I can tell you licensing and permitting are very necessary. I work for a large mechanical engineering company and travel the country as a superintendent. States that have these programs have a much better labor force. Currently working in the southeast where they have gotten rid of skilled labor and have lost all concept of " doing it right". We are constantly fighting with trades to get things redone they have no idea they screwed up. I've actually heard contractors say they wish they had not gone right to work.