Occupational licensing is required in certain professions, to ensure that consumers know that the person has actually had training. However, I agree that it does not guarantee competency. It’s just a start. Further, occupational licensing has become a way for states to add to their revenues.
If you have a license and plan to retire early and move to California or Florida and work your retirement years there, think again. Those states don’t want you.
When Mayo Clinic decided to open a remote clinic in Florida the licensing board wouldn’t allow Mayo Clinic physicians to practice there without a license - which would be very difficult to get and would effectively block Mayo physicians. Florida finally passed a law allowing them to practice with their own state license. The licensing board was NOT happy.
It’s all about money and keeping out competition. States use licensing to generate money. I have seen the cost of two licenses go from around $75 to $400. The application cost has increased too.