Occupational Licensing: What does it accomplish?

Here is a link to a most informative article by John Hood, formerly of the John Locke Foundation, on the ill-effects of occupational licensing. As you read this, imagine the future of the personal fitness industry when these same unintended consequences befall us with licensure.
Occupational Licensing

Also, the following article is quite interesting:
License Policy Review

By it's own extensive track record in the U.S., what does occupational licensure accomplish?


"Licensure almost inevitably becomes a tool in the hands of a special producer group to maintain a monopoly position at the expense of the rest of the public. There is no way to avoid this result."
Capitalism and Freedom, Milton Friedman