New Hampshire

New Hampshire Licensing Overview

New Hampshire licenses 37 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 19th in the nation. New Hampshire licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Animal Trainer (7 other).

On average, New Hampshire requires $209 in licensing fees, 326 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Interpreter, Sign Language, Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a New Hampshire is the most regulated?

Out of the 37 occupations that require an occupational license in New Hampshire, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $566 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a New Hampshire is the least regulated?

Out of the 37 occupations that require an occupational license in New Hampshire, licenses for Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential) have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in New Hampshire is the most expensive?

An occupational license in New Hampshire costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1430 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in New Hampshire is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in New Hampshire costs the least for Milk Sampler. A Milk Sampler license requires $5 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in New Hampshire takes the most time to obtain?

In New Hampshire, 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 $566 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in New Hampshire takes the least time to obtain?

In New Hampshire, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Other, Travel Guide, Weigher, Animal Breeder, Child Care Home, Family, Pharmacy Technician, Gaming Supervisor, Milk Sampler, Optician, Fisher, Commercial, Taxidermist, Gaming Dealer, Security Guard, Unarmed, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential).

In New Hampshire, which occupational licenses require exams?

In New Hampshire, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Interpreter, Sign Language, Athletic Trainer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Earth Driller, Water Well, Midwife, Direct Entry, School Bus Driver, Cosmetologist, Barber, Massage Therapist, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Emergency Medical Technician, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Other, Auctioneer, Travel Guide, Weigher, Animal Trainer, Milk Sampler. Vegetation Pesticide Applicator requires 11 exams.

New Hampshire licenses 38 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here—fewer than average—and its laws rank as the 34th most burdensome. On average, New Hampshire’s barriers to entry to lower-income occupations are $183 in fees, 273 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. New Hampshire ranks as the 41st most broadly and onerously licensed, placing it among the nation’s less burdened states.

New Hampshire licenses several occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere, such as animal trainers (licensed by eight other states), sign language interpreters (21 others), opticians (21 others) and auctioneers (29 others). Among those, sign language interpreters face particularly steep burdens in New Hampshire: $875 in fees, about 1,469 days (four years and 40 hours) of education and two exams.

New Hampshire also makes it much more difficult to enter many occupations—such as barbering or cosmetology—than it does to become an EMT, an occupation that arguably has a stronger connection to public safety. Barbers must complete 800 hours (an estimated 187 days) of education, while cosmetologists must complete 1,500 hours (an estimated 350 days). EMTs, on the other hand, need only complete 150 hours (an estimated 35 days) of education. In 2017, New Hampshire exempted hair braiders from the state’s cosmetology laws. It could expand opportunities by reducing or repealing its heavy licensing burdens for other lower-income occupations, or—if government regulation is demonstrably necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive 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	566	2555	4 years	3 years	2	0	0
2	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	1085	1460	4 years	None	2	0	18
3	Athletic Trainer	49	560	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
4	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	95	1095	None	3 years	11	0	18
5	Pest Control Applicator	51	75	1095	None	3 years	7	0	18
6	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	185	1095	None	3 years	1	0	0
7	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1430	730	2 years	None	2	12	0
8	School Bus Driver	51	100	732	10 clock hours	2 years	6	0	18
9	Mobile Home Installer	37	75	731	6 clock hours	2 years	0	0	18
10	Cosmetologist	51	218	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	12	0
11	Barber	51	233	187	800 clock hours	None	2	12	16
12	Massage Therapist	45	305	175	750 clock hours	None	1	12	18
13	Makeup Artist	37	223	140	600 clock hours	None	2	12	0
14	Skin Care Specialist	51	174	140	600 clock hours	None	2	12	0
15	Manicurist	51	218	70	300 clock hours	None	2	12	0
16	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	80	0	None	None	6	0	18
17	Emergency Medical Technician	51	146	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
18	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	90	0	None	None	5	0	18
19	Truck Driver, Other	51	80	0	None	None	5	0	18
20	Auctioneer	28	275	19	80 clock hours	None	1	0	18
21	Travel Guide	37	100	0	None	None	2	0	18
22	Weigher	24	116	0	None	None	1	0	18
23	Animal Breeder	29	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
24	Child Care Home, Family	44	43	0	None	None	0	0	18
25	Pharmacy Technician	44	100	0	None	None	0	0	16
26	Gaming Supervisor	31	510	0	None	None	0	0	0
27	Animal Trainer	7	39	3	15 clock hours	None	2	0	0
28	Wildlife Control Operator	23	139	1	6 clock hours	None	0	0	0
29	Milk Sampler	43	5	0	None	None	1	0	0
30	Optician	22	110	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Fisher, Commercial	43	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Taxidermist	28	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	25	2	14 clock hours	None	0	0	0
34	Gaming Dealer	29	40	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	40	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	25	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	25	0	None	None	0	0	0

New Hampshire Occupational Licensing

37 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

19th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$209