August 2018

The current debate regarding the role of regulation in the United States must include recognition of the value of jurisdictional oversight boards. These boards are typically made up of citizen volunteers appointed by governors, who license and enforce licensing rules consistent with laws passed by their legislatures. Regulatory boards in each state and territory have the unique responsibility of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of their citizens by establishing the standards necessary for competent practice. 

The Interorganizational Council on Regulation (ICOR), comprised of our four organizations, was formed almost two decades ago to share best practices and discuss our complementary focus on advocating on behalf of the public protection role our regulatory boards play. As nonprofit associations, membership in our organizations is comprised of these boards—whose functions include licensing and other credentialing—for engineering and surveying, architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. In many jurisdictions, our professions share boards when they regulate multiple disciplines. 

Our collective mission is to support and advocate for sound regulation focused on protecting the public’s health, safety, and welfare and to facilitate licensure. 

While jurisdictional requirements may vary, our shared and individual regulatory boards all require candidates to successfully complete a combination of education, practical experience, and examination to earn a license or other credential—vital milestones on a path designed to qualify practitioners to protect the public. Through our organizations, these boards come together to establish uniform standards that ensure professional competence while also facilitating mobility and reciprocity between jurisdictions. These standards provide consumers with reliable and broader choices and more opportunities for practitioners.

In addition, based on guidance from our member boards, we deliver fair, valid, reliable, and psychometrically defensible examinations that serve as cornerstones of the regulatory framework. As a repository for verified candidate records of examination, education, and experience, we offer jurisdictions resources to facilitate enhanced reciprocity, portability, and mobility.

Our boards regulate these disciplines so that the public is protected from harmful consequences. Reasonable regulation reduces risk while minimizing barriers to entry for applicants who acquire the necessary knowledge and experience to be able to protect the public.

We are committed to advocating for sound and reasonable regulation in pursuit of our common goal to provide our licensing board members with the best tools possible to reliably protect the public.