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 Trainer Occupational Licensing
License required in 7 states
89th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$225
What They Do
Animal trainers train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, obedience or disability assistance. They accustom animals to human voice and contact and condition animals to respond to commands. They may train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition or train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of a pack team. This report does not look at animal racing licenses.
Animal Trainer Licensing Overview
Seven states require a licence to work as an Animal Trainer. On average, these laws require $225 in fees, 0 days of education and about 1 exam. Animal Trainer Licenses have the 89th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.
Where is an Animal Trainer the most regulated?
Out of the 7 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Animal Trainer has the highest burden in New Hampshire. New Hampshire requires $39 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 15 clock hours education.
Where is an Animal Trainer the least regulated?
Out of the 7 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Animal Trainer has the lowest burden in Connecticut. Connecticut requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is an Animal Trainer license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Animal Trainer costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $1408 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is an Animal Trainer license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Animal Trainer costs the least in Connecticut. Connecticut requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where does it take the longest to obtain an Animal Trainer license?
An occupational license for a Animal Trainer takes the longest to obtain in New Hampshire. It takes 3 days (0 years and 3 days). New Hampshire requires $39 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 15 clock hours education.
Where is it fastest to obtain an Animal Trainer license?
An occupational license for a Animal Trainer takes the least time to obtain in Nevada, Wisconsin, New York, North Dakota, Maryland, Connecticut (0 days).
What states require exams for an Animal Trainer license?
To obtain an occupational license for an Animal Trainer there is at least one exam required in: New Hampshire, Nevada. New Hampshire, Nevada require 2 exams.
Nine states require a license to work as an animal trainer. On average, these laws require $209 in fees, 122 days of experience and about one exam, the 76th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Because it is not licensed very widely, animal trainer ranks as the 82nd most widely and onerously licensed occupation.
License requirements vary widely across states, as do the type of licenses recorded here. Most licenses are for training hunting dogs and require only payment of a fee. However, California’s license is for training guide dogs for the blind and requires three years (1,095 days) of experience, two exams and $250 in fees. Similarly, Nevada’s license is for training security dogs and requires passage of two exams and more than $1,400 in fees—more than half of which pays for background checks.
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 | New Hampshire | 37 | $39 | 3 | 15 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Nevada | 75 | $1,408 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 21 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 42 | $25 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 4 | New York | 41 | $88 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 65 | $10 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Maryland | 58 | $5 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 65 | $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.
View Report