08/05/2021

Professional Certification Coalition Accelerates into Year Four

It begins its fourth year with several advocacy achievements

The Professional Certification Coalition (PCC) begins its fourth year with several dynamic, economy-boosting policy priorities and advocacy achievements. Established by ASAE, the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and the Pillsbury law firm, the PCC engages with federal and state policymakers about the importance of professional certification, helps uphold responsible standards to certify professionals in all lines of work and pursues workforce development policies that benefit all industries and professions. The coalition includes more than 100 organizations, and all are encouraged to join.

The PCC expanded its federal advocacy in year three to include support for important legislation:

1. The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 2171/S. 905)
This bipartisan, bicameral bill would expand eligible uses of tax-favorable “529” education savings plans to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing programs. The legislation would also enable 529 plan beneficiaries to use funds to pay for examinations necessary to obtain and maintain recognized professional certifications and other credentials (e.g., licensure). Currently, only costs related to attending colleges, universities, vocational schools, registered apprenticeship programs, K-12 private tuition or other post-secondary institutions are eligible 529 expenses.

2. New Workforce Development Legislation
The PCC is working with Congressional staff to introduce legislation that would create a federally funded Career Rebuilding Scholarship Fund to distribute scholarships to eligible individuals who incur covered expenses by enrolling in a training program or incurring certification exam fees. The scholarships would be administered by approved worker training programs and private certification organizations.

Eligible individuals would include:
• Any workers displaced from their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2022;
• Military members who rolled out/are rolling out of service in 2020-2022; and
• Spouses of military members who rolled out/are rolling out of service in 2020-2022.

At the state level, the PCC continues to advocate for our community in legislatures across the country. Last year, the group closely monitored more than 140 bills in 43 states that affected certification organizations. In connection with these bills, the PCC sent 84 letters to state legislators that provided necessary subject matter expertise and specific amendments to improve the legislation. Each month, the PCC holds strategy calls to alert the group to high priority legislation and regularly provides members with in-depth written analysis of these bills.

As further outreach and advocacy, the PCC routinely updates state regulatory agency leaders. For example, Coalition leadership participated in a working group session of the Maine Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business to examine reciprocal licensure policy.

Read more about the PCC’s year three accomplishments and future advocacy plans. For information about membership, visit the PCC website. Email ASAE staff with questions.

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of A and Inroads.