We recently wrote that there appears to be a trend to eliminate some occupational (including auctioneers) licensing across the United States. Here’s that article:
In regard to such lack of licensing, several people recently asked me during my trip to Texas what the cost of “no licensing” would be? With no auctioneer licensing anywhere in the United States, I would conclude the biggest cost would be a lack of education — because when it’s not required, it’s often avoided.
Of course, there are indeed some states which license auctioneers (including my home state of Ohio) which require pre-license education but do not require any continuing education. A study completed by The Ohio State University and myself in 2015 concluded that continuing education was needed in Ohio, but Ohio still refuses to implement any requirements.
That entire Ohio study — along with my commentary at the time — can be read here: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/where-is-auctioneer-ce-needed-everywhere/. We’ve also wrote previously about the merits of auctioneer continuing education: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/mandatory-auctioneer-continuing-education/
It is abundantly clear to anyone paying attention that mandatory pre-license and continuing education ensures auctioneers learn and keep learning, and optional (and thus often evaded) pre-license and/or continuing education contributes to a lack of learning. With no required auctioneer license, we have far less educated auctioneers.
If auctioneer licensing was eliminated in all states (nationwide) there would be other costs, but none so severe as a lack of mandated education. However, for the most part, the other merits of licensing merely protect those already in business by creating a barrier to entry — or at least that’s what some states are claiming, and if there were no licenses, reciprocity would be irrelevant.
Further, as a result of less mandated education, state and national auctioneer associations would suffer, membership and attendance would wane, and valuable networking and industry relationships would be impacted. I would hold that reasonably restrained licensing for auctioneers is prudent with a reasonable amount of continuing education mandated each renewal period.
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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