You won't need a license to become a plumber in Texas!

[dfrecore]

Some licenses are necessary and others aren't. I believe several states are looking at dropping the licensing requirements for hair braiders since they don't work with chemicals. When one Texas legislator suggested getting rid of the cosmetology and barber licenses altogether, and most Texans thought it was a stupid idea. Fortunately, that didn't go anywhere. From what I've gathered so far, Texans are not happy about the plumbing license going away temporarily.

I'm sure most people wouldn't want unlicensed physicians, nurses, and psychologists. Where there aren't licensing requirements, there are usually certification boards that dominate the market and are often more restrictive than the government. For example, it was nearly impossible to work as a behavior analyst without certification even though most states didn't require it. The prevalence of employers requiring the certification prompted states to create a license that requires the certification. Currently, most states don't license genetic counselors, but it's nearly impossible to get a job without a certification that requires a master's degree with programmatic accreditation. Both of the certifications I mentioned have been progressively increasing standards.

That's the thing - when the government stays out of stuff, someone will step up to the plate in many instances.  You don't need a government cert if a private board is out there doing their thing.  And probably doing a better job.

If the government decided to step in and get into some sort of IT cert, how stupid would that be? They don't need to get involved, because private companies are there to do it instead.  Government doesn't have to do EVERYTHING, sometimes less is more.

[sanantone]

Some licenses are necessary and others aren't. I believe several states are looking at dropping the licensing requirements for hair braiders since they don't work with chemicals. When one Texas legislator suggested getting rid of the cosmetology and barber licenses altogether, and most Texans thought it was a stupid idea. Fortunately, that didn't go anywhere. From what I've gathered so far, Texans are not happy about the plumbing license going away temporarily.

I'm sure most people wouldn't want unlicensed physicians, nurses, and psychologists. Where there aren't licensing requirements, there are usually certification boards that dominate the market and are often more restrictive than the government. For example, it was nearly impossible to work as a behavior analyst without certification even though most states didn't require it. The prevalence of employers requiring the certification prompted states to create a license that requires the certification. Currently, most states don't license genetic counselors, but it's nearly impossible to get a job without a certification that requires a master's degree with programmatic accreditation. Both of the certifications I mentioned have been progressively increasing standards.

That's the thing - when the government stays out of stuff, someone will step up to the plate in many instances.  You don't need a government cert if a private board is out there doing their thing.  And probably doing a better job.

If the government decided to step in and get into some sort of IT cert, how stupid would that be? They don't need to get involved, because private companies are there to do it instead.  Government doesn't have to do EVERYTHING, sometimes less is more.

Sometimes, the private sector steps in. Certification boards only step in when they know they can make money and/or they want to limit the number of people in an occupation to keep wages high. You said that licensing is a barrier to entry, but certifications are just as much of a barrier. One is not more of a barrier simply because it's run by the government. 

Private certification boards actually don't do a better job. One of the most popular forensic science certifications was known for being a mill. People were able to get their dogs certified. People were using this certification to become expert witnesses in areas they had little knowledge of. After many articles about the incompetence of expert witnesses and innocent people being convicted and even put to death, Texas finally stepped in and started requiring a license and certain education requirements for forensic analysts. 

The goal of many certification boards is to become a requirement by government agencies. ABGC's requirements for genetic counselors are pretty ridiculous, and most people would have to move far just to attend an accredited program. ABGC started out as only certification, but they now accredit programs and require their accreditation for certification. They're overtaking their competitor with more reasonable requirements. As more states look into licensing genetic counselors, ABGC certification will most likely be required, and they'll further solidify their monopoly. They're going to make millions off accreditation and certification fees.

[sanantone]

Here's a well-written article about a man who made millions off of certification mills. His forensic science board certified unqualified people whose testimonies led to innocent people being sent to prison. His certifications were taken so seriously that even the Department of Defense paid for them. The author was able to become certified even though he had no experience in forensic science and has a degree in journalism.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/artic...o-problem/

[dfrecore]

Some licenses are necessary and others aren't. I believe several states are looking at dropping the licensing requirements for hair braiders since they don't work with chemicals. When one Texas legislator suggested getting rid of the cosmetology and barber licenses altogether, and most Texans thought it was a stupid idea. Fortunately, that didn't go anywhere. From what I've gathered so far, Texans are not happy about the plumbing license going away temporarily.

