Tennessee

Tennessee Licensing Overview

Tennessee licenses 69 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 37th in the nation. Tennessee licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Dental Assistant (8 other).

On average, Tennessee requires $339 in licensing fees, 245 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Tennessee is the most regulated?

Out of the 69 occupations that require an occupational license in Tennessee, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $827 in fees, 5 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Tennessee is the least regulated?

Out of the 69 occupations that require an occupational license in Tennessee, a license for Coach, Head (High School Sports) has the lowest burden. A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $75 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 12 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in Tennessee is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Tennessee costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $2345 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Tennessee is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Tennessee costs the least for Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Child Care Home, Family where the license costs $5.

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

In Tennessee, 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 $827 in fees, 5 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Tennessee, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Dental Assistant, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Bill Collection Agency, Weigher, Child Care Home, Family, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler, Fisher, Commercial, Travel Guide, Pharmacy Technician, Taxidermist.

In Tennessee, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Tennessee, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, School Bus Driver, Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Optician, Earth Driller, Water Well, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Veterinary Technician, Cosmetologist, Auctioneer, Barber, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Emergency Medical Technician, Massage Therapist, Dental Assistant, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Security Guard, Unarmed, Bartender, HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Mobile Home Installer, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Tennessee’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations rank as the 39th most burdensome. On average, they require $327 in fees, 226 days of education and experience, and approximately one exam. Because Tennessee licenses more lower-income occupations than most states—71 of the 102 studied here—it ranks as the 13th most broadly and onerously licensed.

Tennessee licenses several occupations rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license dental assistants (eight others), bartenders (12) or locksmiths (13). The state also imposes more onerous requirements than average for some occupations, such as auctioneers. Tennessee forces auctioneers to demonstrate about 756 days of education and experience (110 hours of education and two years of experience), pay $750 in fees, and pass two exams. But the licensed-state average burdens are just 94 days of education and experience, $278 in fees, and one exam. Making Tennessee’s burdens even more heavy-handed, 21 states do not deem it necessary to license auctioneers at all.

Tennessee also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem disproportionate compared to those for others that may pose greater risks to the public. Its burdens for fire and security alarm installers—some of the steepest of their type—are steeper than its burdens for all but one other occupation. Opening an alarm installation business requires four years of experience and two years of education (2,190 days total), nearly $1,000 in fees, and one exam. But EMTs need complete just 110 hours (roughly 26 days) of education, pay $205 in fees and pass two exams. Tennessee could improve its rankings by reducing or repealing many of its licensing burdens for lower-income occupations, 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	827	2555	4 years	3 years	5	0	18
2	Fire Alarm Installer	39	978	2190	2 years	4 years	1	0	18
2	Security Alarm Installer	37	978	2190	2 years	4 years	1	0	18
4	School Bus Driver	51	97	1825	None	5 years	6	0	25
5	Athletic Trainer	49	600	1460	4 years	None	2	0	0
6	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	2345	730	2 years	None	1	12	0
7	Optician	22	755	730	2 years	None	3	12	18
8	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	557	730	None	2 years	3	10	18
9	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	615	730	None	2 years	3	0	18
10	Pest Control Applicator	51	440	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
11	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	5	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
12	Veterinary Technician	36	445	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
13	Cosmetologist	51	200	350	1501 clock hours	None	2	10	16
14	Auctioneer	28	800	193	50 clock hours	6 months	2	12	18
15	Barber	51	200	350	1501 clock hours	None	2	0	16
16	Makeup Artist	37	200	175	751 clock hours	None	2	10	16
16	Skin Care Specialist	51	200	175	751 clock hours	None	2	10	16
18	Manicurist	51	200	140	601 clock hours	None	2	10	16
19	Emergency Medical Technician	51	160	35	150 clock hours	None	2	12	18
20	Massage Therapist	45	510	117	500 clock hours	None	1	0	18
21	Dental Assistant	8	75	0	None	None	1	12	18
22	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	71	0	None	None	5	0	21
23	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	70	0	None	None	5	0	19
24	Truck Driver, Other	51	62	0	None	None	4	0	18
25	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	105	1	4 clock hours	None	1	0	18
26	Bartender	12	20	1	3.5 clock hours	None	1	0	18
27	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	364	0	None	None	2	0	0
27	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	364	0	None	None	2	0	0
27	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	364	0	None	None	2	0	0
30	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	360	0	None	None	2	0	0
31	Bill Collection Agency	29	750	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Weigher	24	25	0	None	None	0	0	18
33	Child Care Home, Family	44	5	0	2 clock hours	None	0	0	18
34	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Pipelayer Contractor	27	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
34	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	307	0	None	None	1	0	0
63	Mobile Home Installer	37	25	3	15 clock hours	None	1	0	0
64	Milk Sampler	43	25	0	None	None	1	0	0
65	Fisher, Commercial	43	244	0	None	None	0	0	0
66	Travel Guide	37	150	0	None	None	0	0	0
67	Pharmacy Technician	44	130	0	None	None	0	0	0
68	Taxidermist	28	122	0	None	None	0	0	0
69	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	75	2	12 clock hours	None	0	0	0

Tennessee Occupational Licensing

69 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

37th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$339