All 50 states and D.C. require a license to work as a barber. On average, these laws require $154 in fees, over a year (368 days) of education and experience, and about two exams—the 34th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. And because barbers are licensed so widely, the occupation ranks as the fifth most widely and onerously licensed.
License requirements vary widely across states. Nevada is the most burdensome state, requiring four exams, $165 in fees, and nearly 900 days of education and experience (1,500 hours of barber school and an 18-month apprenticeship). At the other end of the spectrum, New York requires three exams, $70 in fees and about 54 days of education (231 hours of coursework).
Thirty-one states license non-HVAC sheet metal contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require nearly a year (356 days) of education and experience, $302 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 17 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 43rd most burdensome.
Forty-nine states and D.C. license skin care specialists; Connecticut is the only state that does not. On average, these laws require $175 in fees, 145 days of education and two exams—the 56th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because almost all states license the occupation, it ranks as the ninth most widely and onerously licensed.
License requirements are somewhat uniform: 37 states require about 140 to 175 days (600 to 750 hours) of education, 36 require two exams, 38 require a minimum grade level, and 40 require a minimum age of between 16 and 18 years. However, there are some outliers. For example, four states require about 233 days (1,000 hours) of education, while Florida requires only about 61 (260 hours). Similarly, seven states require three exams, but Florida requires none. Fees also vary greatly, from $51 in Ohio to $450 in Alaska.
Twenty-eight states require a license to work as a slot supervisor. On average, these laws require a fee of $467. In addition, about two-thirds of states (19) set a minimum age of either 18 or 21. These requirements make the slot supervisor occupation the 82nd most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because slot supervisors are licensed by over half of states, the occupation ranks as the 62nd most widely and onerously licensed.
License fees vary greatly across states, from $0 in Connecticut to $3,150 in California. Nine states have fees totaling $500 or more (five states have fees totaling $1,000 or more). Fees are so high because some states—including California, Colorado and Massachusetts—require large initial deposits ($2,400, $1,000 and $1,000, respectively) for background checks. After completing the background check, the state returns anything remaining of the deposit.
Thirty-nine states require mobile home installers to obtain licenses.1 On average, these laws require $344 in fees, 309 days of education and experience, and around one exam—the 48th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. And because the occupation is licensed by most states, it ranks as the 29th most widely and onerously licensed.
License requirements vary greatly. While Arizona, California and South Dakota all require three years or more of education and experience, six states require none at all. Similarly, six states require two exams, but Indiana, New Hampshire and Oklahoma require none. Fees also vary widely, from $25 in Tennessee to $2,790 in Arkansas. Arkansas’ fees are so high because the state requires a $2,500 recovery fund fee.
Two states license nursery workers: Arkansas and Idaho. Both states require only payment of a fee: $10 in Arkansas and $100 in Idaho. These requirements are the 101st most onerous of the 102 occupations studied. Because so few states license nursery workers, the occupation ranks as the 96th most widely and onerously licensed occupation in the study.
Twenty two states require a license to work as an optician. On average, these laws force aspiring opticians to pay $449 in fees, demonstrate nearly two years (714 days) of education and experience, and pass around two exams—the 11th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. However, because less than half of states license opticians, the occupation ranks as the 63rd most widely and onerously licensed.
While almost every state requires a minimum age of 18 years and at least a high school diploma, other license requirements vary greatly. (Duties also vary by state—see Appendix B for details.) Education and experience requirements vary from none in California and New Hampshire to more than three years (about 1,118 days) in Nevada. Similarly, exam requirements vary from none in New Hampshire to four in Connecticut, and fees range from $110 in New Hampshire to $943 in Florida.
Six states require packers to obtain licenses. Each requires only payment of a fee, ranging from $20 in Kentucky to $50 in Maine—$33 on average. These requirements make packer the least burdensome of the 102 occupations studied. However, because a few states license packers, the occupation ranks as the 88th most widely and onerously licensed.
Twenty-two states license painting contractors working on commercial properties. Nine states require between two and five years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Alabama and Mississippi require completion of three contracted jobs. Eleven states require no experience. On average, states require 488 days of education and experience, $382 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and one exam. These high barriers give commercial painting contractors the 31st most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
Twenty-eight states license painting contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require 277 days of education and experience, $312 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 13 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 55th most burdensome.
