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.
Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) Occupational Licensing
License required in 26 states
20th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$348
What They Do
Non-HVAC sheet metal contractors contract with clients to fabricate, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as kitchen equipment, drainpipes, gutters, cornices and flashings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks or forms using a hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; and inspecting, assembling and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces.[c]Adapted from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2211.00 and Nev. Admin. Code § 624.300.[/c] Typically, only contractors require licenses, not sheet metal workers 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.
Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) Licensing Overview
Twenty-six states (more than half of states) require a licence to work as a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial). On average, these laws require $348 in fees, 483 days of education and about 1 exam. Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) Licenses have the 20th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in Nevada.
Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) the most regulated?
Out of the 26 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) has the highest burden in Massachusetts. Massachusetts requires $400 in fees, 1 exams, 5 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) the least regulated?
Out of the 26 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) has the lowest burden in Nebraska. Nebraska requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) costs the most in Nevada. Nevada requires $1040 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (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 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) license?
An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) takes the longest to obtain in Massachusetts. It takes 1825 days (5 years). Massachusetts requires $400 in fees, 1 exams, 5 years experience, and no education.
Where is it fastest to obtain a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) license?
An occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) takes the least time to obtain in North Carolina, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Tennessee, North Dakota, West Virginia, Alaska, Washington, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska (0 days).
What states require exams for a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) there is at least one exam required in: Massachusetts, Nevada, California, Hawaii, Florida, Oregon, Arizona, Virginia, New Mexico, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia. California requires 3 exams.
Twenty-six states license non-HVAC sheet metal contractors working on commercial properties. Twelve 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 567 days of education and experience, $360 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and one exam. These high barriers give commercial non-HVAC sheet metal contractors the 21st 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 | Massachusetts | 50 | $400 | 1825 | None | 5 years | 1 | 12 | 17 |
| 2 | Nevada | 75 | $1,040 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | California | 75 | $579 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Hawaii | 64 | $694 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Florida | 55 | $364 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Oregon | 69 | $310 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Arizona | 68 | $546 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 8 | Virginia | 72 | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | New Mexico | 66 | $255 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 60 | $310 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 72 | $180 | 365 | None | 1 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 65 | $640 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Alabama | 63 | $492 | 67 | None | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | North Carolina | 66 | $154 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 15 | Louisiana | 77 | $400 | 0.2 | 1 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 70 | $200 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | 61 | $655 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 69 | $307 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | North Dakota | 65 | $100 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 20 | Utah | 64 | $405 | 4 | 25 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | West Virginia | 67 | $142 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Alaska | 64 | $350 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Washington | 76 | $118 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Iowa | 71 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Idaho | 66 | $50 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | 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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