Small business owners praised the Shapiro Administration’s faster, easier licensing process, which is reducing barriers and creating opportunity across the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania is now among the nation’s most efficient states for occupational licensing, thanks to Governor Shapiro’s commitment to cutting red tape.

Pittsburgh, PA - On December 03, 2024, Governor Josh Shapiro visited Big Tom’s Barber Shop in Pittsburgh’s Hill District to talk with barber shop owners about the transformative improvements to Pennsylvania’s permitting, licensing, and certification (PLC) processes under his Administration.

Governor Shapiro was joined by Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, Mayor Ed Gainey, Senator Jay Costa, Representative Aerion Abney, and Representative La’Tasha Mayes. Together, they met with “Big Tom” Boyd, owner of Big Tom’s Barber Shop, and Earl Baldwin, a barber at Jalen’s Barber Shop, to hear about their experiences with Pennsylvania’s occupational licensing system and discuss how the Administration can continue to open doors of opportunity for small business owners and workers.

Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made it a priority to cut red tape, reduce backlogs, and ensure Pennsylvania operates at the speed of business. More than 1 million Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth rely on an occupational license to do their job. Through targeted reforms and innovative programs like the nation’s first online money-back guarantee system(opens in a new tab), PAyback.pa.gov, and launching(opens in a new tab) PA’s Fast Track Program through Executive Order 2024-04(opens in a new tab), the Shapiro Administration has brought certainty and accountability to the PLC process in Pennsylvania while reducing wait times and eliminating backlogs.

As a result of that work, the Shapiro Administration has dramatically reduced the time it takes to process applications for barbershop and cosmetology salon licenses. For example, applications for barbershop licenses used to be processed in 12 days on average - today, they are typically processed within one day.

“Waiting to have your license approved shouldn’t stand in the way of opening a business or starting your job - if you’re qualified for that license, you should get it in a timely and predictable fashion. My Administration is committed to breaking down barriers, cutting through red tape, and ensuring Pennsylvanians can get on the job faster, support their families, and contribute to our communities,” said Governor Shapiro. “When government operates effectively and efficiently, it helps drive economic growth and success. We’re proving that Pennsylvania can deliver results, put points on the board, and move at the speed of business to build a stronger, more competitive Commonwealth where folks want to live, work, and build their future.”

"I'm proud of our work to get businesses registered and professionals licensed here in Pennsylvania. We help people achieve their dreams of opening a small business or serving their neighbors as a licensed professional — including your neighborhood barber,” said Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt. “Governor Shapiro’s executive order brought leadership that ensures that all applications are reviewed and processed without delay. Our staff has taken this commitment seriously, and I’m pleased to report that processing times have improved since the beginning of this Administration.”

Business Owners See Real Results

“Big Tom” Boyd, owner of Big Tom’s Barber Shop, shared how the improved licensing system has streamlined operations for business owners like himself: “I wanted to talk about being a small business owner - there are certain hurdles that professionals like us face. We recently renewed our license, and it happened so quickly and easily. I didn’t have to worry about a thing. It really takes a lot of stress off of me."

Earl Baldwin, barber at Jalen’s Barber Shop, echoed this sentiment, highlighting how these changes support employees and entrepreneurs alike: “Barbering forever shifted my life. I had a calling to this vocation. Now, as I serve young men who look like me - I have a vested interest in helping them find a way forward.”

Legislators, Mayor Praise the Shapiro Administration’s Vision

“I am honored today to be joining Governor Shapiro as he announces his continued work to ensure our state government meets the needs of our economy,” said Senator Jay Costa. “Thanks to his diligent efforts, the PA Fast Track Program will capitalize on Governor Shapiro’s momentum in making government an efficient and transparent partner in business and innovation. I look forward to watching Pennsylvania continue to thrive and offer incredible opportunities to our entrepreneurs, businesses, and workers.”

