PCC Annual Update – Accomplishments, Impact and Future Priorities

The Professional Certification Coalition (PCC) released its annual recap for fiscal year (FY) 2023 and its priorities for FY 2024.

PCC is a nonprofit proactive and continuing coalition that monitors and responds to legislative and regulatory activity that would undermine the activities or recognition of certifications developed or offered by non-governmental, private certification organization, and to educate stakeholders about the role of professional certification. The PCC also works with lawmakers to advance legislation that expands professional opportunities while supporting the principles of providing the public assurances that certified and licensed individuals have demonstrated they have the expected knowledge, competence and skills to practice in their chosen field.

The BOC has been a member of PCC since August 2018 to help address efforts to enact state legislation that would undermine the activities or recognition of certifications developed or offered by non-governmental, private certification organizations.

Following are highlights of the PCC’s annual report:

PCC FY 2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: IMPACT ACROSS THE BOARD

• Defeated legislation that threatened to impede the certification community’s First Amendment rights.
• Delivered 96 amendment proposals via letter and testimony to improve state legislation impacting the entire certification community.
• Hosted PCC’s first in-person legislative action day and secured new cosponsors for bipartisan, PCC-drafted federal legislation.
• Partnered with on-the-ground state lobbyists to counter harmful legislation and built relationships with regulators and prominent stakeholders across the U.S. to raise the PCC’s policy profile.
• Communicated with the U.S. Copyright Office to clarify both the definition of “secure tests” and the profess to administer remote examinations.

PCC FY 2024: PRIORITIES & PROSPECTUS

State Advocacy

• Occupational Licensing Reform – Defending state recognition of credentialing in state license laws.
• State Credentialing Loopholes – Promoting legislation that holds out-of-state applicants to equivalent standards.
• Threats to First Amendment Rights – Ensuring legislation does not undermine membership associations’ and certification bodies’ First Amendment rights.
• “Clean Slate”/Ex-Offender Legislation – Supporting bills to balance work reentry and public health, safety and welfare.
• “Consumer Choice” Bills – Opposing legislation likely to undermine the health, safety and welfare of American consumers.

Federal Advocacy

• Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act: H.R. 1477 / S. 722: This bipartisan, bicameral bill would expand qualified expenses under 529 savings plans to include postsecondary training and credentialing programs, such as licenses and private, nongovernmental certifications. The PCC has built significant support for the legislation and will steadfastly advocate for passage during FY2024.

In addition to supporting this effort with the PCC, BOC has joined a more targeted coalition that stemmed from the PCC. The Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition (Coalition) advocates for a beneficial workforce development policy that would strengthen the economy now and into the future. More than 760 organizations have joined already – there’s strength in numbers!

The Coalition supports the bipartisan, bicameral Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (S. 722 / H.R. 1477), which would expand qualified expenses under 529 savings plans to include postsecondary training and credentialing, such as licenses and nongovernmental certifications; it would provide valuable tax-advantaged resources to more workers pursuing career growth, mid-career changes or alternative career pathways. Click here for more information.

The PCC has more than 100 organizational members, including non-governmental professional certification organizations, professional societies and service providers. The PCC’s members reflect a wide spectrum of more than 50 professions, including health care, engineering, financial services, and information technology, among many others. Their founding organizations – the American Society of Association Executives (the leading organization for association management) and the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (the leading developer of accreditation standards for professional certification programs) – govern the PCC. Find out more at About PCC.