California

California Licensing Overview

California licenses 75 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 3rd in the nation. California licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Home Entertainment Installer (3 other), Tree Trimmer (8 other), Psychiatric Technician (4 other), Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment (4 other), Upholsterer (9 other), Travel Agency (5 other).

On average, California requires $517 in licensing fees, 837 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Veterinary Technician, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor.

Which occupation in a California is the most regulated?

Out of the 75 occupations that require an occupational license in California, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $149 in fees, no exams, 1 year experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a California is the least regulated?

Out of the 75 occupations that require an occupational license in California, a license for Coach, Head (High School Sports) has the lowest burden. A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $59 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 5.5 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in California is the most expensive?

An occupational license in California costs the most for Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor where the license costs $3150.

Which occupational license in California is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in California costs the least for Shampooer. A Shampooer license requires $50 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 600 clock hours of education.

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

In California, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 1825 days (5 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $149 in fees, no exams, 1 year experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In California, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Optician, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Crane Operator, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Fisher, Commercial, Farm Labor Contractor, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment, Milk Sampler, Upholsterer, Travel Agency, Travel Guide, Locksmith, Weigher.

In California, which occupational licenses require exams?

In California, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Earth Driller, Water Well, Fire Alarm Installer, Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Home Entertainment Installer, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC 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), Mobile Home Installer, Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Security Alarm Installer, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Tree Trimmer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Veterinary Technician, Pest Control Applicator, Psychiatric Technician, Barber, Cosmetologist, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Shampooer, Optician, Manicurist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Crane Operator, Security Guard, Unarmed, Farm Labor Contractor, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

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	149	1825	4 years	1 year	0	0	0
2	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Fire Alarm Installer	39	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Home Entertainment Installer	3	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Mobile Home Installer	37	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Pipelayer Contractor	27	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Security Alarm Installer	37	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
2	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	579	1460	None	4 years	3	0	18
38	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	579	1460	None	4 years	2	0	18
38	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	579	1460	None	4 years	2	0	18
38	Tree Trimmer	8	579	1460	None	4 years	2	0	18
41	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1449	1095	3 years	None	1	0	0
42	Veterinary Technician	36	1076	730	2 years	None	1	0	18
43	Pest Control Applicator	51	436	741	10 clock hours	2 years & 40 clock hours	2	0	18
44	Psychiatric Technician	4	519	357	1530 clock hours	None	1	12	18
45	Barber	51	125	233	1000 clock hours	None	1	10	17
45	Cosmetologist	51	125	233	1000 clock hours	None	1	10	17
47	Makeup Artist	37	115	140	600 clock hours	None	1	10	17
47	Skin Care Specialist	51	115	140	600 clock hours	None	1	10	17
49	Shampooer	33	50	140	600 clock hours	None	1	10	17
50	Optician	22	974	0	None	None	1	12	18
51	Manicurist	51	110	93	400 clock hours	None	1	10	17
52	Gaming Supervisor	31	3150	0	None	None	0	0	21
52	Slot Supervisor	29	3150	0	None	None	0	0	21
54	School Bus Driver	51	98	7	40 clock hours	None	6	0	18
55	Pharmacy Technician	44	249	56	240 clock hours	None	0	12	0
56	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	98	0	None	None	5	0	18
57	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	83	0	None	None	5	0	18
58	Truck Driver, Other	51	83	0	None	None	4	0	18
59	Emergency Medical Technician	51	147	40	170 clock hours	None	2	0	18
60	Crane Operator	16	240	0	None	None	2	0	18
61	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	104	1	8 clock hours	None	1	0	18
62	Gaming Cage Worker	30	250	0	None	None	0	0	21
62	Gaming Dealer	29	250	0	None	None	0	0	21
64	Child Care Home, Family	44	284	4	22.5 clock hours	None	0	0	18
65	Fisher, Commercial	43	149	0	None	None	0	0	16
66	Farm Labor Contractor	10	843	0	None	None	1	0	0
67	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	340	0	None	None	2	0	0
68	Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment	4	100	0	None	None	2	0	0
69	Milk Sampler	43	75	0	None	None	2	0	0
70	Upholsterer	9	420	0	None	None	0	0	0
71	Travel Agency	5	375	0	None	None	0	0	0
72	Travel Guide	37	235	0	None	None	0	0	0
73	Locksmith	12	104	0	None	None	0	0	0
74	Weigher	24	75	0	None	None	0	0	0
75	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	59	1	5.5 clock hours	None	0	0	0

California Occupational Licensing

75 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

3rd most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$517