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Wildlife Control Operator Occupational Licensing

License required in 23 states

78th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations

Average Fee for License:$83

What They Do

Wildlife control operators take or trap, transport, and release wildlife when it becomes a nuisance, destroys property or threatens public safety.[c]Adapted from http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/28635.html[/c]

Wildlife Control Operator Licensing Overview

Twenty-three states require a licence to work as a Wildlife Control Operator. On average, these laws require $83 in fees, 32 days of education and about 1 exam. Wildlife Control Operator Licenses have the 78th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Where is a Wildlife Control Operator the most regulated?

Out of the 23 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Wildlife Control Operator has the highest burden in Washington. Washington requires $50 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 clock hours education.

Where is a Wildlife Control Operator the least regulated?

Out of the 23 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Wildlife Control Operator has the lowest burden in Indiana. Indiana requires $0 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and no education.

Where is a Wildlife Control Operator license the most expensive?

An occupational license for a Wildlife Control Operator costs the most in Oklahoma. Oklahoma requires $275 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 16 clock hours education.

Where is a Wildlife Control Operator license the least expensive?

An occupational license for a Wildlife Control Operator costs the least in Illinois, Kansas, Indiana where the license costs $0.

Where does it take the longest to obtain a Wildlife Control Operator license?

An occupational license for a Wildlife Control Operator takes the longest to obtain in Washington. It takes 731 days (2 years and 1 days). Washington requires $50 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 clock hours education.

Where is it fastest to obtain a Wildlife Control Operator license?

An occupational license for a Wildlife Control Operator takes the least time to obtain in Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, Georgia, Rhode Island, Illinois, Alaska, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Ohio, Indiana (0 days).

What states require exams for a Wildlife Control Operator license?

To obtain an occupational license for a Wildlife Control Operator there is at least one exam required in: Washington, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Kentucky, District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia, Georgia, Rhode Island, Illinois, Kansas, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Ohio, Indiana. Washington, Louisiana, Iowa, Massachusetts require 2 exams.

Twenty-three states require a license to work as a wildlife control operator. On average, these laws require $68 in fees and about one exam—the 88th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. Because about half of states license wildlife control operators, the occupation ranks as the 74th most widely and onerously licensed.

While most states (19) require one written exam, Iowa requires two: a written exam and an in-person interview with a representative of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Alaska, Nevada and New Hampshire require no exams. Additionally, while 15 states require no education or experience, eight require anywhere from one to 16 hours of education. Fees range from $0 in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Virginia to $250 in Connecticut and Nevada.

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 Washington 76 $50 731 4 clock hours 2 years 2 0 18
2 Oklahoma 42 $275 3 16 clock hours None 1 0 18
3 Louisiana 77 $40 2 10 clock hours None 2 0 18
4 Iowa 71 $25 0 None None 2 0 18
5 Massachusetts 50 $141 2 11 clock hours None 2 0 0
6 Connecticut 65 $250 1 8.5 clock hours None 1 0 0
7 Kentucky 38 $100 0 None None 1 0 18
8 District of Columbia 61 $50 0.2 1 clock hours None 1 0 18
9 Maryland 58 $50 0 None None 1 0 18
9 West Virginia 67 $50 0 None None 1 0 18
11 Georgia 41 $45 0 None None 1 0 18
12 Rhode Island 70 $25 0 None None 1 0 18
13 Illinois 41 $0 0 None None 1 0 18
14 Kansas 35 $0 1 8 clock hours None 1 0 16
15 Alaska 64 $100 0 None None 0 0 18
16 Nevada 75 $250 0 None None 0 0 0
17 Oregon 69 $90 0 None None 1 0 0
18 Pennsylvania 50 $75 0 None None 1 0 0
18 Virginia 72 $75 0 None None 1 0 0
20 New York 41 $50 0 None None 1 0 0
21 Ohio 40 $40 0 None None 1 0 0
22 New Hampshire 37 $139 1 6 clock hours None 0 0 0
23 Indiana 37 $0 0 None None 1 0 0

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report