Maine

Maine Licensing Overview

Maine licenses 46 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 26th in the nation. Maine licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Dietetic Technician (2 other), Log Scaler (2 other), Tree Trimmer (8 other), Electrical Helper (3 other), Animal Control Officer (7 other), Funeral Attendant (3 other), Packer (7 other).

On average, Maine requires $226 in licensing fees, 323 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Interpreter, Sign Language, Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Maine is the most regulated?

Out of the 46 occupations that require an occupational license in Maine, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $421 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Maine is the least regulated?

Out of the 46 occupations that require an occupational license in Maine, a license for Milk Sampler has the lowest burden. A Milk Sampler license requires $1 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Maine is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Maine costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1596 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Maine is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Maine costs the least for Coach, Head (High School Sports). A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 7 clock hours of education.

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

In Maine, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2190 days (6 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $421 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Maine, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Massage Therapist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Tree Trimmer, Pest Control Applicator, Child Care Home, Family, Electrical Helper, Auctioneer, Taxidermist, Bill Collection Agency, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Animal Breeder, Funeral Attendant, Packer, Fisher, Commercial, Pharmacy Technician, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Weigher, Milk Sampler.

In Maine, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Maine, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Interpreter, Sign Language, Athletic Trainer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Travel Guide, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Dietetic Technician, Mobile Home Installer, Log Scaler, Veterinary Technician, School Bus Driver, Cosmetologist, Barber, Massage Therapist, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Emergency Medical Technician, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Tree Trimmer, Manicurist, Pest Control Applicator, Auctioneer, Taxidermist, Animal Control Officer. School Bus Driver, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator require 6 exams.

Maine licenses 45 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 31st most burdensome, requiring an average of $188 in fees, 298 days of education and experience, and around one exam. It ranks as the 33rd most broadly and onerously licensed, placing it among the lower half of states but still leaving plenty of room for improvement.

Maine licenses several occupations that are not licensed by other states. For example, three of Maine’s licensed occupations are licensed by only one other state each: electrical helpers, dietetic technicians and log scalers. The latter two occupations also face fairly burdensome requirements. Dietetic technicians must pay $171 in fees, demonstrate about 835 days of education and experience (comprising two years of education and 450 hours of experience), and pass one exam. Meanwhile, log scalers must pay a $25 fee, demonstrate 730 days (two years) of experience and pass one exam.

Maine also imposes more onerous burdens on some occupations than on others that may present greater risks to the public. For example, barbers and cosmetologists must complete 1,500 hours (around 350 days) of education to become licensed. That is over 13 times the hours required to obtain Maine’s EMT license and begin working as an emergency first responder (111 hours, or about 26 days). Maine could improve employment prospects in the state by reducing or repealing heavy licensing burdens for barbers, cosmetologists and many other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.

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	421	2190	4 years	2 years	2	0	0
2	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	1256	1460	4 years	None	2	12	18
3	Athletic Trainer	49	501	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
4	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	268	1460	None	4 years	2	0	0
5	Travel Guide	37	235	1095	None	3 years	2	0	18
6	Fire Alarm Installer	39	256	996	270 clock hours	4000 clock hours	1	0	0
6	Security Alarm Installer	37	256	996	270 clock hours	4000 clock hours	1	0	0
8	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1596	730	2 years	None	1	12	0
9	Dietetic Technician	2	171	835	2 years	450 clock hours	1	0	0
10	Mobile Home Installer	37	121	731	5 clock hours	2 years	1	0	18
11	Log Scaler	2	25	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
12	Veterinary Technician	36	366	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
13	School Bus Driver	51	164	365	None	1 year	6	0	21
14	Cosmetologist	51	150	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	0	0
15	Barber	51	41	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	0	0
16	Massage Therapist	45	256	0	None	None	1	12	18
17	Makeup Artist	37	231	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	0
17	Skin Care Specialist	51	231	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	0
19	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	124	0	None	None	5	0	21
20	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	104	0	None	None	5	0	16
21	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	1	7 clock hours	None	0	12	0
22	Emergency Medical Technician	51	119	39	5.5 credit hours	None	2	0	16
23	Truck Driver, Other	51	104	0	None	None	4	0	16
24	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	195	0	None	None	6	0	0
25	Tree Trimmer	8	130	0	None	None	2	0	18
26	Manicurist	51	131	47	200 clock hours	None	2	0	0
27	Pest Control Applicator	51	175	0	None	None	4	0	0
28	Child Care Home, Family	44	160	0	None	None	0	0	18
29	Electrical Helper	3	96	0	None	None	0	0	16
30	Auctioneer	28	421	0	None	None	1	0	0
31	Taxidermist	28	127	0	None	None	2	0	0
32	Animal Control Officer	7	50	11	45 clock hours	None	1	0	0
33	Bill Collection Agency	29	300	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Gaming Cage Worker	30	299	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Gaming Dealer	29	299	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Gaming Supervisor	31	299	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Slot Supervisor	29	299	0	None	None	0	0	0
38	Animal Breeder	29	108	0	None	None	0	0	0
39	Funeral Attendant	3	101	0	None	None	0	0	0
40	Packer	7	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Fisher, Commercial	43	48	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Pharmacy Technician	44	41	0	None	None	0	0	0
43	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	25	0	None	None	0	0	0
43	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	25	0	None	None	0	0	0
43	Weigher	24	25	0	None	None	0	0	0
46	Milk Sampler	43	1	0	None	None	0	0	0

Maine Occupational Licensing

46 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

26th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$226