I'm sure most people wouldn't want unlicensed physicians, nurses, and psychologists. Where there aren't licensing requirements, there are usually certification boards that dominate the market and are often more restrictive than the government. For example, it was nearly impossible to work as a behavior analyst without certification even though most states didn't require it. The prevalence of employers requiring the certification prompted states to create a license that requires the certification. Currently, most states don't license genetic counselors, but it's nearly impossible to get a job without a certification that requires a master's degree with programmatic accreditation. Both of the certifications I mentioned have been progressively increasing standards.

That's the thing - when the government stays out of stuff, someone will step up to the plate in many instances.  You don't need a government cert if a private board is out there doing their thing.  And probably doing a better job.

If the government decided to step in and get into some sort of IT cert, how stupid would that be? They don't need to get involved, because private companies are there to do it instead.  Government doesn't have to do EVERYTHING, sometimes less is more.

Sometimes, the private sector steps in. Certification boards only step in when they know they can make money and/or they want to limit the number of people in an occupation to keep wages high. You said that licensing is a barrier to entry, but certifications are just as much of a barrier. One is not more of a barrier simply because it's run by the government. 

Private certification boards actually don't do a better job. One of the most popular forensic science certifications was known for being a mill. People were able to get their dogs certified. People were using this certification to become expert witnesses in areas they had little knowledge of. After many articles about the incompetence of expert witnesses and innocent people being convicted and even put to death, Texas finally stepped in and started requiring a license and certain education requirements for forensic analysts. 

The goal of many certification boards is to become a requirement by government agencies. ABGC's requirements for genetic counselors are pretty ridiculous, and most people would have to move far just to attend an accredited program. ABGC started out as only certification, but they now accredit programs and require their accreditation for certification. They're overtaking their competitor with more reasonable requirements. As more states look into licensing genetic counselors, ABGC certification will most likely be required, and they'll further solidify their monopoly. They're going to make millions off accreditation and certification fees.

I didn't say that private boards are guaranteed to be better, only that they are also an option and that the government doesn't have to do everything.  They have their place.

[sanantone]

He says his worry about abolishing the board of plumbing examiners is not about fixing a leak or clearing a drain.

"Those kinds of things most homeowners are capable of doing. It's once we get beyond," Olsen says is when the trouble can happen.

Plumbers train for years to learn how to connect any piping past your meter.  That includes natural gas lines to water heaters, stoves, and fireplaces.

KXAN covered this explosion in Hyde Park in February 2009, gas work triggered by an unlicensed plumber according to investigators at the time. 

Then, there's medical gas, the oxygen and nitrogen lines at your hospital, doctor, dentist, even your vet.

According to Olsen, master plumber training takes up to nine years.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/i..._KXAN_News#

[sanantone]

I forgot that plumbers receive a background check. Those with felony records have to face additional scrutiny before being approved. I'm assuming that they wouldn't approve sex offenders and other violent offenders.

I live in an apartment, but if I owned a home, I would only use plumbers from major, longstanding companies that do background checks. There's no telling what kind of record an independent plumber has, and these are people you let inside your home.

Anyone needing to hire a plumber in Texas should make sure he/she has insurance. Your insurance might not cover damage caused by an unlicensed plumber.

[dfrecore]

I forgot that plumbers receive a background check. Those with felony records have to face additional scrutiny before being approved. I'm assuming that they wouldn't approve sex offenders and other violent offenders.

I live in an apartment, but if I owned a home, I would only use plumbers from major, longstanding companies that do background checks. There's no telling what kind of record an independent plumber has, and these are people you let inside your home.

Anyone needing to hire a plumber in Texas should make sure he/she has insurance. Your insurance might not cover damage caused by an unlicensed plumber.

This is the exact kind of thing that kind of makes the license redundant - these kinds of companies weed out the plumbers you don't want coming around.  They try to find the best and brightest, and have insurance, etc. completely out of self-interest, which also happens to be in the customer's best interest.

My plumbing & HVAC companies both have all of that on their marketing material.  They don't need the government to tell them to do that, they do it because they know it's a surefire way to make customers happy.  I have kids, I don't need some wacko in my house.  I'm ONLY going to use these types of companies.

[sanantone]

I forgot that plumbers receive a background check. Those with felony records have to face additional scrutiny before being approved. I'm assuming that they wouldn't approve sex offenders and other violent offenders.

I live in an apartment, but if I owned a home, I would only use plumbers from major, longstanding companies that do background checks. There's no telling what kind of record an independent plumber has, and these are people you let inside your home.

