I always felt a rigorous test could be administered, and tailored to specific job applicants.

And yes, if we had tough tests, make it illegial for an employer to even ask where you went to school.

For example, if a person can pass the CA bar, let him/her practice law?

I bring up the CA bar test because it's especially hard.

There are some professions that wouldn't lend themselfs to testing, but they would be the exception.