102 Lower-income Occupations
For its 2017 report License to Work, the Institute for Justice documented the requirements to get a license for 102 lower-income occupations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read more about the research methods.
State Profiles
For its 2017 report License to Work, the Institute for Justice documented the requirements to get a license for 102 lower-income occupations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read more about the research methods.
Select A State
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.
Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)
License required in 22 states
32nd most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
72nd most heavily regulated occupation among moderate-income occupations
What They Do
Floor sander and finisher contractors contract with clients to scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machines and to apply coats of finish. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the floor sanders 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.Licensing
Twenty-two states license floor sander contractors working on commercial properties. Nine states require between two and five years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Alabama requires completion of three contracted jobs. Twelve states require no experience. On average, states require 485 days of education and experience, $359 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and one exam. These high barriers give commercial floor sander contractors the 32nd most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2017.
States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations
More Burdensome Less Burdensom
Based on data released in November 2017| Burden Rank | State | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | 22 | $180 | 1825 | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Nevada | 22 | $1,078 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 3 | California | 22 | $579 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
| 4 | Hawaii | 22 | $615 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 5 | Oregon | 22 | $410 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Arizona | 22 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 7 | Virginia | 22 | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 8 | Utah | 22 | $549 | 733 | 20 clock hours | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 22 | $250 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Alabama | 22 | $492 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Louisiana | 22 | $460 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 12 | Rhode Island | 22 | $200 | 1 | 5 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 13 | North Dakota | 22 | $125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 14 | D C | 22 | $655 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 15 | Tennessee | 22 | $305 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 16 | North Carolina | 22 | $145 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 17 | West Virginia | 22 | $132 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 18 | Alaska | 22 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 19 | Washington | 22 | $113 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Iowa | 22 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 21 | Idaho | 22 | $30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 22 | Nebraska | 22 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |