Texas

Texas Licensing Overview

Texas licenses 38 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 18th in the nation. Texas licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Animal Control Officer (7 other).

On average, Texas requires $264 in licensing fees, 329 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Texas is the most regulated?

Out of the 38 occupations that require an occupational license in Texas, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $377 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Texas is the least regulated?

Out of the 38 occupations that require an occupational license in Texas, a license for Fisher, Commercial has the lowest burden. A Fisher, Commercial license requires $54 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Texas is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Texas costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1420 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Texas is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Texas costs the least for Milk Sampler. A Milk Sampler license requires $0 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no of education.

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

In Texas, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Athletic Trainer.It takes 1460 days (4 years) total.

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

In Texas, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Fire Alarm Installer, Animal Breeder, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Locksmith, Weigher, Milk Sampler, Travel Guide, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial.

In Texas, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Texas, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Security Alarm Installer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Pest Control Applicator, Cosmetologist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Barber, Pharmacy Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, Massage Therapist, Shampooer, Auctioneer, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Fire Alarm Installer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Security Guard, Unarmed, Mobile Home Installer, Animal Control Officer, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 7 exams.

Texas licenses 37 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 21st most burdensome and require, on average, $253 in fees, 341 days of education and experience, and around two exams. Licensing fewer lower-income occupations than most states, Texas ranks as the nation’s 42nd most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Despite licensing fewer occupations than most states, Texas does license some occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license animal control officers (six), locksmiths (13) or weighers (24). Security alarm installers are not licensed by 14 states, yet Texas requires two years (730 days) of experience, $462 in fees and one exam before a person can open a security alarm installation business.

Texas imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present a greater risk to public safety. For example, it takes 10 times longer to become a cosmetologist or barber than it does to become an EMT (approximately 350 days or 1,500 hours of education versus approximately 35 days or 150 hours). Practitioners of these occupations should not be required to undergo so much more training than emergency first responders. Texas could expand lower-income employment opportunities by reducing or repealing its licensure burdens for cosmetologists, barbers and many other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.

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	377	1460	4 years	None	2	0	18
2	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	209	1460	None	4 years	1	0	18
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	209	1460	None	4 years	1	0	18
4	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	195	1460	None	4 years	1	0	18
4	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	195	1460	None	4 years	1	0	18
6	Athletic Trainer	49	584	1460	4 years	None	2	0	0
7	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1420	730	2 years	None	2	12	0
8	Security Alarm Installer	37	478	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
9	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	267	730	None	2 years	1	0	0
10	Pest Control Applicator	51	742	379	28 clock hours	1 year & 40 clock hours	3	0	0
11	Cosmetologist	51	172	233	1000 contact hours	None	2	12	17
12	Skin Care Specialist	51	172	175	750 clock hours	None	2	12	17
13	Manicurist	51	172	140	600 clock hours	None	2	12	17
14	Barber	51	50	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	16
15	Pharmacy Technician	44	212	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	0
16	Emergency Medical Technician	51	162	35	150 clock hours	None	3	12	18
17	Massage Therapist	45	295	117	500 clock hours	None	2	0	18
18	Shampooer	33	172	70	300 clock hours	None	2	7	16
19	Auctioneer	28	152	19	80 clock hours	None	1	12	18
20	School Bus Driver	51	144	3	20 clock hours	None	7	0	18
21	Child Care Home, Family	44	112	7	32 clock hours	None	0	12	21
22	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	133	0	None	None	6	0	18
23	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	122	0	None	None	6	0	18
24	Truck Driver, Other	51	122	0	None	None	5	0	18
25	Fire Alarm Installer	39	708	0	None	None	2	0	0
26	Animal Breeder	29	400	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	392	0	None	None	3	0	0
28	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	62	1	6 clock hours	None	1	0	18
29	Mobile Home Installer	37	590	2	12 clock hours	None	1	0	0
30	Locksmith	12	58	0	None	None	0	0	18
31	Weigher	24	500	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Animal Control Officer	7	75	2	12 clock hours	None	2	0	0
33	Milk Sampler	43	0	0	None	None	2	0	0
34	Travel Guide	37	132	0	None	None	0	0	0
35	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	75	0	None	None	0	0	0
35	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	75	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	35	2	13 clock hours	None	0	0	0
38	Fisher, Commercial	43	54	0	None	None	0	0	0

Texas Occupational Licensing

38 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

18th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$264