Wisconsin

Wisconsin Licensing Overview

Wisconsin licenses 42 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 43rd in the nation. Wisconsin licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Animal Control Officer (7 other), Animal Trainer (7 other).

On average, Wisconsin requires $258 in licensing fees, 197 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Bill Collection Agency.

Which occupation in a Wisconsin is the most regulated?

Out of the 42 occupations that require an occupational license in Wisconsin, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $575 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Wisconsin is the least regulated?

Out of the 42 occupations that require an occupational license in Wisconsin, a license for Fisher, Commercial has the lowest burden. A Fisher, Commercial license requires $2 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Wisconsin is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Wisconsin costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1359 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Wisconsin is the least expensive?

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

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

In Wisconsin, 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 $575 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Wisconsin, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Bill Collection Agency, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Auctioneer, Pipelayer Contractor, Pest Control Applicator, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide, Milk Sampler, Animal Trainer, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Farm Labor Contractor, Security Guard, Unarmed, Taxidermist, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial.

In Wisconsin, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Wisconsin, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Interpreter, Sign Language, Veterinary Technician, Earth Driller, Water Well, Cosmetologist, Massage Therapist, Barber, Shampooer, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Auctioneer, Pipelayer Contractor, Mobile Home Installer, Pest Control Applicator, Milk Sampler, Animal Control Officer. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Wisconsin licenses 42 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, which is fewer than most states. Ranking as the 42nd most burdensome, Wisconsin’s licensing laws require, on average, $259 in fees, 214 days of education and experience, and around one exam. The state ranks as the nation’s 36th most broadly and onerously licensed.

Wisconsin frequently licenses occupations that are unlicensed by other states. For example, few other states license animal trainers (eight), farm labor contractors (nine), bartenders (12) or sign language interpreters (21). Among those, sign language interpreters face particularly steep education and experience requirements: 1,469 days (four years and 40 clock hours) of education. The average in states that license the occupation, meanwhile, is 1,088 days. And bill collection agencies, which are unlicensed in 20 states, face unusually high fees in Wisconsin ($1,200 versus an average of $551).

Wisconsin 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, it takes over 10 times as long to become a cosmetologist in Wisconsin as it does to become an EMT. EMTs must complete roughly 35 days (150 hours) of education, while cosmetologists need an estimated 362 (1,550 hours). Wisconsin could expand lower-income employment opportunities by reducing or repealing its 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.

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	575	2555	4 years	3 years	2	12	0
2	Athletic Trainer	49	465	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
3	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1359	730	2 years	None	1	12	0
4	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	315	730	2 years	None	2	12	18
5	Veterinary Technician	36	490	730	2 years	None	2	0	18
6	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	100	739	39 clock hours	2 years	1	0	20
7	Cosmetologist	51	391	362	1550 clock hours	None	2	0	18
8	Massage Therapist	45	270	140	600 clock hours	None	2	12	18
9	Barber	51	378	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	18
10	Shampooer	33	354	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	18
11	Makeup Artist	37	383	105	450 clock hours	None	2	0	18
11	Skin Care Specialist	51	383	105	450 clock hours	None	2	0	18
13	Manicurist	51	343	70	300 clock hours	None	2	0	18
14	School Bus Driver	51	279	0	None	None	6	0	18
15	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	269	0	None	None	5	0	18
16	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	254	0	None	None	5	0	18
17	Truck Driver, Other	51	254	0	None	None	4	0	18
18	Emergency Medical Technician	51	98	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
19	Bill Collection Agency	29	1200	0	None	None	0	0	0
20	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	180	0	None	None	2	0	16
21	Auctioneer	28	173	0	None	None	1	0	18
22	Child Care Home, Family	44	100	22	3 credit hours & 7 clock hours	None	0	0	18
23	Pipelayer Contractor	27	165	0	None	None	1	0	18
24	Mobile Home Installer	37	115	2	12 clock hours	None	1	0	18
25	Pest Control Applicator	51	145	0	None	None	1	0	16
26	Animal Breeder	29	625	0	None	None	0	0	0
27	Travel Guide	37	40	0	None	None	0	0	18
28	Bartender	12	0	1	3 clock hours	None	0	0	18
29	Milk Sampler	43	60	0	None	None	2	0	0
30	Animal Control Officer	7	60	9	40 clock hours	None	1	0	0
31	Animal Trainer	7	25	0	None	None	0	0	10
32	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	175	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	175	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	175	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	175	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Farm Labor Contractor	10	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	62	0	None	None	0	0	0
38	Taxidermist	28	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
39	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	30	0	None	None	0	0	0
39	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	30	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	1	4 clock hours	None	0	0	0
42	Fisher, Commercial	43	2	0	None	None	0	0	0

Wisconsin Occupational Licensing

42 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

43rd most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$258