Anyone needing to hire a plumber in Texas should make sure he/she has insurance. Your insurance might not cover damage caused by an unlicensed plumber.

This is the exact kind of thing that kind of makes the license redundant - these kinds of companies weed out the plumbers you don't want coming around.  They try to find the best and brightest, and have insurance, etc. completely out of self-interest, which also happens to be in the customer's best interest.

My plumbing & HVAC companies both have all of that on their marketing material.  They don't need the government to tell them to do that, they do it because they know it's a surefire way to make customers happy.  I have kids, I don't need some wacko in my house.  I'm ONLY going to use these types of companies.

So, you don't support self-employed individuals? Now, I can check to see if a small business owner went through the background check process with TSBPE; after Sept. 1, I can't.

[dfrecore]

I forgot that plumbers receive a background check. Those with felony records have to face additional scrutiny before being approved. I'm assuming that they wouldn't approve sex offenders and other violent offenders.

I live in an apartment, but if I owned a home, I would only use plumbers from major, longstanding companies that do background checks. There's no telling what kind of record an independent plumber has, and these are people you let inside your home.

Anyone needing to hire a plumber in Texas should make sure he/she has insurance. Your insurance might not cover damage caused by an unlicensed plumber.

This is the exact kind of thing that kind of makes the license redundant - these kinds of companies weed out the plumbers you don't want coming around.  They try to find the best and brightest, and have insurance, etc. completely out of self-interest, which also happens to be in the customer's best interest.

My plumbing & HVAC companies both have all of that on their marketing material.  They don't need the government to tell them to do that, they do it because they know it's a surefire way to make customers happy.  I have kids, I don't need some wacko in my house.  I'm ONLY going to use these types of companies.

So, you don't support self-employed individuals? Now, I can check to see if a small business owner went through the background check process with TSBPE; after Sept. 1, I can't.

First, both of the companies I've worked with are small businesses, so yes, I do support those.

Second, I'm not in Texas, so I don't have TSBPE.  Our State Licensing Board doesn't tell me if someone has gone through a background check or not, so I can't check that.  I guess in TX you can, but you can't in CA.  So you'll be in the same boat as me come Sept 1.

[sanantone]

I forgot that plumbers receive a background check. Those with felony records have to face additional scrutiny before being approved. I'm assuming that they wouldn't approve sex offenders and other violent offenders.

I live in an apartment, but if I owned a home, I would only use plumbers from major, longstanding companies that do background checks. There's no telling what kind of record an independent plumber has, and these are people you let inside your home.

Anyone needing to hire a plumber in Texas should make sure he/she has insurance. Your insurance might not cover damage caused by an unlicensed plumber.

This is the exact kind of thing that kind of makes the license redundant - these kinds of companies weed out the plumbers you don't want coming around.  They try to find the best and brightest, and have insurance, etc. completely out of self-interest, which also happens to be in the customer's best interest.

My plumbing & HVAC companies both have all of that on their marketing material.  They don't need the government to tell them to do that, they do it because they know it's a surefire way to make customers happy.  I have kids, I don't need some wacko in my house.  I'm ONLY going to use these types of companies.

So, you don't support self-employed individuals? Now, I can check to see if a small business owner went through the background check process with TSBPE; after Sept. 1, I can't.

First, both of the companies I've worked with are small businesses, so yes, I do support those.

Second, I'm not in Texas, so I don't have TSBPE.  Our State Licensing Board doesn't tell me if someone has gone through a background check or not, so I can't check that.  I guess in TX you can, but you can't in CA.  So you'll be in the same boat as me come Sept 1.

You live in an extremely liberal state with the most lax licensing laws in the country. They let people with degrees from unaccredited schools get law and psychology licenses. In California, all licensed plumbing contractors are required to go through a background check. If the company you hire is licensed, which is required for anyone doing work over $500, then they've already been checked. As far as I know, the people who work under contractors don't have to be licensed, but I don't know if contractors are required to do background checks on their employees in CA.

TSBPE is only going away because Texas legislators were arguing over whether to keep TSBPE or transfer the plumbing license to a bigger state agency that handles a couple of dozen other licenses. Our legislature did pass a bill raising the age to purchase tobacco to 21. If our governor signs it, we'll have that in common with California.

You might support small businesses (businesses that make a few million a year are still considered small), but it appears that you don't support people doing solo work. However, even solo plumbers in California have to go through a background check because plumbing services are expensive, and I doubt many plumbers are refusing to do work that is over $500.