Make professional licensing easier for immigrants, advocates say

BY EDITH ZHOU
Capital News Service
LANSING – From physicians to architects to barbers, immigrants and other people educated or trained abroad must meet Michigan’s licensing requirements to continue their professional and vocational careers in this country. And difficulties in doing so could impede efforts by the Snyder administration to attract skilled immigrants to Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 6 percent of the state’s population was born abroad. Ryan Bates, director of the Alliance for Immigrants Rights and Reform-Michigan, said, “The requirements are complicated. It depends on different types of licenses.”

According to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affair (LARA), all applicants for commercial licenses must meet the same requirements.