The purpose of licensing, however, is not to close down programs, but to achieve compliance with the state's regulations. The standards at this basic level therefore define the necessary level of quality. It is the line drawn in the sand, state by state. In some states, citizens set that necessary level at a higher level than in other states. In all the states, the line moves as these standards are constantly reexamined and revised.
States revise their licensing on an average of every four or five years.
When they revise them, they look at where their state stands in relation to other states. If they want to be the best, they might find they have fallen behind another state. If they want to be in the middle, compared to other states, they may find that the middle has moved. The fact that there is a massive mis-perception of licensing shows that there is an impression that licensing should mandate the ideal. Quality cannot be pursued from licensing regulations.