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Washington

Washington Occupational Licensing

76 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

47th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$230

Washington Licensing Overview

Washington licenses 76 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 47th in the nation. Washington licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Travel Agency (5 other), Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment (4 other), Dental Assistant (8 other).

On average, Washington requires $230 in licensing fees, 171 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Washington is the most regulated?

Out of the 76 occupations that require an occupational license in Washington, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $410 in fees, 1 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Washington is the least regulated?

Out of the 76 occupations that require an occupational license in Washington, a license for Farm Labor Contractor has the lowest burden. A Farm Labor Contractor license requires $35 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Washington is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Washington costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1996 in fees, 3 exams, no experience, and 3 years of education.

Which occupational license in Washington is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Washington costs the least for Coach, Head (High School Sports), Bartender where the license costs $0.

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

In Washington, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2190 days (6 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $410 in fees, 1 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Washington, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bill Collection Agency, Travel Guide, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Fisher, Commercial, Weigher, Pest Control Applicator, Taxidermist, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Travel Agency, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Auctioneer, 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), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel 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, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler, Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment, Dental Assistant, Farm Labor Contractor.

In Washington, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Washington, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Earth Driller, Water Well, Optician, Wildlife Control Operator, Veterinary Technician, School Bus Driver, Cosmetologist, Barber, Shampooer, Pharmacy Technician, Skin Care Specialist, Massage Therapist, Manicurist, Emergency Medical Technician, Mobile Home Installer, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Other, Crane Operator, Security Guard, Unarmed, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Bartender, Pest Control Applicator. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Washington is tied with Louisiana in licensing the most lower-income occupations in this study—77 of 102. The state’s licensing laws, however, are less burdensome than most, ranking 48th in the nation. On average, they require $209 in fees, 163 days of education and experience, and around one exam. Nevertheless, because Washington licenses so many occupations, it ranks as the ninth most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Washington’s long list of licensed occupations includes several that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license dairy equipment still machine setters (two), travel agencies (six), dental assistants (eight) or farm labor contractors (nine). Washington also licenses some more widely licensed occupations more onerously than other states. For example, water well earth drillers must sacrifice an estimated 1,265 days to education and experience (5,400 hours of experience and 32 continuing education units) to become licensed in the state. That is substantially more than the national average requirement of 837 days in this occupation.

Washington also 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, aspiring EMTs are deemed qualified first responders after completing an estimated 26 days (110 hours) of education and paying $80 in fees. Cosmetologists, on the other hand, face much more stringent requirements: roughly 373 days (1,600 hours) of education and $230 in fees. Washington could expand employment opportunities in the state by reducing or repealing its illogical licensing burdens for cosmetologists and other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.

Washington 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 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 410 2190 4 years 2 years 1 0 0
2 Fire Alarm Installer 39 700 1474 64 clock hours 4 years 5 0 16
2 Security Alarm Installer 37 700 1474 64 clock hours 4 years 5 0 16
4 Athletic Trainer 49 505 1461 4 years & 7 clock hours None 1 0 0
5 Midwife, Direct Entry 37 1996 1095 3 years None 3 12 21
6 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 268 983 20 continuing education units 4200 clock hours 1 0 0
7 Optician 22 550 730 2 years None 4 12 18
8 Wildlife Control Operator 23 50 731 4 clock hours 2 years 2 0 18
9 Veterinary Technician 36 595 730 2 years None 2 0 0
10 School Bus Driver 51 195 391 110 clock hours 1 year 6 0 21
11 Cosmetologist 51 319 373 1600 clock hours None 2 0 17
12 Barber 51 25 233 1000 clock hours None 2 0 17
12 Shampooer 33 25 233 1000 clock hours None 2 0 17
14 Pharmacy Technician 44 187 140 None 600 clock hours 1 12 0
15 Skin Care Specialist 51 319 175 750 clock hours None 2 0 17
16 Massage Therapist 45 421 146 625 clock hours None 2 0 18
17 Manicurist 51 319 140 600 clock hours None 2 0 17
18 Emergency Medical Technician 51 98 35 150 clock hours None 2 12 18
19 Mobile Home Installer 37 404 184 12 clock hours 6 months 1 0 0
20 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 325 37 160 clock hours None 5 0 18
21 Child Care Home, Family 44 12 3 16 clock hours None 0 12 21
22 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 0 1 7 clock hours None 0 12 21
23 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 335 22 94 clock hours None 5 0 18
24 Truck Driver, Other 51 325 19 80 clock hours None 4 0 18
25 Bill Collection Agency 29 850 0 None None 0 0 18
26 Crane Operator 16 240 4 None 24 clock hours 3 0 18
27 Travel Guide 37 780 0 None None 0 0 16
28 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 99 3 16 clock hours None 1 0 18
29 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 275 0 None None 3 0 0
30 Fisher, Commercial 43 250 0 None None 0 0 16
31 Bartender 12 0 1 3 clock hours None 1 0 18
32 Weigher 24 140 0 None None 0 0 18
33 Pest Control Applicator 51 275 0 None None 2 0 0
34 Taxidermist 28 250 0 None None 0 0 0
35 Gaming Cage Worker 30 219 0 None None 0 0 0
35 Gaming Dealer 29 219 0 None None 0 0 0
35 Gaming Supervisor 31 219 0 None None 0 0 0
38 Travel Agency 5 202 0 None None 0 0 0
39 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 181 0 None None 0 0 0
39 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 181 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Auctioneer 28 155 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) 24 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) 24 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) 25 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) 22 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Insulation Contractor (Commercial) 24 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Painting Contractor (Commercial) 22 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Paving Contractor (Commercial) 24 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Pipelayer Contractor 27 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) 26 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) 23 118 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 118 0 None None 0 0 0
73 Milk Sampler 43 50 0 None None 0 0 0
73 Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment 4 50 0 None None 0 0 0
75 Dental Assistant 8 40 0 None None 0 0 0
76 Farm Labor Contractor 10 35 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