NCPA -- "Restrictions on who can and cannot practice a certain profession have increased significantly in recent years (see chart above). Occupational licensing — the most onerous restriction — requires people to pass tests

and meet other criteria before they can practice a trade. It is a

barrier to employment, disproportionately affecting low-income

and immigrant workers, and frequently benefiting established

practitioners by limiting competition from new entrants.

Many jobs could be performed by

unlicensed individuals at a lower

cost, without sacrificing safety or

quality. Licensing decreases the

rate of job growth by an average of

20 percent and costs the economy

an estimated $34.8 billion to $41.7

billion per year, in 2000 dollars,

reports the Reason Foundation.

MP: Here's how we know that occupational licensing has gone too far in America: