Occupational licenses and certifications can open doors to meaningful careers—but for many individuals, navigating licensing requirements can create barriers to entering, advancing, or re-entering the workforce.

United WE is hosting a series of Occupational Licensing Focus Groups to better understand the experiences, challenges, and opportunities surrounding licensing systems. Through these conversations, we aim to hear directly from individuals about how licensing has shaped their career pathways, workforce participation, and professional opportunities—and gather insights that can help inform solutions.

These focus groups are part of United WE’s broader initiative to examine how occupational licensing impacts economic opportunity, particularly for women, and identify opportunities to strengthen licensing systems so they better support workers, employers, and communities.

What You’ll Contribute

• Share your personal experiences navigating occupational licensing or certification requirements

• Help identify challenges and opportunities within current licensing systems

• Provide input on potential solutions to improve access, mobility, and workforce participation

• Inform future research and recommendations to strengthen occupational licensing systems

Who Should Participate

We welcome individuals with a variety of experiences related to occupational licensing, including:

• Licensed Professionals & Certificate Holders who have navigated education, training, exams, renewals, or reciprocity requirements

• Individuals Exploring Licensed Careers who are considering entering a profession that requires a license or certification

• Workers Who Have Experienced Licensing Barriers including challenges related to cost, time, education requirements, exams, portability, or other requirements

• Community & Workforce Partners who support individuals pursuing career pathways

• Individuals in Special Interest Carrer Pathways, including 

  • Cosmetology professionals

  • Nurses and other health care professionals 

  • Tattoo artists, body, piercers, and branding professionals 

  • Professional counselors