× ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING OCCUPATIONS STATE PROFILES STORIES ABOUT IJ

Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) Occupational Licensing

License required in 24 states

29th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations

Average Fee for License:$352

What They Do

Door repair contractors, also known as door installer contractors or garage door mechanics, contract with clients to install, service or repair the opening and closing mechanisms of automatic and hydraulic doors. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the door mechanics 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.

Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) Licensing Overview

Twenty-four states require a licence to work as a Door Repair Contractor (Commercial). On average, these laws require $352 in fees, 417 days of education and about 1 exam. Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) Licenses have the 29th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.

Where is a Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) the most regulated?

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

Where is a Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) the least regulated?

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

Where is a Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) license the most expensive?

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

Where is a Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) license the least expensive?

An occupational license for a Door Repair 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 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) license?

An occupational license for a Door Repair 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 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) license?

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

What states require exams for a Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) license?

To obtain an occupational license for a Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) there is at least one exam required in: Nevada, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Virginia, New Mexico, South Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia. Nevada, Arizona, California, Alabama require 2 exams.

Twenty-four states license door repair 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, $372 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and around one exam. These high barriers give commercial door repair contractors the 29th 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
1 Nevada 75 $1,040 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Arizona 68 $596 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
3 California 75 $579 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
4 Hawaii 64 $619 1460 None 4 years 1 0 18
5 Oregon 69 $310 1463 16 clock hours 4 years 1 0 18
6 Virginia 72 $320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
7 New Mexico 66 $255 730 None 2 years 1 0 18
8 South Carolina 60 $250 730 None 2 years 1 0 0
9 Arkansas 72 $180 365 None 1 years 1 0 0
10 Alabama 63 $492 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
11 Mississippi 65 $520 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 1 0 0
12 Louisiana 77 $750 0 None None 1 0 0
13 North Carolina 66 $154 0 None None 1 0 18
14 Rhode Island 70 $200 0 None None 0 0 18
15 Tennessee 69 $307 0 None None 1 0 0
16 District of Columbia 61 $655 0 None None 0 0 0
17 North Dakota 65 $100 0 None None 0 0 18
18 West Virginia 67 $142 0 None None 1 0 0
19 Utah 64 $405 4 25 clock hours None 0 0 0
20 Alaska 64 $350 0 None None 0 0 0
21 Washington 76 $118 0 None None 0 0 0
22 Iowa 71 $50 0 None None 0 0 0
23 Idaho 66 $50 0 None None 0 0 0
24 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.

View Report