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Tree Trimmer Occupational Licensing

License required in 8 states

18th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations

Average Fee for License:$306

What They Do

Tree trimmers cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks or utilities, or to improve appearance, health and value of trees. This report looks at what is required to run one’s own tree trimming business.

Tree Trimmer Licensing Overview

Eight states require a licence to work as a Tree Trimmer. On average, these laws require $306 in fees, 502 days of education and about 1 exam. Tree Trimmer Licenses have the 18th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Where is a Tree Trimmer the most regulated?

Out of the 8 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Tree Trimmer has the highest burden in Hawaii. Hawaii requires $694 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and no education.

Where is a Tree Trimmer the least regulated?

Out of the 8 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Tree Trimmer has the lowest burden in Minnesota. Minnesota requires $25 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.

Where is a Tree Trimmer license the most expensive?

An occupational license for a Tree Trimmer costs the most in Connecticut. Connecticut requires $725 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no education.

Where is a Tree Trimmer license the least expensive?

An occupational license for a Tree Trimmer costs the least in Minnesota. Minnesota requires $25 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.

Where does it take the longest to obtain a Tree Trimmer license?

An occupational license for a Tree Trimmer takes the longest to obtain in Hawaii, California.It takes 1460 days (4 years).

Where is it fastest to obtain a Tree Trimmer license?

An occupational license for a Tree Trimmer takes the least time to obtain in Connecticut, Maine, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Minnesota (0 days).

What states require exams for a Tree Trimmer license?

To obtain an occupational license for a Tree Trimmer there is at least one exam required in: Hawaii, California, Maryland, Connecticut, Maine, Louisiana, Rhode Island. Hawaii, California, Connecticut, Maine require 2 exams.

Seven states require tree trimmers to obtain licenses. On average, these laws require $325 in fees, over one and a half years (574 days) of education and experience, and around two exams—the 19th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because so few states license tree trimmers, the occupation only ranks as the 83rd most widely and onerously licensed.

Two of the licenses—California’s and Hawaii’s—are much more burdensome than the rest, requiring four years (1,460 days) of experience. These are contractor licenses that apply only to tree trimming jobs at or above $500 and $1,000, respectively. (See Appendix B under “Contractor Occupations – Commercial and Residential” for details on contractor licensing.) Maryland is the only other state that requires any education or experience. In addition, every state requires at least one exam and all but two set a minimum age of 18 years. Finally, fees vary greatly, from $30 in Maryland to $725 in Connecticut.

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 Hawaii 64 $694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 California 75 $579 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
3 Maryland 58 $30 1095 2 years 1 years 1 0 18
4 Connecticut 65 $725 0 None None 2 0 18
5 Maine 46 $130 0 None None 2 0 18
6 Louisiana 77 $214 0 None None 1 0 0
7 Rhode Island 70 $50 0 None None 1 0 0
8 Minnesota 35 $25 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