The comments section is particularly negative to this idea. It seems like most of the people commenting are established software developers that are reluctant to this change.

Reading the article, I begin to agree that licensure may be a good idea. The term "Software Engineering" has such a wide span that some delineation could be a good thing. As software continues to eat the world what will delineate the differences between a CRUD web application developer and someone qualified to write code for pacemakers, satellites, missiles, etc?

How is this sort of thing handled in countries other than the US?

Is licensure a good or bad idea? I'd like to hear the communities' thoughts.

Link: http://theinstitute.ieee.org/career-and-education/career-guidance/licensing-software-engineers-is-in-the-works