Connecticut

Connecticut Licensing Overview

Connecticut licenses 65 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are about average when compared to other states. The state's licensing laws rank 17th in the nation. Connecticut licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Home Entertainment Installer (3 other), Tree Trimmer (8 other), Forest Worker (1 other), Upholsterer (9 other), Animal Trainer (7 other).

On average, Connecticut requires $290 in licensing fees, 374 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Preschool Teacher, Public School.

Which occupation in a Connecticut is the most regulated?

Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in Connecticut, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $1010 in fees, 2 exams, 40 months experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Connecticut is the least regulated?

Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in Connecticut, licenses for Animal Trainer, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Slot Supervisor have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in Connecticut is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Connecticut costs the most for Preschool Teacher, Public School. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $1010 in fees, 2 exams, 40 months experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in Connecticut is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Connecticut costs the least for Animal Trainer, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Slot Supervisor where the license costs $0.

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

In Connecticut, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2673 days (7 years and 28 days) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $1010 in fees, 2 exams, 40 months experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Connecticut, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Tree Trimmer, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Fisher, Commercial, Child Care Home, Family, Bill Collection Agency, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Weigher, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Forest Worker, Locksmith, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler, Taxidermist, Pharmacy Technician, Travel Guide, Upholsterer, Animal Breeder, Animal Trainer, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Slot Supervisor.

In Connecticut, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Connecticut, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Earth Driller, Water Well, Interpreter, Sign Language, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Athletic Trainer, School Bus Driver, Optician, Crane Operator, Home Entertainment Installer, Cosmetologist, Barber, Massage Therapist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Tree Trimmer, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Emergency Medical Technician, Pest Control Applicator, Forest Worker, Wildlife Control Operator, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Connecticut licenses 64 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 24th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $264 in fees, 361 days lost to education and experience, and approximately one exam. Because it licenses an above-average number of occupations, these burdens make Connecticut the 18th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Connecticut imposes education burdens and fees on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, in Connecticut, it is more difficult to become a massage therapist than an EMT. To practice their craft, would-be massage therapists must complete 500 hours (roughly 117 days) of education and pay a $575 fee, while EMTs must complete only 150 hours (about 35 days) of education and pay an $80 fee.

Particularly troubling, Connecticut licenses two occupations that are licensed by no other states: home entertainment installers and forest workers. Home entertainment installers must sacrifice about 575 days to education and experience (comprising one year of experience and 900 hours of education), pay $185 in fees, and pass an exam before they can get to work. Forest workers must pay $300 in fees and pass an exam. Connecticut should consider reducing or repealing such unnecessary licensing burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—replacing 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	1010	2673	4 years	40 months	2	0	0
2	Fire Alarm Installer	39	435	2190	None	6 years	3	8	18
2	Security Alarm Installer	37	435	2190	None	6 years	3	8	18
4	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	705	2190	None	6 years	3	0	18
5	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	705	1825	None	5 years	3	0	0
6	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	433	1825	None	5 years	3	0	0
7	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	885	1460	4 years	None	2	0	18
8	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	705	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
8	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	705	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
8	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	705	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
11	Athletic Trainer	49	580	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
12	School Bus Driver	51	224	1097	10 clock hours	3 years	6	0	21
13	Optician	22	800	730	2 years	None	5	12	18
14	Crane Operator	16	150	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
15	Home Entertainment Installer	3	185	575	900 clock hours	1 year	1	12	0
16	Cosmetologist	51	100	350	1500 clock hours	None	1	9	0
17	Barber	51	100	233	1000 clock hours	None	1	8	0
18	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	375	11	45 clock hours	None	0	12	18
19	Massage Therapist	45	575	186	750 clock hours	60 clock hours	1	0	0
20	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	219	0	None	None	5	0	21
21	Tree Trimmer	8	725	0	None	None	2	0	18
22	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	131	0	None	None	5	0	18
23	Truck Driver, Other	51	126	0	None	None	4	0	18
24	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	263	0	None	None	3	0	18
25	Emergency Medical Technician	51	98	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	16
26	Skin Care Specialist	51	100	140	600 clock hours	None	0	0	0
27	Pest Control Applicator	51	221	0	None	None	1	0	18
28	Fisher, Commercial	43	385	0	None	None	0	0	16
29	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	228	1	8 clock hours	None	0	0	18
30	Child Care Home, Family	44	40	0	None	None	0	0	20
31	Bill Collection Agency	29	600	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	88	0	None	None	0	0	18
33	Weigher	24	40	0	None	None	0	0	18
34	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	500	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	500	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	500	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Forest Worker	1	300	0	None	None	1	0	0
38	Wildlife Control Operator	23	250	1	8.5 clock hours	None	1	0	0
39	Locksmith	12	293	0	None	None	0	0	0
40	Manicurist	51	100	23	100 clock hours	None	0	0	0
41	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	220	0	None	None	0	0	0
54	Milk Sampler	43	20	0	None	None	1	0	0
55	Taxidermist	28	105	0	None	None	0	0	0
56	Pharmacy Technician	44	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
56	Travel Guide	37	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
58	Upholsterer	9	75	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Animal Breeder	29	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
60	Animal Trainer	7	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
60	Gaming Cage Worker	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
60	Gaming Dealer	29	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
60	Gaming Supervisor	31	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
60	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
60	Slot Supervisor	29	0	0	None	None	0	0	0

Connecticut Occupational Licensing

65 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

17th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$290