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.
Animal Control Officer Occupational Licensing
License required in 7 states
93rd most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$26
What They Do
Animal control officers handle animals in order to investigate mistreatment or to control abandoned, dangerous or unattended animals.
Animal Control Officer Licensing Overview
Seven states require a licence to work as an Animal Control Officer. On average, these laws require $26 in fees, 13 days of education and about 1 exam. Animal Control Officer Licenses have the 93rd most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
Where is an Animal Control Officer the most regulated?
Out of the 7 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Animal Control Officer has the highest burden in Michigan. Michigan requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 100 clock hours education.
Where is an Animal Control Officer the least regulated?
Out of the 7 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Animal Control Officer has the lowest burden in Texas. Texas requires $75 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 12 clock hours education.
Where is an Animal Control Officer license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Animal Control Officer costs the most in Texas. Texas requires $75 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 12 clock hours education.
Where is an Animal Control Officer license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Animal Control Officer costs the least in Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia where the license costs $0.
Where does it take the longest to obtain an Animal Control Officer license?
An occupational license for a Animal Control Officer takes the longest to obtain in Michigan. It takes 23 days (0 years and 23 days). Michigan requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 100 clock hours education.
Where is it fastest to obtain an Animal Control Officer license?
An occupational license for a Animal Control Officer takes the least time to obtain in Texas. It takes 2 days. Texas requires $75 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 12 clock hours education.
What states require exams for an Animal Control Officer license?
To obtain an occupational license for an Animal Control Officer there is at least one exam required in: Florida, Maine, Texas, Wisconsin. Texas requires 2 exams.
Seven states require a license to work as an animal control officer. On average, these laws require $26 in fees, 12 days of education and about one written exam—the 93rd most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Also, because animal control officers are not widely licensed, the occupation ranks as the 85th most widely and onerously licensed.
Fees range from $0 in four states to $75 in Texas. And although all seven states require education, the hours range from 12 in Texas to 100 in Michigan. Florida, Texas and Wisconsin also require passage of at least one exam.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Florida | 55 | $0 | 9 | 40 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Maine | 46 | $50 | 11 | 45 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Michigan | 48 | $0 | 23 | 100 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 54 | $0 | 15 | 65 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Texas | 38 | $75 | 2 | 12 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Virginia | 72 | $0 | 20 | 84 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 42 | $60 | 9 | 40 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
View Report