Rep. Gillespie supports licensing legislation

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House Bill 1172, legislation that would make it easier for out of state-licensed professionals to obtain a license in Pennsylvania, recently passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.

Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam) said he supported the bill because it would make Pennsylvania more welcoming to businesses and individuals.

“Right now, we don’t paint the most welcoming picture for anyone who is considering calling Pennsylvania their home,” Gillespie, a member of the House Professional Licensure Committee, said. “We need to do more in the way of regulatory reform and reducing red tape if we want to look more attractive and inviting, which is why I voted for House Bill 1172.”

If the bill becomes law, licensing boards would be permitted to grant a license to anyone who holds the same license in another state, so long as the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs determines the requirements are similar.

Fifteen of the state’s 29 licensing boards and commissions already have the authority to issue licenses based on endorsement, but several professions do not license by endorsement. These include auctioneers, barbers, chiropractors, cosmetologists, dentists, engineer land surveyors, funeral directors, geologists, massage therapists, nursing home administrators, pharmacists, and podiatrists.