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Louisiana

Louisiana Occupational Licensing

77 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

45th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$333

Louisiana Licensing Overview

Louisiana licenses 77 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 45th in the nation. Louisiana licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Interior Designer (3 other), Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional (5 other), Florist (1 other), Tree Trimmer (8 other).

On average, Louisiana requires $333 in licensing fees, 175 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Interior Designer, Fire Alarm Installer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Security Alarm Installer.

Which occupation in a Louisiana is the most regulated?

Out of the 77 occupations that require an occupational license in Louisiana, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $486 in fees, 3 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Louisiana is the least regulated?

Out of the 77 occupations that require an occupational license in Louisiana, a license for Animal Breeder has the lowest burden. A Animal Breeder license requires $23 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Louisiana is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Louisiana costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1796 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Louisiana is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Louisiana costs the least for Bartender, Milk Sampler, Shampooer where the license costs $0.

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

In Louisiana, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2555 days (7 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $486 in fees, 3 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Louisiana, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Locksmith, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Bartender, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Florist, Tree Trimmer, Weigher, Travel Guide, 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, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial, Bill Collection Agency, Animal Breeder.

In Louisiana, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Louisiana, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Interior Designer, Fire Alarm Installer, Athletic Trainer, Pest Control Applicator, Midwife, Direct Entry, Veterinary Technician, Earth Driller, Water Well, Barber, Cosmetologist, Mobile Home Installer, Skin Care Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, Makeup Artist, Manicurist, School Bus Driver, Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Security Alarm Installer, Massage Therapist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Auctioneer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Security Guard, Unarmed, Wildlife Control Operator, Locksmith, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Bartender, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Florist, Tree Trimmer, Weigher, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Louisiana licenses 77 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 43rd most burdensome, requiring, on average, $360 in fees, 202 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. Because Louisiana licenses so many of the occupations studied in this report—tying with Washington for the most occupations licensed—it ranks as the sixth most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Louisiana imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, the barriers to opening a fire alarm or security alarm installation business in Louisiana are extremely high, even though not every state licenses them. Alarm installers must pay over $1,400 in fees, demonstrate more than five years (over 1,800 days) of education and experience, and pass four exams. EMTs meanwhile need only pay $110 in fees, complete 110 hours (roughly 26 days) of education and pass two exams for licensure.

Louisiana also licenses several occupations that are rarely licensed by other states. For example, it is one of just four states to license interior designers—the most arduously licensed occupation in this study. It requires $1,240 in fees, six years (2,190 days) of education and one exam. Louisiana is also the only state to license florists and is joined by just four other states in licensing non-instructional teacher assistants and by six others in licensing tree trimmers. As one of the two states that license the most occupations studied here, Louisiana could substantially improve its rankings by repealing these and other occupational licenses, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Louisiana State Licensing Requirements for Lower-Income Occupations

Select a chart to view:
Burden Rank Occupation Number of States that License Fees Education/Experience (Days) Education Experience Exams Minimum Grade Minimum Age
1 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 486 2555 4 years 3 years 3 0 0
2 Interior Designer 3 1485 2190 5 years 1 year 1 12 0
3 Fire Alarm Installer 39 1673 1825 1 clock hour 5 years 4 0 18
4 Athletic Trainer 49 561 1460 4 years None 1 0 18
5 Pest Control Applicator 51 210 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
6 Midwife, Direct Entry 37 1796 730 2 years None 1 12 21
7 Veterinary Technician 36 420 730 2 years None 2 12 0
8 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 510 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
9 Barber 51 72 350 1500 clock hours None 2 12 18
10 Cosmetologist 51 75 350 1500 clock hours None 2 10 16
11 Mobile Home Installer 37 251 366 1 day 1 year 1 0 0
12 Skin Care Specialist 51 100 175 750 clock hours None 2 10 16
13 Pharmacy Technician 44 281 140 None 600 clock hours 1 12 18
14 Makeup Artist 37 75 117 500 clock hours None 2 10 16
14 Manicurist 51 75 117 500 clock hours None 2 10 16
16 School Bus Driver 51 192 9 44 clock hours None 6 0 21
17 Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional 5 55 0 None None 1 12 20
18 Security Alarm Installer 37 1574 5 29 clock hours None 3 0 0
19 Massage Therapist 45 431 117 500 clock hours None 1 0 0
20 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 184 0 None None 5 0 18
21 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 177 0 None None 5 0 18
22 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 614 0 None None 3 0 18
23 Truck Driver, Other 51 177 0 None None 4 0 18
24 Emergency Medical Technician 51 209 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 18
25 Auctioneer 28 300 19 80 clock hours None 1 0 18
26 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 270 0 None None 2 0 18
27 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 78 3 16 clock hours None 2 0 18
28 Wildlife Control Operator 23 40 2 10 clock hours None 2 0 18
29 Locksmith 12 264 0 None None 1 0 18
30 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 214 0 None None 1 0 18
31 Taxi Driver/Chauffeur 13 155 0 None None 1 0 17
32 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) 24 750 0 None None 1 0 0
33 Gaming Cage Worker 30 200 0 None None 0 0 21
33 Gaming Dealer 29 200 0 None None 0 0 21
33 Gaming Supervisor 31 200 0 None None 0 0 21
33 Slot Supervisor 29 200 0 None None 0 0 21
37 Bartender 12 0 0 2 clock hours None 1 0 18
38 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) 24 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) 25 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) 22 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Insulation Contractor (Commercial) 24 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Painting Contractor (Commercial) 22 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Paving Contractor (Commercial) 24 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
38 Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) 23 400 0 1 clock hour None 2 0 0
51 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 400 0 None None 2 0 0
51 Pipelayer Contractor 27 400 0 None None 2 0 0
53 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) 26 400 0 1 clock hour None 1 0 0
54 Florist 1 214 0 None None 1 0 0
54 Tree Trimmer 8 214 0 None None 1 0 0
56 Weigher 24 100 0 None None 1 0 0
57 Travel Guide 37 310 0 None None 0 0 0
58 Milk Sampler 43 0 1 1 day None 1 0 0
59 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 255 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 255 0 None None 0 0 0
73 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 140 3 15 clock hours None 0 0 0
74 Shampooer 33 0 9 40 clock hours None 0 0 0
75 Fisher, Commercial 43 55 0 None None 0 0 0
76 Bill Collection Agency 29 25 0 None None 0 0 0
77 Animal Breeder 29 23 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