Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Licensing Overview

Pennsylvania licenses 50 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 50th in the nation. Pennsylvania licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Travel Agency (5 other), Upholsterer (9 other).

On average, Pennsylvania requires $116 in licensing fees, 120 days of education and about 1 exam.

Which occupation in a Pennsylvania is the most regulated?

Out of the 50 occupations that require an occupational license in Pennsylvania, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $700 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Pennsylvania is the least regulated?

Out of the 50 occupations that require an occupational license in Pennsylvania, a license for Farm Labor Contractor has the lowest burden. A Farm Labor Contractor license requires $25 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Pennsylvania is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Pennsylvania costs the most for Preschool Teacher, Public School. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $700 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in Pennsylvania is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Pennsylvania costs the least for Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor where the license costs $0.

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

In Pennsylvania, 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 $700 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Pennsylvania, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Crane Operator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Travel Agency, Pest Control Applicator, Animal Breeder, Weigher, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Wildlife Control Operator, Milk Sampler, Upholsterer, Taxidermist, Earth Driller, Water Well, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), HVAC 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), Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Farm Labor Contractor.

In Pennsylvania, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Pennsylvania, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Veterinary Technician, Barber, Cosmetologist, Massage Therapist, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Auctioneer, School Bus Driver, Crane Operator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Emergency Medical Technician, Truck Driver, Other, Pest Control Applicator, Wildlife Control Operator, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Pennsylvania’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are some of the least burdensome in the nation, ranking 50th out of all 50 states and D.C. The laws require, on average, $138 in fees, 117 days of education and experience, and around one exam. Licensing fewer of the occupations studied here than most states—51 of 102—Pennsylvania ranks as the 31st most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Pennsylvania frequently licenses occupations that are unlicensed by other states, such as upholsterers (licensed by nine other states), weighers (24 others), taxidermists (27 others) and auctioneers (29 others). Of those, auctioneers are particularly onerously licensed, facing $270 in fees, 140 days of education (20 credit hours) and one exam. Given that so many other states do not require licensure of auctioneers, these requirements are excessive.

Pennsylvania also imposes burdens on some occupations that appear disproportionate compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, it is considerably more difficult to become a barber or cosmetologist than it is to become an EMT. While barbers and cosmetologists must complete 292 days (1,250 hours) of education, EMTs need only complete 35 days (150 hours) of education. It should not require eight times more schooling to become a barber or cosmetologist than to become an emergency first responder. Pennsylvania could open up employment opportunities by reducing or repealing these and other illogical occupational licenses, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing 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	700	2555	4 years	3 years	2	0	18
2	Athletic Trainer	49	410	1461	4 years & 3 clock hours	None	1	0	20
3	Veterinary Technician	36	365	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
4	Barber	51	200	292	1250 clock hours	None	2	8	16
5	Cosmetologist	51	104	292	1250 clock hours	None	1	10	16
6	Massage Therapist	45	295	140	600 clock hours	None	1	12	0
7	Child Care Home, Family	44	59	140	600 clock hours	None	0	12	18
8	Makeup Artist	37	121	70	300 clock hours	None	1	10	16
9	Skin Care Specialist	51	103	70	300 clock hours	None	1	10	16
10	Manicurist	51	121	47	200 clock hours	None	1	10	16
11	Auctioneer	28	277	140	20 credit hours	None	1	0	0
12	School Bus Driver	51	37	3	20 clock hours	None	6	0	18
13	Crane Operator	16	340	0	None	None	2	0	18
14	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	155	0	None	None	4	0	18
15	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	37	0	None	None	5	0	18
16	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	32	0	None	None	5	0	18
17	Emergency Medical Technician	51	98	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	16
18	Truck Driver, Other	51	32	0	None	None	4	0	18
19	Travel Agency	5	350	0	None	None	0	0	18
20	Pest Control Applicator	51	135	0	None	None	2	0	18
21	Animal Breeder	29	371	0	None	None	0	0	0
22	Weigher	24	60	0	None	None	0	0	18
23	Gaming Cage Worker	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	18
23	Gaming Dealer	29	0	0	None	None	0	0	18
23	Gaming Supervisor	31	0	0	None	None	0	0	18
23	Slot Supervisor	29	0	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Wildlife Control Operator	23	75	0	None	None	1	0	0
28	Milk Sampler	43	55	0	None	None	1	0	0
29	Upholsterer	9	110	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Travel Guide	37	100	1	8 clock hours	None	0	0	0
31	Taxidermist	28	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	88	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
48	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	40	0	None	None	0	0	0
48	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	40	0	None	None	0	0	0
50	Farm Labor Contractor	10	25	0	None	None	0	0	0

Pennsylvania Occupational Licensing

50 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

50th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$116