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Missouri

Missouri Occupational Licensing

33 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

28th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$192

Missouri Licensing Overview

Missouri licenses 33 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 28th in the nation.

On average, Missouri requires $192 in licensing fees, 281 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor.

Which occupation in a Missouri is the most regulated?

Out of the 33 occupations that require an occupational license in Missouri, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $196 in fees, 3 exams, 4 years experience, and 4 years & 30 contact hours of education.

Which occupation in a Missouri is the least regulated?

Out of the 33 occupations that require an occupational license in Missouri, a license for Fisher, Commercial has the lowest burden. A Fisher, Commercial license requires $25 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Missouri is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Missouri costs the most for Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor where the license costs $1000.

Which occupational license in Missouri is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Missouri 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 13 clock hours & 4 years of education.

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

In Missouri, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2927 days (8 years and 7 days) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $196 in fees, 3 exams, 4 years experience, and 4 years & 30 contact hours of education.

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

In Missouri, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Animal Breeder, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Child Care Home, Family, Milk Sampler, Pharmacy Technician, Auctioneer, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Taxidermist, Fisher, Commercial.

In Missouri, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Missouri, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Veterinary Technician, Cosmetologist, Interpreter, Sign Language, Pest Control Applicator, Barber, Skin Care Specialist, Makeup Artist, Manicurist, Massage Therapist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Mobile Home Installer, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Missouri’s occupational licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 22nd most burdensome in the nation. Its laws require, on average, $179 in fees, 348 days of education and experience, and around one exam. Missouri licenses fewer lower-income occupations than average (37 of the 102 studied here), making it only the 43rd most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Missouri is the only state to license psychiatric aides, who work under the direct supervision of licensed nurses and other medical professionals to assist mentally impaired and emotionally disturbed patients. Missouri is also one of only five states to license psychiatric technicians, who are allowed to perform more skilled work than psychiatric aides. Making matters worse, Missouri licenses these rarely licensed occupations onerously, requiring two years (730 days) of experience for both.

Missouri also imposes education and fee burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, veterinary technicians, who are licensed by only 36 states, must complete two years (730 days) of education and pay $360 in fees to become licensed in Missouri. Meanwhile, EMTs—who provide emergency first aid to humans—need complete just 100 hours (roughly 23 days) of education and pay just $80 in fees. Missouri should reduce or repeal its illogically burdensome requirements for vet techs and other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Missouri 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 50 196 2927 4 years & 30 contact hours 4 years 3 0 0
2 Athletic Trainer 49 415 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
3 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 0 1462 13 clock hours & 4 years None 0 0 0
4 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 110 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
5 Veterinary Technician 36 375 730 2 years None 2 0 0
6 Cosmetologist 51 138 350 1500 clock hours None 2 10 17
7 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 442 420 60 credit hours None 2 0 18
8 Pest Control Applicator 51 155 365 None 1 year 2 0 18
9 Barber 51 158 233 1000 clock hours None 2 10 17
10 Skin Care Specialist 51 168 175 750 clock hours None 2 10 17
11 Makeup Artist 37 135 175 750 clock hours None 2 10 17
12 Manicurist 51 168 93 400 clock hours None 2 10 17
13 Massage Therapist 45 363 117 500 clock hours None 1 0 18
14 Gaming Supervisor 31 1000 0 None None 0 0 18
14 Slot Supervisor 29 1000 0 None None 0 0 18
16 School Bus Driver 51 86 0 None None 6 0 18
17 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 86 0 None None 5 0 18
17 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 86 0 None None 5 0 18
19 Truck Driver, Other 51 86 0 None None 4 0 18
20 Emergency Medical Technician 51 140 26 110 clock hours None 2 0 18
21 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 155 0 None None 2 0 18
22 Mobile Home Installer 37 150 1 8 clock hours None 1 0 18
23 Animal Breeder 29 125 0 None None 0 0 18
23 Gaming Cage Worker 30 125 0 None None 0 0 18
23 Gaming Dealer 29 125 0 None None 0 0 18
26 Child Care Home, Family 44 42 0 1 clock hour None 0 0 18
27 Milk Sampler 43 25 0 None None 1 0 0
28 Pharmacy Technician 44 78 0 None None 0 0 0
29 Auctioneer 28 52 0 None None 0 0 0
30 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 50 0 None None 0 0 0
30 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 50 0 None None 0 0 0
32 Taxidermist 28 30 0 None None 0 0 0
33 Fisher, Commercial 43 25 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.

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