Alaska

Alaska Licensing Overview

Alaska licenses 64 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 42nd in the nation.

On average, Alaska requires $439 in licensing fees, 230 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in an Alaska is the most regulated?

Out of the 64 occupations that require an occupational license in Alaska, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $740 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years & 6 credit hours of education.

Which occupation in an Alaska is the least regulated?

Out of the 64 occupations that require an occupational license in Alaska, a license for Travel Guide has the lowest burden. A Travel Guide license requires $29 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Alaska is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Alaska costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $5600 in fees, 1 exams, 1 year experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Alaska is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Alaska costs the least for Bartender. A Bartender license requires $0 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 4 clock hours of education.

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

In Alaska, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2232 days (6 years and 12 days) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $740 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years & 6 credit hours of education.

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

In Alaska, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bill Collection Agency, Pharmacy Technician, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Wildlife Control Operator, 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), Earth Driller, Water Well, 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, Security Alarm Installer, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Taxidermist, Fisher, Commercial, Travel Guide.

In Alaska, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Alaska, 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), Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, School Bus Driver, Optician, Fire Alarm Installer, HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Veterinary Technician, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Cosmetologist, Barber, Massage Therapist, Emergency Medical Technician, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Bartender. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Alaska licenses more occupations than average—63 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here—and its laws are the 45th most burdensome. Alaska’s average barriers to entry are $298 in fees, 211 days of education and experience, and around one exam. As the 24th most broadly and onerously licensed state, Alaska has much room for improvement.

Alaska’s license requirements for some occupations are particularly burdensome when compared to the average burdens across licensed states. For example, at $1,000, the fee to become an athletic trainer in Alaska is twice the licensed-state average. And Alaska requires about 1,097 days of education and experience (comprising three years of experience and 10 hours of education) to become a licensed school bus driver, when the national average is just 300 days.

Alaska also imposes fee and education burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. Veterinary technicians, for example, must complete two years (730 days) of education and pay $535 in fees in Alaska. These barriers are much higher than those for EMTs, who provide emergency first aid to humans but must only complete 120 hours (around 28 days) of specialized education and pay $105 in fees. Alaska could improve its rank by repealing or reducing inconsistent or irrational burdens for vet techs and other 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	740	2232	4 years & 6 credit hours	2 years	2	0	0
2	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	850	1460	None	4 years	1	0	0
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	850	1460	None	4 years	1	0	0
4	Athletic Trainer	49	690	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
5	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	5600	1095	2 years	1 year	1	12	18
6	School Bus Driver	51	208	1097	10 clock hours	3 years	6	0	21
7	Optician	22	850	730	2 years	None	1	12	18
8	Fire Alarm Installer	39	880	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
9	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	850	730	None	2 years	1	0	0
9	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	850	730	None	2 years	1	0	0
11	Veterinary Technician	36	525	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
12	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	160	365	None	1 year	5	0	18
12	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	160	365	None	1 year	5	0	18
14	Truck Driver, Other	51	160	365	None	1 year	4	0	18
15	Cosmetologist	51	450	385	1650 clock hours	None	2	0	0
16	Barber	51	390	385	1650 clock hours	None	2	0	0
17	Massage Therapist	45	745	146	627 clock hours	None	1	0	18
18	Bill Collection Agency	29	100	0	None	None	0	12	19
19	Pharmacy Technician	44	150	0	None	None	0	12	18
20	Emergency Medical Technician	51	123	33	140 clock hours	None	2	0	18
21	Makeup Artist	37	450	82	350 clock hours	None	1	0	0
22	Skin Care Specialist	51	390	82	350 clock hours	None	1	0	0
23	Child Care Home, Family	44	40	28	120 clock hours	None	0	0	21
24	Pest Control Applicator	51	25	0	None	None	2	0	18
24	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	25	0	None	None	2	0	18
26	Bartender	12	0	1	4 clock hours	None	1	0	21
27	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	98	11	48 clock hours	None	0	0	18
28	Wildlife Control Operator	23	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
29	Manicurist	51	390	2	12 clock hours	None	0	0	0
30	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Pipelayer Contractor	27	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Security Alarm Installer	37	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
61	Taxidermist	28	200	0	None	None	0	0	0
62	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	85	3	15 clock hours	None	0	0	0
63	Fisher, Commercial	43	109	0	None	None	0	0	0
64	Travel Guide	37	29	0	None	None	0	0	0

Alaska Occupational Licensing

64 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

42nd most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$439