Colorado

Colorado Licensing Overview

Colorado licenses 34 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are less burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 34th in the nation. Colorado licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Psychiatric Technician (4 other).

On average, Colorado requires $355 in licensing fees, 257 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Bill Collection Agency, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor.

Which occupation in a Colorado is the most regulated?

Out of the 34 occupations that require an occupational license in Colorado, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $350 in fees, 1 exams, 1 year experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Colorado is the least regulated?

Out of the 34 occupations that require an occupational license in Colorado, a license for Fisher, Commercial has the lowest burden. A Fisher, Commercial license requires $40 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Colorado is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Colorado costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1600 in fees, 1 exams, 5 births experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Colorado is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Colorado costs the least for Weigher. A Weigher license requires $25 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Colorado takes the most time to obtain?

In Colorado, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 1825 days (5 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $350 in fees, 1 exams, 1 year experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in Colorado takes the least time to obtain?

In Colorado, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Truck Driver, Other, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Milk Sampler, Weigher, Animal Breeder, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial.

In Colorado, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Colorado, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Earth Driller, Water Well, Pest Control Applicator, Mobile Home Installer, Cosmetologist, Barber, Psychiatric Technician, Shampooer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Manicurist, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Massage Therapist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Child Care Home, Family, Coach, Head (High School Sports), Milk Sampler, Weigher. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Colorado licenses 34 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, and its laws are the 36th most burdensome. On average, Colorado’s barriers to entry are $344 in fees, 260 days lost to education and experience, and roughly two exams. Because Colorado licenses fewer occupations than most states, it ranks as only the 47th most broadly and onerously licensed.

Despite this relatively good ranking, Colorado still has room for improvement. For example, it has one of the most burdensome licenses for bill collection agencies, requiring $1,500 in fees and 730 days—two years—of experience before an agency can open for business. By comparison, 20 states do not even license bill collection agencies, and those that do require an average of $551 in fees and 159 days of education and experience.

Colorado also imposes restrictions on barbers and cosmetologists that are disproportionately burdensome compared to those for occupations that may pose greater risks to the public. Aspiring barbers must pay a $155 fee and complete 1,500 hours (around 350 days) of education, while would-be cosmetologists must pay a $177 fee and complete 1,800 hours (roughly 420 days) of education. Both must also pass two exams. EMTs, on the other hand, must only pay a $98 fee, demonstrate 150 hours (about 35 days) of education and pass two exams. Colorado should reduce, if not repeal, its inconsistent or irrational burdens for lower-income workers, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	350	1825	4 years	1 year	1	0	0
2	Athletic Trainer	49	540	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
3	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1600	830	2 years	5 births	1	12	19
4	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	230	730	None	2 years	3	0	21
5	Bill Collection Agency	29	1500	730	None	2 years	0	0	0
6	Pest Control Applicator	51	513	728	None	24 months	2	0	0
7	Mobile Home Installer	37	150	366	8 clock hours	1 year	1	0	18
8	Cosmetologist	51	177	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	0	16
9	Barber	51	152	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	0	16
10	Psychiatric Technician	4	260	242	34.5 credit hours	None	1	12	0
11	Shampooer	33	177	280	1200 clock hours	None	2	0	16
12	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	576	243	None	8 months	4	0	0
13	Manicurist	51	169	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	16
14	Makeup Artist	37	152	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	16
14	Skin Care Specialist	51	152	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	16
16	Massage Therapist	45	395	117	500 clock hours	None	1	0	0
17	School Bus Driver	51	161	0	None	None	6	0	18
18	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	311	0	None	None	5	0	18
18	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	311	0	None	None	5	0	18
20	Gaming Supervisor	31	1275	0	None	None	0	0	21
20	Slot Supervisor	29	1275	0	None	None	0	0	21
22	Truck Driver, Other	51	311	0	None	None	4	0	18
23	Emergency Medical Technician	51	150	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
24	Child Care Home, Family	44	100	4	21.5 clock hours	None	1	0	18
25	Travel Guide	37	100	12	50 clock hours	None	0	0	18
26	Gaming Cage Worker	30	115	0	None	None	0	0	21
26	Gaming Dealer	29	115	0	None	None	0	0	21
28	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	100	1	5 clock hours	None	1	0	0
29	Milk Sampler	43	50	0	None	None	1	0	0
30	Weigher	24	25	0	None	None	1	0	0
31	Animal Breeder	29	209	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	170	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	170	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Fisher, Commercial	43	40	0	None	None	0	0	0

Colorado Occupational Licensing

34 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

34th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$355