What is reciprocity? What is auctioneer license reciprocity? Reciprocity generally allows an occupational licensee in one state to obtain the same occupational license in another state without taking that second state’s necessary classes nor taking a test.
Typically, reciprocal licensees must pay a fee for the license and further renew that same license (and take any required continuing education) as any other licensee in that state in order to maintain licensed status. Most auctioneers in license states favor reciprocal agreements but not all …
Those who favor reciprocal licensing typically work in two or more license states, and reciprocity makes it easier to obtain those licenses. The minority who object to reciprocal licensing say, “I had to go to school, take a test to get my license and this other auctioneer just walks over here and pays a fee …”
The other argument against reciprocal licensing for auctioneers is without preparing for (and taking) a test, the out-of-state licensee is likely not as educated with that state’s laws and rules as the instate auctioneer. If licensing’s goal is to “protect the public” then reciprocal licences don’t really excel at that either.
There are basically two varieties of reciprocity: “Home-state” and “Third-party.” Home-state requires that the licensee requesting a reciprocal license lives in the state in which he or she is licensed with that agreement. Third-party reciprocity disregards state of residency and seems to be the more sensible policy.
We have written about the merits of auctioneer licensing, including the “good” and “bad” of such state licence laws here: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2009/12/25/auctioneer-licensing-good-or-bad/.
Currently the “wind is blowing” towards states eliminating many occupational (including auctioneer) licensing. We wrote about that here: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2019/01/21/auctioneer-licensing-might-be-changing/. Such elimination of licensing would eliminate the need for reciprocal arrangements.
A somewhat common misconception about reciprocity is that with such an arrangement, a licensed auctioneer could work in another license state without a license. In fact, reciprocity doesn’t allow you to work in a different state — it allows you a streamlined way to get a license to work in a different state.
Lastly, reciprocal licensing arrangements are typically cooperative in that if State A has a reciprocal arrangement with State B then State B will be expected to maintain a reciprocal arrangement with State A. Often it’s either both, or neither.
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, CAS, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, RES Auction Services and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School, an Instructor at the National Auctioneers Association’s Designation Academy and America’s Auction Academy. He is faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University and is approved by the The Supreme Court of Ohio for attorney education.
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