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Virginia

Virginia Occupational Licensing

72 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

6th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$319

Virginia Licensing Overview

Virginia licenses 72 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are more burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 6th in the nation. Virginia licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Animal Control Officer (7 other), Upholsterer (9 other).

On average, Virginia requires $319 in licensing fees, 580 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Virginia is the most regulated?

Out of the 72 occupations that require an occupational license in Virginia, a license for Earth Driller, Water Well has the highest burden. A Earth Driller, Water Well license requires $460 in fees, 1 exams, 6 years experience, and 56 clock hours of education.

Which occupation in a Virginia is the least regulated?

Out of the 72 occupations that require an occupational license in Virginia, a license for Upholsterer has the lowest burden. A Upholsterer license requires $25 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Virginia is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Virginia costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1577 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Virginia is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Virginia costs the least for Milk Sampler, Animal Control Officer where the license costs $0.

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

In Virginia, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Earth Driller, Water Well. It takes 2203 days (6 years and 13 days) total. A Earth Driller, Water Well license requires $460 in fees, 1 exams, 6 years experience, and 56 clock hours of education.

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

In Virginia, 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, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Weigher, Wildlife Control Operator, Milk Sampler, Fisher, Commercial, Travel Guide, Taxidermist, Upholsterer.

In Virginia, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Virginia, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Earth Driller, Water Well, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Preschool Teacher, Public School, Coach, Head (High School Sports), Athletic Trainer, Security Alarm Installer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Optician, 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), Fire Alarm Installer, 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, Veterinary Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Cosmetologist, Barber, Pharmacy Technician, Massage Therapist, Skin Care Specialist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Auctioneer, Manicurist, Locksmith, Security Guard, Unarmed, Wildlife Control Operator, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Virginia’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are some of the worst in the nation, ranking as the seventh most burdensome. On average, Virginia law requires $291 in fees, 620 days of education and experience, and approximately one exam. Licensing more lower-income occupations than average—68 of the 102 studied here—Virginia is also the seventh most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Virginia licenses a number of occupations that most other states do not license, including animal control officers (licensed by six other states), upholsterers (nine others), locksmiths (13 others), commercial floor sander contractors (21 others) and commercial painting contractors (21 others). The latter two contractor occupations face particularly steep training requirements in Virginia, where aspirants must demonstrate an estimated 731 days of education and experience (two years of experience and eight hours of education). By comparison, on average, licensed states require fewer than 500 days of education and experience (485 for floor sander contractors and 488 days for painting contractors). Given that so few states see fit to license these occupations at all, Virginia’s requirements appear excessive.

Virginia also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem disproportionate compared to those for other occupations that may present a greater risk to public safety. For example, it takes roughly 63 days (nine credit hours) and $80 in fees to become a licensed EMT. Becoming a licensed landscape contractor, on the other hand, requires roughly 731 days (two years of experience and eight hours of education) and $320 in fees. Virginia could improve its rankings by reducing or repealing such heavy licensing burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Virginia 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 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 460 2203 56 clock hours 6 years 1 0 18
2 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 720 1826 8 clock hours 5 years 2 0 18
2 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 720 1826 8 clock hours 5 years 2 0 18
2 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 720 1826 8 clock hours 5 years 2 0 18
2 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 720 1826 8 clock hours 5 years 2 0 18
6 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 595 1460 4 years & 1 clock hour None 4 0 18
7 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 320 1461 4 years & 6 clock hours None 3 0 18
8 Athletic Trainer 49 520 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
9 Security Alarm Installer 37 700 1096 6 clock hours 3 years 1 0 18
10 Midwife, Direct Entry 37 1577 730 2 years None 1 12 0
11 Optician 22 400 730 2 years None 2 12 18
12 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) 24 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) 24 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) 25 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Fire Alarm Installer 39 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) 22 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Insulation Contractor (Commercial) 24 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Painting Contractor (Commercial) 22 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Paving Contractor (Commercial) 24 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Pipelayer Contractor 27 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) 26 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) 23 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
12 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 320 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
42 Mobile Home Installer 37 235 731 8 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
43 Veterinary Technician 36 390 730 2 years None 1 0 0
44 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 250 365 1 year None 3 0 18
45 Pest Control Applicator 51 250 365 1 year None 2 0 18
46 Cosmetologist 51 277 350 1500 clock hours None 2 0 0
47 Child Care Home, Family 44 83 91 None 3 months 0 12 18
48 Barber 51 277 257 1100 clock hours None 2 0 0
49 Pharmacy Technician 44 164 117 500 clock hours None 1 12 0
50 Massage Therapist 45 335 117 500 clock hours None 1 0 18
51 Skin Care Specialist 51 353 140 600 clock hours None 2 0 0
52 School Bus Driver 51 23 5 30 clock hours None 6 0 18
53 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 30 0 None None 5 0 18
54 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 27 0 None None 5 0 18
55 Truck Driver, Other 51 27 0 None None 4 0 18
56 Emergency Medical Technician 51 98 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 16
57 Gaming Cage Worker 30 536 0 None None 0 0 21
57 Gaming Dealer 29 536 0 None None 0 0 21
57 Gaming Supervisor 31 536 0 None None 0 0 21
57 Slot Supervisor 29 536 0 None None 0 0 21
61 Auctioneer 28 65 19 80 clock hours None 1 0 18
62 Manicurist 51 192 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 0
63 Locksmith 12 75 3 18 clock hours None 1 0 18
64 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 64 3 18 clock hours None 1 0 18
65 Weigher 24 25 0 None None 0 0 18
66 Wildlife Control Operator 23 75 0 None None 1 0 0
67 Milk Sampler 43 0 0 None None 1 0 0
68 Fisher, Commercial 43 190 0 None None 0 0 0
68 Travel Guide 37 190 0 None None 0 0 0
70 Animal Control Officer 7 0 20 84 clock hours None 0 0 0
71 Taxidermist 28 40 0 None None 0 0 0
72 Upholsterer 9 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.

View Report