Occupational licensing has come under scrutiny for being overly burdensome, particularly for professions like cosmetology. A user shared their frustration over the requirement of over 100 hours of retraining for someone who has had years of experience in hairdressing, deeming it excessive and unnecessary. The conversation opened up discussions on regulatory practices in other professions such as nursing and medical aid, where differences in licensing requirements can lead to competition and sabotage among peers rather than cooperation. Some comments highlighted movements in countries like Canada seeking to reduce these barriers for services, as well as calls to improve systems in the U.S. using technology and data to evaluate quality without strict licensing. The author's arguments support a shift towards voluntary certifications over mandatory licenses, particularly in light of advancements in AI that might make traditional licensing less relevant. This discourse reflects a significant trend in questioning the efficacy and efficiency of occupational licensing in various fields.