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.
Arizona licenses 68 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are more burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 4th in the nation.
On average, Arizona requires $481 in licensing fees, 689 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Bill Collection Agency.
Out of the 68 occupations that require an occupational license in Arizona, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $431 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.
Out of the 68 occupations that require an occupational license in Arizona, a license for Milk Sampler has the lowest burden. A Milk Sampler license requires $50 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.
An occupational license in Arizona costs the most for Bill Collection Agency. A Bill Collection Agency license requires $1675 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.
An occupational license for in Arizona costs the least for School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit where the license costs $35.
In Arizona, 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 $431 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.
In Arizona, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Bill Collection Agency, Travel Guide, Security Alarm Installer, Weigher, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Taxidermist, Animal Breeder, Milk Sampler.
In Arizona, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Pipelayer Contractor, Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Fire Alarm Installer, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Athletic Trainer, Optician, Earth Driller, Water Well, Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Midwife, Direct Entry, Mobile Home Installer, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Veterinary Technician, Interpreter, Sign Language, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, School Bus Driver, Cosmetologist, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Barber, Truck Driver, Other, Pharmacy Technician, Massage Therapist, Manicurist, Skin Care Specialist, Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Emergency Medical Technician, Travel Guide, Weigher. School Bus Driver requires 7 exams.
Arizona remains one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to licensing burdens for lower-income occupations. It licenses 68 of the 102 occupations studied here, and its licensing laws rank as the fourth most burdensome, due to high licensing fees and arduous education and experience requirements. Occupational licenses in Arizona require an average of $612 in fees, 765 days—more than two years—of education and experience, and approximately two exams. Because it licenses so many occupations so onerously, Arizona ranks as the fourth most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Arizona imposes particularly burdensome fees and experience requirements on would-be licensees in several occupations. Its highest fees are roughly three times the national average. Bill collection agencies face Arizona’s heftiest fees, paying $1,500 (compared to the $551 average across licensed states). Water well earth drillers must pay $1,031 (compared to the $356 national average). And Arizona’s experience burdens for aspiring opticians are some of the heaviest of their type in the nation, requiring 1,095 days (three years) of experience. This is considerably higher than the average 714 days required in the 22 states that license opticians.
Arizona’s licensing laws are also rife with irrationalities, often imposing burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared with those for others that may pose greater risks. For example, 15 of the 33 Arizona contractor licenses studied are more burdensome than the state’s direct entry midwife license, and all of the contractor licenses studied are considerably more onerous than its EMT license, which merely requires a 110-hour course (an estimated 26 days lost), an $80 fee and two exams. To improve its rankings, Arizona should reduce or repeal its onerous licenses for contractors and other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace 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 | 431 | 2190 | 4 years | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | 896 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 2 | Pipelayer Contractor | 27 | 896 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 4 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | 696 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 5 | Paving Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | 846 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | 29 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Fire Alarm Installer | 39 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Mason Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Mason Contractor (Residential) | 31 | 596 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 15 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 466 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 15 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 466 | 1460 | None | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 17 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | 712 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | Optician | 22 | 500 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 3 | 12 | 18 | |
| 19 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | 871 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 5 | 0 | 18 | |
| 20 | Glazier Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | 596 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 20 | Glazier Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 596 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 20 | Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) | 23 | 596 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 20 | Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | 28 | 596 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 24 | Midwife, Direct Entry | 37 | 1450 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 12 | 21 | |
| 25 | Mobile Home Installer | 37 | 454 | 1096 | 3 clock hours | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 26 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | 37 | 696 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 26 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | 696 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 28 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | 35 | 596 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 28 | Painting Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | 596 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 28 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | 27 | 596 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 28 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | 36 | 596 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 32 | Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | 546 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 32 | Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | 27 | 546 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 32 | Insulation Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | 546 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 32 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) | 26 | 546 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 32 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | 31 | 546 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 37 | Veterinary Technician | 36 | 150 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 38 | Interpreter, Sign Language | 22 | 365 | 420 | 60 credit hours | None | 2 | 12 | 18 | |
| 39 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | 625 | 449 | 12 credit hours | 1 year | 4 | 0 | 18 | |
| 39 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | 625 | 449 | 12 credit hours | 1 year | 4 | 0 | 18 | |
| 41 | School Bus Driver | 51 | 35 | 371 | 34 clock hours | 1 year | 7 | 0 | 18 | |
| 42 | Cosmetologist | 51 | 247 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | None | 2 | 10 | 16 | |
| 43 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | 50 | 365 | None | 1 year | 5 | 0 | 18 | |
| 44 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | 35 | 365 | None | 1 year | 5 | 0 | 18 | |
| 45 | Barber | 51 | 300 | 280 | 1200 clock hours | None | 2 | 10 | 16 | |
| 46 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | 50 | 365 | None | 1 year | 4 | 0 | 18 | |
| 47 | Pharmacy Technician | 44 | 326 | 140 | 600 clock hours | None | 1 | 12 | 18 | |
| 48 | Massage Therapist | 45 | 412 | 117 | 500 clock hours | None | 1 | 12 | 18 | |
| 49 | Manicurist | 51 | 247 | 140 | 600 clock hours | None | 2 | 10 | 16 | |
| 50 | Skin Care Specialist | 51 | 247 | 117 | 500 clock hours | None | 2 | 10 | 16 | |
| 51 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | 546 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 51 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 546 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 51 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | 546 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 54 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 47 | 127 | 165 | 12 clock hours & 15 credit hours | 250 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 55 | Paving Contractor (Residential) | 28 | 416 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 56 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | 98 | 30 | 130 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 57 | Bill Collection Agency | 29 | 1675 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 58 | Travel Guide | 37 | 337 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 59 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | 410 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 60 | Weigher | 24 | 48 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 61 | Gaming Cage Worker | 30 | 250 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 61 | Gaming Dealer | 29 | 250 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 61 | Gaming Supervisor | 31 | 250 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 61 | Slot Supervisor | 29 | 250 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 65 | Security Guard, Unarmed | 34 | 72 | 1 | 8 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 66 | Taxidermist | 28 | 100 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 67 | Animal Breeder | 29 | 75 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 68 | Milk Sampler | 43 | 50 | 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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