Massachusetts

Massachusetts Licensing Overview

Massachusetts licenses 50 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are more burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 8th in the nation. Massachusetts licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Funeral Attendant (3 other), Dental Assistant (8 other).

On average, Massachusetts requires $331 in licensing fees, 511 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Bill Collection Agency.

Which occupation in a Massachusetts is the most regulated?

Out of the 50 occupations that require an occupational license in Massachusetts, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $376 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Massachusetts is the least regulated?

Out of the 50 occupations that require an occupational license in Massachusetts, a license for Coach, Head (High School Sports) has the lowest burden. A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 12 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in Massachusetts is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Massachusetts costs the most for Bill Collection Agency. A Bill Collection Agency license requires $1351 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Massachusetts is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Massachusetts costs the least for Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Coach, Head (High School Sports) where the license costs $0.

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

In Massachusetts, 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 $376 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Massachusetts, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Truck Driver, Other, Bill Collection Agency, Funeral Attendant, Dental Assistant, Crane Operator, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial, Travel Guide, Animal Breeder, Milk Sampler.

In Massachusetts, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Massachusetts, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Athletic Trainer, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), School Bus Driver, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Earth Driller, Water Well, Optician, Security Alarm Installer, Fire Alarm Installer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Pest Control Applicator, Barber, Cosmetologist, Shampooer, Skin Care Specialist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Emergency Medical Technician, Truck Driver, Other, Pharmacy Technician, Auctioneer, Dental Assistant, Manicurist, Crane Operator, Wildlife Control Operator. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Massachusetts’ licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 10th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $309 in fees, 513 days lost to education and experience, and roughly one exam. Massachusetts licenses fewer lower-income occupations than most states—50 of 102—making it the 29th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Massachusetts licenses some occupations much more onerously than other states, including some that are already among the nation’s most burdened occupations. For example, both of the state’s commercial sheet metal contractor licenses—HVAC and other—require five years (1,825 days) of experience. But the average education and experience requirement across licensed states is 1,215 days for HVAC sheet metal contractors and just 567 days for other sheet metal contractors. These disparities are particularly jarring given that several states do not license these occupations at all.

Massachusetts also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. Cosmetologists, for example, must complete 1,000 hours of education and then demonstrate two years of experience (the equivalent of 963 days)—the heaviest education and experience requirements of their type. But Massachusetts deems EMTs able to administer life-saving aid after having demonstrated only 150 hours (about 35 days) of education. To expand opportunity for lower-income workers, Massachusetts should repeal or reduce irrationally heavy licensing burdens, 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	376	2555	4 years	3 years	2	0	0
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	400	1825	None	5 years	1	12	17
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	400	1825	None	5 years	1	12	17
4	Athletic Trainer	49	599	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
5	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	400	1095	None	3 years	1	12	17
5	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	400	1095	None	3 years	1	12	17
7	School Bus Driver	51	175	1107	60 clock hours	3 years	6	0	18
8	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	500	1095	None	3 years	1	0	18
8	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	500	1095	None	3 years	1	0	18
8	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	500	1095	None	3 years	1	0	18
8	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	500	1095	None	3 years	1	0	18
8	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	500	1095	None	3 years	1	0	18
8	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	500	1095	None	3 years	1	0	18
8	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	500	1095	None	3 years	1	0	18
15	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	325	1095	None	3 years	2	0	0
16	Optician	22	739	730	2 years	None	3	12	18
17	Security Alarm Installer	37	630	803	315 clock hours	2 years	2	12	0
18	Fire Alarm Installer	39	330	800	300 clock hours	2 years	2	12	0
19	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	800	730	None	2 years	4	0	18
20	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	115	700	1000 clock hours	2000 clock hours	1	12	18
21	Pest Control Applicator	51	500	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
22	Child Care Home, Family	44	135	190	33 clock hours	6 months	0	12	18
23	Massage Therapist	45	345	152	650 clock hours	None	0	12	18
24	Barber	51	164	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	16
25	Cosmetologist	51	218	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	0
26	Shampooer	33	170	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	0
27	Skin Care Specialist	51	218	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	0
28	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	150	0	None	None	5	0	18
29	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	140	0	None	None	5	0	18
30	Gaming Supervisor	31	1000	0	None	None	0	0	18
30	Slot Supervisor	29	1000	0	None	None	0	0	18
32	Emergency Medical Technician	51	248	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
33	Truck Driver, Other	51	140	0	None	None	4	0	18
34	Pharmacy Technician	44	150	56	240 clock hours	None	1	0	18
35	Bill Collection Agency	29	1351	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Auctioneer	28	100	19	83 clock hours	None	1	0	18
37	Funeral Attendant	3	31	0	1 clock hour	None	0	12	0
38	Dental Assistant	8	60	0	2 clock hours	None	2	0	18
39	Manicurist	51	286	23	100 clock hours	None	2	0	0
40	Crane Operator	16	75	0	None	None	1	0	18
41	Gaming Cage Worker	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	18
41	Gaming Dealer	29	0	0	None	None	0	0	18
43	Wildlife Control Operator	23	141	2	11 clock hours	None	2	0	0
44	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	250	0	None	None	0	0	0
44	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	250	0	None	None	0	0	0
46	Fisher, Commercial	43	130	0	None	None	0	0	0
47	Travel Guide	37	65	0	None	None	0	0	0
48	Animal Breeder	29	32	0	None	None	0	0	0
49	Milk Sampler	43	20	0	None	None	0	0	0
50	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	2	12 clock hours	None	0	0	0

Massachusetts Occupational Licensing

50 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

8th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$331