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.
HVAC Contractor (Residential)
License required in 35 states
8th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
24th most heavily regulated occupation among moderate-income occupations
What They Do
HVAC contractors contract with clients to install, service or repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences and commercial establishments. In most states, only contractors require licenses, not those 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
Thirty-five states license HVAC contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require almost three years (1,055 days) of education and experience, $397 in fees, and about two exams. All in all, 30 states require at least one exam (Rhode Island requires four). These requirements rank as the eighth most burdensome.
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 | Rhode Island | 35 | $660 | 2920 | 8 years | 4 | 0 | 18 | |
| 2 | Iowa | 35 | $890 | 2190 | 6 years | 2 | 12 | 18 | |
| 3 | Idaho | 35 | $395 | 2190 | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 4 | Maryland | 35 | $405 | 2190 | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Delaware | 35 | $109 | 2190 | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Virginia | 35 | $720 | 1826 | 8 clock hours | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 35 | $331 | 1825 | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 8 | D C | 35 | $45 | 1825 | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Nevada | 35 | $1,078 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 10 | California | 35 | $579 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
| 11 | Kentucky | 35 | $506 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
| 12 | Connecticut | 35 | $465 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
| 13 | Hawaii | 35 | $615 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 13 | Oklahoma | 35 | $615 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 15 | Florida | 35 | $364 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 16 | New Mexico | 35 | $318 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 17 | Georgia | 35 | $297 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 18 | Texas | 35 | $195 | 1460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 19 | Michigan | 35 | $400 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | Arizona | 35 | $956 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 21 | Utah | 35 | $549 | 733 | 20 clock hours | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Arkansas | 35 | $255 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 23 | North Carolina | 35 | $260 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 24 | Alaska | 35 | $450 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25 | South Carolina | 35 | $280 | 365 | 1 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 26 | Mississippi | 35 | $290 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 27 | Oregon | 35 | $410 | 3 | 16 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 28 | Louisiana | 35 | $460 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 29 | Tennessee | 35 | $360 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 30 | West Virginia | 35 | $174 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 31 | North Dakota | 35 | $125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 32 | Wisconsin | 35 | $175 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 33 | Washington | 35 | $113 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 34 | Pennsylvania | 35 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 35 | Nebraska | 35 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |