By: Steven Campeau

Earlier this month, NKBA participated in a virtual legislative fly-in hosted by the Professional Certification Coalition(PCC). The PCC is a nonprofit association founded in 2018 to address legislative initiatives that affect professional certification programs and those holding private certification credentials. NKBA has been an active member in this coalition since 2019.

A crucial topic the PCC focuses on is occupational licensing reform legislation that would, among other things, bar many professionals holding certifications from private organizations, such as NKBA, from using the titles “certified” or “registered.” NKBA’s certifications would fall under this umbrella of occupational licensing reform pursued across the country. While this has been a key focus of the PCC and NKBA, this virtual fly-in was organized to discuss a specific piece of Federal legislation – The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act.

During the legislative fly-in, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger from Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, talked to PCC members about the abovementioned bill she has sponsored. The bipartisan, bicameral Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would expand eligible uses of tax-favorable “529” savings plans to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing programs. The legislation would also enable 529 plan beneficiaries to use their funds to pay for examinations necessary to obtain and maintain recognized private professional certifications and other credentials. Currently, only costs related to attending colleges, universities, vocational schools, registered apprenticeship programs, K-12 private tuition or other post-secondary institutions are eligible 529 expenses. This piece of legislation would offer a new route for kitchen and bath professionals to cover costs associated with pursuing NKBA’s popular certification program.

NKBA will continue to monitor this piece of legislation, as well as any other state and federal bills, that may impact professionals in the kitchen and bath community. If you have any comments or suggestions for further legislative topics you wish NKBA to track, please share them with NKBA’s Governance Manager, Steven Campeau, at .