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.
Interpreter, Sign Language Occupational Licensing
License required in 22 states
16th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$588
What They Do
Sign language interpreters translate or transliterate sign language into another language or vice versa.[c]Adapted from Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 309.300.[/c]
Interpreter, Sign Language Licensing Overview
Twenty-two states require a licence to work as an Interpreter, Sign Language. On average, these laws require $588 in fees, 626 days of education and about 2 exam. Interpreter, Sign Language Licenses have the 16th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire.
Where is an Interpreter, Sign Language the most regulated?
Out of the 22 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Interpreter, Sign Language has the highest burden in Maine. Maine requires $1256 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 4 years education.
Where is an Interpreter, Sign Language the least regulated?
Out of the 22 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Interpreter, Sign Language has the lowest burden in South Dakota. South Dakota requires $400 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is an Interpreter, Sign Language license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Interpreter, Sign Language costs the most in Maine. Maine requires $1256 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 4 years education.
Where is an Interpreter, Sign Language license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Interpreter, Sign Language costs the least in Utah. Utah requires $210 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no education.
Where does it take the longest to obtain an Interpreter, Sign Language license?
An occupational license for a Interpreter, Sign Language takes the longest to obtain in Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Nevada.It takes 1460 days (4 years).
Where is it fastest to obtain an Interpreter, Sign Language license?
An occupational license for a Interpreter, Sign Language takes the least time to obtain in Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia (0 days).
What states require exams for an Interpreter, Sign Language license?
To obtain an occupational license for an Interpreter, Sign Language there is at least one exam required in: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, West Virginia. Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Rhode Island, Utah, Wisconsin, West Virginia require 2 exams.
Twenty-two states license sign language interpreters. On average, these laws require aspiring sign language interpreters to pay $661 in fees, demonstrate almost three years (1,088 days) of education and experience, and pass two exams—the seventh most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because sign language interpreters are licensed by less than half of states, the occupation ranks as the 55th most widely and onerously licensed.
License requirements are somewhat consistent across states. All licensed states require two exams, and nearly all (20) set a minimum age of 18. Sixteen also require a bachelor’s degree and 40 hours of interpreter education. Arkansas and Mississippi, however, require only payment of a fee ($170 and $225, respectively) in addition to the two exams.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Alabama | 63 | $750 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 72 | $365 | 420 | 60 credit hours | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 11 | Arizona | 68 | $365 | 420 | 60 credit hours | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 6 | Connecticut | 65 | $885 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 21 | Iowa | 71 | $470 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Illinois | 41 | $470 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 6 | Indiana | 37 | $885 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 38 | $415 | 420 | 60 credit hours | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 1 | Maine | 46 | $1,256 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 14 | Missouri | 33 | $442 | 420 | 60 credit hours | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 20 | Mississippi | 65 | $225 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 66 | $1,148 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 65 | $935 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 16 | Nebraska | 61 | $395 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 37 | $1,085 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 13 | New Mexico | 66 | $305 | 420 | 60 credit hours | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 2 | Nevada | 75 | $885 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 70 | $455 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 22 | South Dakota | 32 | $400 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Utah | 64 | $210 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 42 | $315 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 19 | West Virginia | 67 | $275 | 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