You make good and interesting points, but remember you can (at least hypothetically) have licensing and accreditation without the government providing it. For instance, there is no legal requirement for IT certifications, and yet there are a plethora of them, some meaningful some not but most in the industry know the difference.
Similarly, even if the government did not require a license, insurance companies would likely refuse to provide malpractice insurance for those without proper training.
I agree that when it comes to large public engineering and the creation of buildings, then there is a compelling public need to make sure minimimums are met. If a building collapses unexpectedly, likely far more people than the purchaser will be harmed and irrevocably.
But that compelling public good is far weaker in other areas that require licenses now. If I have a bad florist, only myself and the person I am bestowing the flowers on is going to be harmed at all, and only minutely then. If I have a bad lawyer, the stakes may be higher, but again only I am harmed.
Similarly, even if the government did not require a license, insurance companies would likely refuse to provide malpractice insurance for those without proper training.
I agree that when it comes to large public engineering and the creation of buildings, then there is a compelling public need to make sure minimimums are met. If a building collapses unexpectedly, likely far more people than the purchaser will be harmed and irrevocably.
But that compelling public good is far weaker in other areas that require licenses now. If I have a bad florist, only myself and the person I am bestowing the flowers on is going to be harmed at all, and only minutely then. If I have a bad lawyer, the stakes may be higher, but again only I am harmed.