“By making our professional licensure process more efficient we not only save government time and resources, we also give working class Pennsylvanians a streamlined pathway to prosperity,” said Representative Aerion Abney. “I want to thank Governor Shapiro and his administration for prioritizing this critical initiative.”

"It is critical for our Commonwealth to create a competitive business environment and efficient government infrastructure for local and small businesses like Big Tom's Barbershop In the historic Hill District and in all the communities I serve,” said Representative La’Tasha Mayes. “I share in Governor Shapiro's vision that our state government should work at the speed of business to generate new economic opportunities. Whether you are a barber or cosmetologist starting your own business, a healthcare professional seeking or renewing your license or a teacher who needs their certification, Pennsylvania is the place for you to pursue your business or professional endeavors.”

“Government has the power to improve lives, but meaningful change doesn't happen if we don't commit to examining our processes to ensure that we are making government work for everyone. This move is just that, and I'm thankful Governor Shapiro is making it possible to speed up the Commonwealth’s permitting and licensing processes by removing the red tape that will allow small businesses to grow,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “Small businesses are the building blocks for our successful and thriving neighborhoods, communities, and city. This executive order will continue to give local entrepreneurs the opportunity to thrive and will provide a vibrant economic landscape for future generations of small business owners."

Licensing Reform Creates Opportunity for Pennsylvanians

Governor Shapiro’s commitment to streamlining government has produced measurable results for Pennsylvanians:

- License processing times for barbershops and cosmetology salons have dropped from nearly two weeks to same-day approvals.

- Teacher certification processing times have been slashed from 12 weeks to less than two weeks.

- Doctors’ license turnaround times have fallen from 43 days to just two days.

- This year, Pennsylvania achieved the largest improvement in its occupational licensing(opens in a new tab) process of any state in the nation, according to recently released rankings of all 50 states from a nonpartisan public policy think tank.

The Commonwealth is now among the top states for efficient occupational licensing, climbing 25 spots in national rankings — underscoring the Shapiro Administration’s success in streamlining processes and reducing license processing times to deliver meaningful results for Pennsylvanians.

Governor Shapiro’s Work to Improve the PA’s PLC Process

From day one, Governor Shapiro has taken significant steps to improve the delivery of government services, streamline the Commonwealth’s permitting, licensing, and certification processes, and attract businesses to Pennsylvania. The Shapiro Administration has:

- Established OTO(opens in a new tab) within two weeks of Governor Shapiro taking office and charged the office with improving(opens in a new tab) the Commonwealth’s permitting, licensing, and certification (PLC) processes.

- Created first-ever catalogue(opens in a new tab) of more than 2,400 PLCs issued by the state, allowing the Shapiro Administration to identify and resolve bottlenecks in order to give Pennsylvanians more certainty and deliver answers more efficiently.

- Launched PAyback.pa.gov(opens in a new tab), a first-in-the-nation online money-back guarantee system, allowing residents, businesses, charities, and schools to hold state agencies accountable when processing PLCs.

- Reduced processing time(opens in a new tab) for PLCs for teachers, nurses, realtors, barbers, hair stylists, cosmetologists, and more. For example, when Governor Shapiro took office, it took 8 weeks to get a business license. Now, it takes less than 3 days. It used to take nearly a month to get an initial physical therapist license. Now, it takes just 2 days.

- Boosted Pennsylvania’s competitiveness(opens in a new tab), making it more attractive than ever for businesses and workers. Since Governor Shapiro took office, corporate filing wait times have dropped from 8 weeks to 2 days and small business certification times are down by 33 percent. Additionally, the Department of Human Services cleared a backlog of 35,000 Medicaid provider enrollment applications, and the Department of Environmental Protection reduced its permit backlog by 75 percent and has completely eliminated its backlog of oil and gas permits.

These improvements have made Pennsylvania a more attractive place for employers and entrepreneurs. With streamlined processes and a government that moves at the speed of business, the Shapiro Administration is driving economic growth across the Commonwealth and creating opportunity for Pennsylvanians to chart their own course.