Alaska
63 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed
45th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations
24th most extensively and onerously licensed state for moderate-income occupations
Summary
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 | $730 | 2,190 | 4 years | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
2 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | $1000 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
3 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | 37 | $450 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
3 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | $450 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
5 | School Bus Driver | 51 | $190 | 1,097 | 10 clock hours | 3 years | 6 | 0 | 21 | |
6 | Fire Alarm Installer | 39 | $300 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
7 | Veterinary Technician | 36 | $535 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
8 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | 35 | $450 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
8 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | 36 | $450 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
10 | Optician | 22 | $550 | 420 | 1800 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 18 | ||
11 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | $140 | 365 | 1 years | 5 | 0 | 19 | ||
12 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | $140 | 365 | 1 years | 5 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | $140 | 365 | 1 years | 4 | 0 | 18 | ||
14 | Cosmetologist | 51 | $450 | 385 | 1650 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
15 | Barber | 51 | $315 | 385 | 1650 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
16 | Massage Therapist | 44 | $805 | 117 | 4 clock hours and 500 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
17 | Bill Collection Agency | 31 | $175 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 19 | |||
18 | Pharmacy Technician | 44 | $120 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 18 | |||
19 | Makeup Artist | 41 | $450 | 82 | 350 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
19 | Skin Care Specialist | 50 | $450 | 82 | 350 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
21 | Manicurist | 50 | $390 | 58 | 250 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
22 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | $105 | 28 | 120 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
23 | Child Care Home, Family | 44 | $115 | 28 | 120 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 21 | ||
24 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | $25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | |||
24 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | $25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | |||
26 | Bartender | 13 | $0 | 1 | 4 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 21 | ||
27 | Security Guard, Unarmed | 34 | $102 | 11 | 48 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
28 | Wildlife Control Operator | 23 | $100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |||
29 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | 29 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | 27 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Glazier Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Glazier Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Insulation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Mason Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Mason Contractor (Residential) | 31 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Painting Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Paving Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Paving Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Pipelayer Contractor | 27 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) | 26 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | 31 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) | 23 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
29 | Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
60 | Taxidermist | 28 | $200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
61 | Fisher, Commercial | 43 | $99 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
62 | Travel Guide | 37 | $29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
63 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 48 | $0 | 1 | 4.5 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 0 |