States and Canada.

CLEAR Directory of Boards of Professional and Occupational Licensure is an online directory searchable by state/province and specific profession.

Licensed Occupation Information System (LOIS) is a federally sponsored online database of licensed occupations searchable by state and occupation.

Professional Associations

Professional Associations frequently empower credentialling bodies, sometimes called boards or colleges, to establish standards for entry into the profession and continued competency. These bodies are sometimes delegated by state agencies with the power to oversee licensing examinations and procedures within certain occupations. Examples of this practice include state Bar Associations (law), state medical associations (allopathic medicine), and others.

CLEAR Directory of Associations of Regulatory Boards provides links to a number of national associations that regulate different professions and try to coordinate state requirements.

Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards (FARB) provides policy statements, news, and links to national organizations that oversee the regulation of various professions.

Teacher Certification

Preschool, primary, and secondary school teachers comprise regulated professional categories in every state and territory. Requirements exist for qualification to enter the teaching profession (called "pre-service training" in the United States) and to maintain one's treaching credentials and advance professionally (known as "in-service training"). Reciprocity of teaching credentials across state lines is rare, although there is a national teacher's examination which is used in most states as part of the entry-level qualification process. It is also extremely rare for states to accept foreign teaching qualifications as meeting local requirements without additional preparation.

National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) provides an online directory and links to all state agencies responsible for licensing school teachers and regulating the teaching profession.

ERIC Clearinghouse on Teaching and Teacher Education provides comprehensive information on the teaching profession in the United States and becoming a teacher.