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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

State Licensing Requirements

Select a chart to view:
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.

View Report