An “occupational license” is, put simply, government permission to work in a particular field. To earn the license, an aspiring worker must clear various hurdles, such as earning a certain amount of education or training or passing an exam. In the 1950s, only one in 20 U.S. workers needed the government’s permission to pursue their chosen occupation. Today, that figure stands at almost one in four.
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.
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 6 credit hours & 4 years of education.
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.
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.
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.
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 6 credit hours & 4 years of education.
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, 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 | 6 credit hours & 4 years | 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 |
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
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