Professional Licensing and the Social Transformation of Software Engineers.

This article deliberates on the pros and cons of software licensing. This article provides a comparative analysis of the evolution of the medical profession to that of software engineering. This analysis supports the contention that licensing will occur but that one must wait longer, perhaps much longer before the professional societies finally agree on the criteria for licensing. It is opined that the ramifications of allowing unlicensed physicians to practice are quite clear. Perhaps less clear are the effects of allowing unlicensed software engineers to practice. It is informed that Texas is the only state that requires licensing of software engineers who are engaged in the development of systems that demonstrate "the application of mathematical, physical, or computer sciences to activities such as real-time and embedded systems, information or financial systems, user interfaces, and networks."