Want job security in the age of AI? Get a state license – any state license | US small business
When I was in college and didn’t know what to do with my life, my father gave me this career advice: Become a certified public accountant. From where?
“Because,” he said. “People will always need their taxes paid. They will always need financial advice. With a CPA license, you can always hang a shingle and put food on the table.”
It was good advice and still holds true today. It’s so relevant, it’s the same advice I give my kids when they reach the same age and are equally unsure about their future. They don’t have to be CPA’s (one of them did). But they must be professionals licensed by the state. This is the best job security ever.
State licensing boards have come under scrutiny this year. A. Cato Institute report accuses these boards of overextending their powers and initiatives this year to reduce their power. Some of these arguments are not misplaced. And I’m sure the system can be improved in various ways. By the way, my advice is the same: get a license. Despite opposing views, state licensing is a powerful job protector.
Become a licensed beautician, pharmacist, engineer, cosmetologist, nurse or landscape architect. Take advantage of the data construction boom and become licensed in construction trades such as electrical, plumbing, home improvement, fire inspection.
These jobs will never be replaced by technology. AI-based tools and robotics will help increase productivity and will definitely be able to perform more dangerous tasks. However, they will need to be operated by licensed professionals.
It is very important that the license is issued by the state and not a certificate issued by a college or company, which is basically earned by paying a fee. Having a state license means that you have studied in a training program and have most likely taken an exam that verifies your competency. For many careers like mine, you have to keep up with continuing education requirements each year. All of these professions are represented by countless associations, groups, and organizations that support their members with education, resources, mentoring, business connections, and even healthcare services.
Obtaining a professional license will result in a higher-paying job, certainly more so than another applicant who does not have that license. It brings reliability. It shows commitment. It doesn’t guarantee you a job, but it serves as a reference that shows you’re competent at what you do and have the discipline to get licensed.
In ancient times, professionals were required to pay someone to serve as an apprentice to learn a trade. The state now provides this service. And in many cases their requirements are even more difficult. For example, to get my CPA license in Pennsylvania, I not only had to have a college degree, but I also had to pass an exam and work in public accounting for two years. That’s why some business schools they report More than 35% increase in registrations since 2020. That’s why state licenses It increased Over the past few decades, that rate has climbed as high as 30%, driven not only by fee revenue but also by consumer demand to work with someone who has gone through the vetting process.
Having a state license not only gives you support in finding a job, but also allows you to start your own business if you want. That’s why the Wall Street Journal reports Private equity firms are turning low-level contractors into millionaires by taking over plumbing and electrical companies, as well as home services like HVAC (i.e. heating, ventilation and air conditioning).
I pity the licensed non-professionals who work in companies, customer service representatives, software developers, and marketing and accounting personnel; Many of these will be replaced by artificial intelligence in the next few years.
Over the next few years, much of the work many CPAs currently do will be replaced by artificial intelligence. The software will proficiently conduct research, prepare tax returns, analyze financial statements, and make financial planning recommendations. But these are the things that will make the smart people in my profession even smarter. Just like any other trade, there are many things that a bot can never do. We recommend. We console. We are evaluating. We are communicating. And the best will master many AI tools that our customers will never have the time or inclination to master.
These clients will assume that their professionals and consultants use technology to do their jobs, just as we assume our contractors use the latest tools to do their jobs faster and better. And they will be right. The coming technology boom is about to spark an explosion in people making things with their hands and minds. And being licensed by a state will become increasingly valuable.
My father didn’t always get it right. But his view on this issue remains more relevant than ever.
