May/June 2020

NSPE Today: Policy Perspectives
Crisis Makes One Thing Clear: Qualifications Matter

BY STEPHANIE HAMILTON

As I write this, it’s early spring and most of the United States is on lockdown. As a result of Covid-19, all 50 states have issued states of emergency, 75% have suspended “nonessential” business, and over 300,000 people in the states have tested positive for the virus. For many, it’s an uncertain and scary time. I don’t know what life will be like when this issue of PE magazine goes to press. I don’t know what it will be like when our May/June edition arrives in your inbox or mailbox. I don’t know if businesses will have reopened, or the economy will have bounced back, or professional sports will have restarted.

What I do know, as I sit here in my makeshift home office, is that I’m proud to be part of an organization that works so hard to support professionals who are, have been, and will continue to be part of the solution to our current crisis. What I do know is that I’m deeply grateful for professional engineers and their commitment to public health and safety—because as important as that is on a regular, run-of-the-mill day, it is critical on this day. What I do know, as odd as this may sound, is that I’m grateful for the time and effort you all put into becoming licensed and maintaining those licenses. And here’s why.

As states scramble to increase the capacity of their health care systems and related infrastructure, they are asking for help from doctors, nurses, and among other professionals, engineers. Many states have instituted temporary measures allowing licensed professionals to come from other states and begin working immediately, either in hospitals and clinics treating patients, or in temporary facilities built to increase capacity for treating patients.

Because the professionals moving from state to state are licensed, we can rest assured that they are qualified, competent, and dedicated to protecting the public.

Already, some organizations that are opposed to licensing in general have begun making the argument that the relaxing of comity processes proves that licensure is unnecessary. First, I take issue with those organizations capitalizing on a global crisis to try and score political points. Second, and most important, they’re flat out wrong.

What this crisis has shown is that licensure is critically important and valuable. Every doctor or nurse that comes into your state to support existing health care workers has met minimum standards for education and experience. They have continued improving their skills and education through professional development. And the same is true for the professional engineers, land surveyors, and others who are stepping up during this crucial time.

Professional licensing—not just of doctors and nurses, but of all professionals who are moving across state lines to support the fight against Covid-19—provides consistency and assurance at a time when both are hard to come by. We don’t have to wonder about the qualifications of professional engineers who are helping develop ventilators, build hospitals, or research possible vaccines. We know they are competent and well-qualified, and have prioritized the public health, safety, welfare above all else.

At NSPE, we have never insisted that licensure is perfect as is. We’ve always been aware that there are shortcomings, areas where improvements must be made. Comity is one of those areas, and the current crisis highlights the need for streamlined processes—processes that may require flexibility from state boards if these issues are to be fixed. However, imperfections aside, the fact remains that licensed engineers, all of you included, provide a level of comfort and certainty in a very anxious and uncertain time. And for that, I am deeply grateful.

Stephanie Hamilton is NSPE’s manager of government relations and advocacy.