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.
Painting Contractor (Commercial) Occupational Licensing
License required in 22 states
32nd most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$358
What They Do
Painting contractors contract with clients to paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges and other structural surfaces using brushes, rollers and spray guns. They may also remove old paint to prepare a surface prior to painting or mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the painters who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.
Painting Contractor (Commercial) Licensing Overview
Twenty-two states require a licence to work as a Painting Contractor (Commercial). On average, these laws require $358 in fees, 388 days of education and about 1 exam. Painting Contractor (Commercial) Licenses have the 32nd most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.
Where is a Painting Contractor (Commercial) the most regulated?
Out of the 22 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Painting Contractor (Commercial) has the highest burden in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Painting Contractor (Commercial) the least regulated?
Out of the 22 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Painting Contractor (Commercial) has the lowest burden in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is a Painting Contractor (Commercial) license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Painting Contractor (Commercial) costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Painting Contractor (Commercial) license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Painting Contractor (Commercial) costs the least in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where does it take the longest to obtain a Painting Contractor (Commercial) license?
An occupational license for a Painting Contractor (Commercial) takes the longest to obtain in Oregon. It takes 1463 days (4 years and 3 days). Oregon requires $310 in fees, 1 exams, 4 years experience, and 16 clock hours education.
Where is it fastest to obtain a Painting Contractor (Commercial) license?
An occupational license for a Painting Contractor (Commercial) takes the least time to obtain in Rhode Island, District of Columbia, North Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Alaska, Washington, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska (0 days).
What states require exams for a Painting Contractor (Commercial) license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Painting Contractor (Commercial) there is at least one exam required in: Nevada, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Arizona, Virginia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia. California requires 3 exams.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 75 | $1,040 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | California | 75 | $579 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Hawaii | 64 | $694 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Oregon | 69 | $310 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Arizona | 68 | $596 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Virginia | 72 | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 60 | $250 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Arkansas | 72 | $180 | 365 | None | 1 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Mississippi | 65 | $640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Alabama | 63 | $492 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Louisiana | 77 | $400 | 0.2 | 1 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 70 | $200 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | 61 | $655 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | North Dakota | 65 | $100 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 69 | $307 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Utah | 64 | $405 | 4 | 25 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | West Virginia | 67 | $142 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Alaska | 64 | $350 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Washington | 76 | $118 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Iowa | 71 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Idaho | 66 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Nebraska | 61 | $0 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
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