4 new occupational licensing laws remove barriers in Illinois

Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently OK’d four new laws that would expand the ability for professionals to practice in Illinois. While they are advancements, Illinois’ onerous occupational licensing system needs comprehensive reform.

Illinois recently reduced licensing restrictions on family therapy, speech language pathology, landscape architecture and real estate.

Finding full-time employment is one of the best ways to avoid poverty, and occupational licensing restrictions often stand in the way of those trying to find work. According to a 2024 report by the Archbridge Institute, Illinois ranks as the fourth-worst state in the Midwest and eighth-worst in the country when it comes to being burdened by occupational licensing.

When it comes to occupational licensing of low-income professions, Illinois ranks in the middle of the pack in the Midwest, according to research by the Institute for Justice. Some professions are more restricted than others.

Illinois is making progress through four bills signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker:

Senate Bill 3211 reduces the work experience needed for a family therapist to be exempted from having to pass the licensing examination he or she would otherwise have to take. Before the law was passed, a family therapist had to be independently licensed in a jurisdiction within the United States for five years before being exempted from examination under Illinois law. With the passage of SB 3211, a family therapist would be exempted when licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction for 30 months without any record of discipline.

Senate Bill 3467 is a common-sense law that expands exemptions for speech-language pathology assistants and candidates to perform duties under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist. These exemptions were previously only available to students of speech language pathology or audiology during their course of study.

Senate Bill 3767 allows the registration of a landscape architect who is registered under the laws of another state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or another country if the licensing requirements at the time of issuance in that jurisdiction were substantially equivalent to the Illinois requirements then in force. This lets qualified professionals find work without having to go through the added step of passing an exam.

Senate Bill 3740 makes it easier for more real estate brokers with out-of-state licenses to practice in Illinois. Previously, out-of-state brokers needed to be licensed in one of the states with a reciprocal agreement with Illinois to be licensed in the state. Those states were Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Now, real estate agents from any state that meets certain requirements will qualify for an Illinois license.

While these four bills reduce the burden of those practicing in the covered fields, the state could do much more to ease the burden on those trying to find work. Illinois should follow the example of 26 other states and adopt a universal license recognition statute that would make it easier for almost all professions to practice their trades.