Two states require a license to work as a log scaler: Idaho and Maine. Maine requires two years (730 days) of experience, a $25 fee, an exam and a minimum age of 18. Idaho, on the other hand, requires only a $25 fee and two exams. The average requirements for log scaler rank as the 44th most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because only two states license the occupation, it is only the 94th most widely and onerously licensed.

Forty-one states license makeup artistry. Two of these states, Louisiana and Nevada, issue a license specific to makeup artists. In the other 39 states, makeup application is interpreted as falling under the scope of other licenses administered by cosmetology boards (see Appendix B for details). On average, aspiring makeup artists must pay $169 in fees, complete 134 days of education and pass about two exams—the 58th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. Because most states license makeup artists, the occupation ranks as the 28th most widely and onerously licensed.

Forty-nine states and D.C. require a license to work as a manicurist; Connecticut is the only state that does not. On average, these laws force aspiring manicurists to pay $172 in fees, complete 91 days of education and pass two exams—the 60th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. However, because manicurists are licensed so widely, the occupation ranks as the 13th most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements vary widely across states. For example, the most burdensome state, Alabama, requires about 175 days (750 hours) of education, while the least burdensome state, Massachusetts, requires only about 23 days (100 hours). Exam requirements also vary, from zero exams in Florida to three in seven other states. Similarly, three states (Alaska, Vermont and Wisconsin) require over $350 in fees, but nine states require less than $100.

Twenty-six states license mason contractors working on commercial properties. Eleven 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 525 days of education and experience, $372 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and one exam. These high barriers give commercial mason contractors the 24th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Thirty-one states license mason contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require over a year (380 days) of education and experience, $319 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 18 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 39th most burdensome.

Forty-four states require a license to work as a massage therapist. On average, these laws require $372 in fees, 142 days in education and around one exam—the 59th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. However, because most states license massage therapists, the occupation ranks as the 22nd most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements are largely consistent across many states. Twenty-four states require 500 hours (about 117 days) of education, 34 states require one exam and 35 states set a minimum age of 18 years. However, there are some outliers. For example, Maine requires no education or experience, while Maryland requires over one and a half years (about 560 days, or 600 hours of massage therapy school and 60 hours of college credit). Fees also vary widely, from $140 in Hawaii to $805 in Alaska.

Twenty-eight states license direct-entry midwives. (In nine states, the occupation is or appears to be prohibited.) On average, licensed states require $1,383 in fees, more than three years (1,152 days) of education and experience, and around one exam—the fourth most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. However, because direct-entry midwives are licensed by just over half of states, the occupation is the 33rd most widely and onerously licensed.

License requirements are fairly uniform across states: 20 states require three years of education, all require one or two exams, and 24 require a high school diploma. However, there is some variation. For example, Indiana requires over seven years of education and experience (about 2,695 days, or three years of midwife school plus observation of or participation in 80 births), while Texas requires only one year of education. Fees also vary greatly, from $822 in New York to $2,600 in Wyoming.

Forty-two states license milk samplers. While most states (33) require no education or experience, nine states require between one and two days of education or experience. (See Appendix B for details on education and experience requirements.) In contrast, almost all states (36) require one or two exams, while six states require none. Fees range from $0 in 11 states to $75 in California. On average, licensed states require aspiring milk samplers to pay $22 in fees and pass one exam—the 96th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. However, because the occupation is licensed by most states, it ranks as the 31st most widely and onerously licensed.

Twenty-nine states require a license to work as a gaming cage worker. Every state except Connecticut requires a fee, which averages $174, and about two-thirds of states (19) set a minimum age of either 18 or 21. No state requires any education or experience or exams. These requirements make the gaming cage worker occupation the 85th most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because gaming cage workers are licensed by over half of states, the occupation ranks as the 60th most widely and onerously licensed.

Twenty-eight states require a license to work as a gaming dealer. Every state except Connecticut requires a fee, which averages $174, and almost two-thirds of states (17) set a minimum age of either 18 or 21. No state requires any education or experience or exams. These requirements make the gaming dealer occupation the 87th most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because gaming dealers are licensed by over half of states, the occupation ranks as the 64th most widely and onerously licensed.