Three states and D.C. license the practice of interior design. License requirements are highly uniform: All three states and D.C. require six years (2,190 days) of education or experience, between $1,120 and $1,485 in fees, and one exam. These requirements are the most burdensome of all 102 occupations studied here. However, because so few states license the practice of interior design, the occupation ranks as only the 87th most widely and onerously licensed.

Only one state, Connecticut, requires a license to work as a forest worker. Connecticut requires $300 in fees and one exam. These requirements rank as the 90th most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied here. And because forest workers are licensed by only one state, the occupation ranks as the second least widely and onerously licensed.

Three states require a license to work as a funeral attendant: Kansas, Maine and Massachusetts. Only Massachusetts requires any education or experience (a one-credit-hour course), while only Kansas requires an exam. The three states require an average of $124 in fees. These requirements are 78th most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied here. Because so few states license funeral attendants, the occupation ranks as the 91st most widely and onerously licensed.

All 50 states and D.C. require water well earth drillers to obtain licenses. On average, these laws require $356 in fees, over two years (837 days) of education and experience, and about two exams—the 13th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. And because water well earth drillers are also licensed everywhere, the occupation is the third most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements vary widely across states. While 41 states require education or experience, the time required ranges from one to over six years. The number of required exams also varies widely, from zero in four states to five in Utah. Fees follow a similar pattern: Arizona and Nevada require over $1,000, but Illinois, Michigan and Nebraska require $50 or less.

Thirty states license drywall installation contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require over a year (368 days) of education and experience, $313 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 16 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 42nd most burdensome.

Twenty-five states license insulation 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. Thirteen states require no experience. On average, states require 458 days of education and experience, $366 in fees ($1,033 in Nevada), and around one exam. These high barriers give commercial insulation contractors the 35th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Only one state, Louisiana, requires a license to work as a florist. Louisiana requires fees totaling $189 as well as an exam. These requirements rank as the 92nd most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied here. And because florists are licensed by only one state, the occupation ranks as the least widely and onerously licensed.

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.

Ten states require a license to work as a farm labor contractor. On average, these laws cost farm labor contractors $173 in fees. Three states require exams, while every state requires a fee. These relatively low barriers give the farm labor contractor occupation the 95th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. The occupation is the 79th most widely and onerously licensed.

Two states license electrical helpers: Maine and Minnesota. Both states set only fee and minimum age requirements: $96 in fees and 16 years of age in Maine and $14 in fees and 17 years of age in Minnesota. These burdens are the 86th most onerous of the 102 occupations studied here. Also, because so few states license electrical helpers, the occupation ranks as the 95th most widely and onerously licensed.