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California

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

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.

California State Licensing Requirements for Lower-Income Occupations

Select a chart to view:
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 40 clock hours & 2 years 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

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report