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.
Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) Occupational Licensing
License required in 30 states
42nd most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$297
What They Do
Carpenter and cabinet maker contractors contract with clients to construct, erect, install or repair structures and fixtures made of wood, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. They may also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. They include brattice builders, who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways to control the proper circulation of air through the passageways and to the working places. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the carpenters 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.
Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) Licensing Overview
Thirty states (more than half of states) require a licence to work as a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential). On average, these laws require $297 in fees, 344 days of education and about 1 exam. Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) Licenses have the 42nd most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.
Where is a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) the most regulated?
Out of the 30 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) has the highest burden in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) the least regulated?
Out of the 30 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) has the lowest burden in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 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 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) license?
An occupational license for a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) takes the longest to obtain in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada.It takes 1460 days (4 years).
Where is it fastest to obtain a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) license?
An occupational license for a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) takes the least time to obtain in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia (0 days).
What states require exams for a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) there is at least one exam required in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia. California requires 3 exams.
Thirty states license carpenter and cabinet maker contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require over a year (368 days) of education and experience, $319 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 17 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 40th most burdensome.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Alaska | 64 | $350 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Alabama | 63 | $448 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Arkansas | 72 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Arizona | 68 | $596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | California | 75 | $579 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 23 | Connecticut | 65 | $220 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | 61 | $442 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Florida | 55 | $364 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Hawaii | 64 | $694 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 26 | Iowa | 71 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Idaho | 66 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Louisiana | 77 | $255 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 50 | $500 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Maryland | 58 | $433 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 11 | Michigan | 48 | $294 | 14 | 60 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Mississippi | 65 | $290 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | North Carolina | 66 | $154 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 65 | $100 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 30 | Nebraska | 61 | $0 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | New Jersey | 54 | $110 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Nevada | 75 | $1,040 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Oregon | 69 | $310 | 3 | 16 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | 50 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 70 | $200 | 0.80 | 5 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 60 | $50 | 365 | None | 1 years | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Tennessee | 69 | $307 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Utah | 64 | $405 | 4 | 25 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Virginia | 72 | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 24 | Washington | 76 | $118 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | West Virginia | 67 | $142 | 0 | None | 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