Twenty-four states license paving 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. Twelve states require no experience. On average, states require 508 days of education and experience, $365 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and one exam. These high barriers give commercial paving contractors the 28th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Twenty-eight states license paving contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require 329 days of education and experience, $295 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 14 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 49th most burdensome.

All 50 states and D.C. license pest control applicators. On average, these laws cost aspiring pest control applicators $260 in fees and 274 days in education and experience and require them to pass about two exams—the 50th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. However, because pest control applicators are licensed everywhere, the occupation ranks as the seventh most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements vary widely. For example, while Louisiana requires four years (1,460 days) of education and another 11 states require two or more years of education or experience, 22 states require no education or experience. Similarly, while Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire and New York require four exams, six states require only one. Fees also vary greatly, from $0 in Mississippi to $2,200 in New York.

Forty-four states require pharmacy technicians to obtain licenses. On average, these laws require $136 in fees, 46 days of education and experience, and about one exam—the 73rd most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. However, because pharmacy technicians are licensed by most states, the occupation ranks as the 26th most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements vary greatly across states. While most states (29) require no education or experience, Florida, Nevada and West Virginia require over 220 days—more than seven months—of education and experience. (See Appendix B for details on education and experience requirements.) Similarly, while Utah requires two exams, 19 states require none. Fees also vary, from $25 in Kentucky and Rhode Island to $379 in New Mexico.

Twenty-seven states license pipelayer contractors. On average, these laws impose $377 in fees, 546 days in education and experience, and around one exam—the 22nd most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. However, because pipelayers are licensed by only slightly more than half the states, the occupation ranks as the 46th most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements vary widely across states. Twelve states require between two and five years of experience working under a licensed contractor, while another two (Alabama and Mississippi) require completion of three contracted jobs. Twelve states require no education or experience. Similarly, California and New Mexico require three exams, while eight states require none.

Forty-nine states and D.C. require licenses of preschool teachers working in public schools; Utah is the only state that does not. On average, these laws require $492 in fees, over five and a half years (2,050 days) of education and experience, and around two exams—the second most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Because almost every state licenses the occupation, it ranks as the most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements vary, as do the ways in which states license the occupation. Missouri and Oregon require a bachelor’s degree for their preliminary teaching licenses and four years of teaching experience for their continuously renewable professional teaching licenses (2,920 days total). Ohio, on the other hand, has no preliminary license and requires only an associate’s degree (730 days) for its continuously renewable one. (See Appendix B under “Public School Teacher” for details on how the occupation was observed.) Similarly, exam requirements range from none in Montana to five in Tennessee. Fees are over $1,000 in Connecticut and Washington but under $200 in Missouri, Montana and South Dakota.

Thirty states license iron and steel contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require over a year (392 days) of education and experience, $318 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 18 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 38th most burdensome.

Forty-seven states license landscape contractors working on commercial properties. Eight states require between two and five years of experience working under a licensed contractor, while Alabama and Mississippi require completion of three contracted jobs. Mississippi also requires two years of college. Thirty-seven require no education or experience. On average, states require 228 days of education and experience, $235 in fees, and about one exam—the 62nd most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied.

Forty-eight states license landscape contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require 198 days in education and experience and $203 in fees. Thirteen states also require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 66th most burdensome.

Fourteen states require locksmiths to obtain licenses. On average, these laws require aspiring locksmiths to pay $167 in fees, demonstrate 54 days of education and experience, and pass about one exam—the 79th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. The occupation is the 77th most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements vary across states. The most burdensome state, New Jersey, requires locksmiths to prove about 732 days of education and experience (two years of experience as an apprentice and 10 hours of education), pay $217 in fees, pass an exam, be 18 years of age, and have graduated from high school. In contrast, Nebraska, the least burdensome state, requires only payment of a $5 fee.