What is Occupational Licensing?
An “occupational license” is, put simply, government permission to work in a particular field. To earn the license, an aspiring worker must clear various hurdles, such as earning a certain amount of education or training or passing an exam. In the 1950s, only one in 20 U.S. workers needed the government’s permission to pursue their chosen occupation. Today, that figure stands at almost one in four.
Glazier Contractor (Commercial) Occupational Licensing
License required in 26 states
19th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$360
What They Do
Glazier contractors contract with clients to install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings and tabletops. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the glaziers who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.
Glazier Contractor (Commercial) Licensing Overview
Twenty-six states (more than half of states) require a licence to work as a Glazier Contractor (Commercial). On average, these laws require $360 in fees, 497 days of education and about 1 exam. Glazier Contractor (Commercial) Licenses have the 19th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
Where is a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) the most regulated?
Out of the 26 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) has the highest burden in Connecticut. Connecticut requires $705 in fees, 3 exams, 5 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) the least regulated?
Out of the 26 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) has the lowest burden in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $995 in fees, 1 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) costs the least in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where does it take the longest to obtain a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) license?
An occupational license for a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) takes the longest to obtain in Connecticut. It takes 1825 days (5 years). Connecticut requires $705 in fees, 3 exams, 5 years experience, and no education.
Where is it fastest to obtain a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) license?
An occupational license for a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) takes the least time to obtain in North Carolina, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, North Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Alaska, Washington, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska (0 days).
What states require exams for a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Glazier Contractor (Commercial) there is at least one exam required in: Connecticut, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Florida, Oregon, Arizona, Virginia, New Mexico, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia. Connecticut, California require 3 exams.
Twenty-six states license glazier contractors working on commercial properties. Twelve states require between two and five years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Alabama and Mississippi require completion of three contracted jobs. Twelve states require no experience. On average, states require 581 days of education and experience, $366 in fees ($1,033 in Nevada), and about one exam. These high barriers give commercial glazier contractors the 20th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations
More Burdensome Less Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022| Burden Rank | State | Occupations Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | 65 | $705 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | California | 75 | $579 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Nevada | 75 | $995 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Hawaii | 64 | $694 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Florida | 55 | $364 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Oregon | 69 | $310 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Arizona | 68 | $596 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 8 | Virginia | 72 | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | New Mexico | 66 | $255 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 60 | $310 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 72 | $180 | 365 | None | 1 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 65 | $640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Alabama | 63 | $492 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Louisiana | 77 | $400 | 0.2 | 1 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 66 | $154 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 70 | $200 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | 61 | $655 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 65 | $100 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 19 | Tennessee | 69 | $307 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Utah | 64 | $405 | 4 | 25 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | West Virginia | 67 | $142 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Alaska | 64 | $350 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Washington | 76 | $118 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Iowa | 71 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Idaho | 66 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Nebraska | 61 | $0 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
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