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Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) Occupational Licensing

License required in 24 states

27th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations

Average Fee for License:$358

What They Do

Cement finishing contractors, also known as concrete mason contractors, contract with clients to smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads or curbs, using a variety of hand and power tools; align forms for sidewalks, curbs or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the cement finishers 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.

Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) Licensing Overview

Twenty-four states require a licence to work as a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial). On average, these laws require $358 in fees, 417 days of education and about 1 exam. Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) Licenses have the 27th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.

Where is a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) the most regulated?

Out of the 24 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) has the highest burden in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.

Where is a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) the least regulated?

Out of the 24 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) has the lowest burden in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.

Where is a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) license the most expensive?

An occupational license for a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.

Where is a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) license the least expensive?

An occupational license for a Cement Finishing 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 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) license?

An occupational license for a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) takes the longest to obtain in Oregon. It takes 1463 days (4 years and 3 days). Oregon requires $310 in fees, 1 exams, 4 years experience, and 16 clock hours education.

Where is it fastest to obtain a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) license?

An occupational license for a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) takes the least time to obtain in Alaska, District of Columbia, Iowa, Idaho, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia (0 days).

What states require exams for a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) license?

To obtain an occupational license for a Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) there is at least one exam required in: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia. California requires 3 exams.

Twenty-four states license cement finishing contractors working on commercial properties. Ten 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 508 days of education and experience, $365 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and about one exam. These high barriers give commercial cement finishing contractors the 27th 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

State Licensing Requirements

Select a chart to view:
Burden Rank State Occupations Licensed Fees Estimated Calendar Days Lost Education Experience Exams Minimum Grade Minimum Age
20 Alaska 64 $350 0 None None 0 0 0
11 Alabama 63 $492 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
9 Arkansas 72 $180 365 None 1 years 1 0 0
3 Arizona 68 $696 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 California 75 $579 1460 None 4 years 3 0 18
16 District of Columbia 61 $655 0 None None 0 0 0
4 Hawaii 64 $694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
22 Iowa 71 $50 0 None None 0 0 0
23 Idaho 66 $50 0 None None 0 0 0
12 Louisiana 77 $400 0.20 1 clock hours None 2 0 0
10 Mississippi 65 $640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
13 North Carolina 66 $154 0 None None 1 0 18
17 North Dakota 65 $100 0 None None 0 0 18
24 Nebraska 61 $0 0 None None 0 0 0
6 New Mexico 66 $324 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
1 Nevada 75 $1,040 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
5 Oregon 69 $310 1463 16 clock hours 4 years 1 0 18
15 Rhode Island 70 $200 0 None None 0 0 18
8 South Carolina 60 $325 730 None 2 years 2 0 0
18 Tennessee 69 $307 0 None None 1 0 0
19 Utah 64 $405 4 25 clock hours None 0 0 0
7 Virginia 72 $320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
21 Washington 76 $118 0 None None 0 0 0
14 West Virginia 67 $195 0 None None 2 0 0

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report