Undocumented Individuals Seeking Professional Licensing

Undocumented individuals are now a small step away from pursuing careers in nursing, dentistry, architecture, psychology, among others. Careers monitored by the Department of Licensing were previously denied on the basis of citizenship status. A new state house bill allows undocumented individuals to apply for these licenses using their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, in place of a Social Security Number. The bill was introduced by Rep. Amy Walen, D-Kirkland, who personally ran into barriers in pursuing a law license in the U.S. after living abroad as a child. "If someone can pass rigorous standards we have in the state of Washington and show that they are competent to deliver services, why does the state need to know about their federal documentation

status?" Walen asked.