California
76 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed
3rd most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations
1st most extensively and onerously licensed state for moderate-income occupations
Summary
California is the most broadly and onerously licensed state in the nation. Not only does it license 76 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here—more than all but two other states—its licensing laws rank as the nation’s third most burdensome due to high average fees ($486), lengthy average education and experience requirements (827 days lost), and a high average number of licensing exams (about two). Because it licenses so many occupations so onerously, California is the worst licensing environment for workers in lower-income occupations.
Among the many occupations California licenses are several that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license dairy equipment still machine setters (two), psychiatric technicians (four), tree trimmers (six) or travel agencies (six). Of those occupations, psychiatric technicians and tree trimmers face particularly steep burdens. Psychiatric technicians must pay $349 in fees to obtain a license to work, compared to a $119 average across licensed states. And tree trimmers must prove 1,460 days (four years) of experience to operate their businesses—more than double the licensed-state average of 574 days.
California also imposes disproportionate burdens on some occupations compared to others that may pose a greater risk to public health and safety. For example, the state’s license for manicurists demands 400 hours (about 93 days) of education. Meanwhile, its license for EMTs requires only 160 hours (approximately 37 days).
As the worst state in the nation when it comes to licensing, California has much work to do. To improve its rankings and expand opportunity, California should repeal or reduce its many needless and irrational burdens, 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 | $398 | 1,825 | 4 years and 1 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
2 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Fire Alarm Installer | 39 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | 27 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Glazier Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Glazier Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | 37 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | 35 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Insulation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Mason Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Mason Contractor (Residential) | 31 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Painting Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Paving Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Paving Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Pipelayer Contractor | 27 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | 36 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) | 26 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | 31 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) | 23 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
36 | Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
36 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | 29 | $579 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
38 | Mobile Home Installer | 39 | $529 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
38 | Tree Trimmer | 7 | $529 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
40 | Midwife, Direct Entry | 28 | $1249 | 1,095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
41 | Animal Trainer | 9 | $250 | 1,095 | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
42 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | $716 | 742 | 16 clock hours | 40 clock hours and 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
43 | Veterinary Technician | 36 | $351 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
44 | Psychiatric Technician | 5 | $349 | 357 | 1530 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 18 | ||
45 | Cosmetologist | 51 | $125 | 373 | 1600 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 17 | ||
46 | Barber | 51 | $125 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 17 | ||
46 | Shampooer | 37 | $125 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 17 | ||
48 | Makeup Artist | 41 | $115 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 17 | ||
48 | Skin Care Specialist | 50 | $115 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 17 | ||
50 | Manicurist | 50 | $110 | 93 | 400 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 17 | ||
51 | Optician | 22 | $424 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 18 | |||
52 | Gaming Supervisor | 30 | $3150 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |||
52 | Slot Supervisor | 28 | $3150 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |||
54 | School Bus Driver | 51 | $99 | 7 | 20 clock hours | 20 clock hours | 6 | 0 | 18 | |
55 | Pharmacy Technician | 44 | $290 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | |||
56 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | $73 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | |||
57 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | $42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | |||
58 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | $73 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 | |||
59 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | $129 | 37 | 160 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
60 | Crane Operator | 18 | $225 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | |||
61 | Security Guard, Unarmed | 34 | $99 | 1 | 8 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
62 | Gaming Cage Worker | 29 | $250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |||
62 | Gaming Dealer | 28 | $250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |||
64 | Child Care Home, Family | 44 | $164 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |||
65 | Fisher, Commercial | 43 | $137 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | |||
66 | Farm Labor Contractor | 10 | $843 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
67 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | $340 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||
68 | Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment | 3 | $100 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||
69 | Milk Sampler | 42 | $75 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||
70 | Travel Agency | 7 | $375 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
71 | Upholsterer | 10 | $360 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
72 | Travel Guide | 37 | $216 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
73 | Weigher | 25 | $75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
74 | Locksmith | 14 | $69 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
75 | Dental Assistant | 9 | $0 | 2 | 10 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
76 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 48 | $0 | 1 | 4.5 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 0 |