Licensed to Buy
By Maryann Posten
Many occupations require licenses to prove competency on the job, including architects, optometrists and psychologists. While licenses are no guarantee of the service you can expect to receive, they do guarantee that a licensee has fulfilled a governing board’s requirements to serve the general public in certain professions.
A license to practice a profession is more often than not, also a license to make decisions for the practice. And licensed professionals are one group of the workforce that generally remains dutifully employed during good times and bad.
Take cosmetologists for example. The number of barber licenses in the U.S. is 250,000 and rising. According to the Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists the number has risen 60% in that state alone since 2008. The Census Bureau reports on the state of the profession as well as other licensed professions at its Bureau of Labor Statistics website. The Bureau expects the number of personal appearance workers to grow much faster than the national average for all occupations.
Other professions forecast to gain in employment through 2018
- Architects: Up 16% — 21% are self-employed
- Veterinarians: Up 33% — 80% work in a private practice.
- Chiropractors: Up 20% — 44% are self-employed
- Psychologists: Up 26% — 34% are self-employed
- Physical Therapists: Up 30% — Increasing demand from rising elderly population
It’s refreshing to see that many professions are registering growth in this tough economic climate. It’s not only good news for those working or aspiring to work in a licensed profession, but also for B2B marketers targeting small thriving businesses.
At ALC our Licensed Professionals Database makes it easy for marketers to reach them profession-by profession from Acupuncturists to Real Estate Agents to yes, cosmetologists.
Oh, that reminds me; I am off to my hair appointment. I may forgo some things in this economy, but not my hair!

