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.
Colorado licenses 34 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are less burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 34th in the nation. Colorado licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Psychiatric Technician (4 other).
On average, Colorado requires $355 in licensing fees, 257 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Bill Collection Agency, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor.
Out of the 34 occupations that require an occupational license in Colorado, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $350 in fees, 1 exams, 1 year experience, and 4 years of education.
Out of the 34 occupations that require an occupational license in Colorado, a license for Fisher, Commercial has the lowest burden. A Fisher, Commercial license requires $40 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.
An occupational license in Colorado costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1600 in fees, 1 exams, 5 births experience, and 2 years of education.
An occupational license for in Colorado costs the least for Weigher. A Weigher license requires $25 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and no of education.
In Colorado, 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 $350 in fees, 1 exams, 1 year experience, and 4 years of education.
In Colorado, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Truck Driver, Other, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Milk Sampler, Weigher, Animal Breeder, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial.
In Colorado, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Earth Driller, Water Well, Pest Control Applicator, Mobile Home Installer, Cosmetologist, Barber, Psychiatric Technician, Shampooer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Manicurist, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Massage Therapist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Child Care Home, Family, Coach, Head (High School Sports), Milk Sampler, Weigher. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.
Colorado licenses 34 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, and its laws are the 36th most burdensome. On average, Colorado’s barriers to entry are $344 in fees, 260 days lost to education and experience, and roughly two exams. Because Colorado licenses fewer occupations than most states, it ranks as only the 47th most broadly and onerously licensed.
Despite this relatively good ranking, Colorado still has room for improvement. For example, it has one of the most burdensome licenses for bill collection agencies, requiring $1,500 in fees and 730 days—two years—of experience before an agency can open for business. By comparison, 20 states do not even license bill collection agencies, and those that do require an average of $551 in fees and 159 days of education and experience.
Colorado also imposes restrictions on barbers and cosmetologists that are disproportionately burdensome compared to those for occupations that may pose greater risks to the public. Aspiring barbers must pay a $155 fee and complete 1,500 hours (around 350 days) of education, while would-be cosmetologists must pay a $177 fee and complete 1,800 hours (roughly 420 days) of education. Both must also pass two exams. EMTs, on the other hand, must only pay a $98 fee, demonstrate 150 hours (about 35 days) of education and pass two exams. Colorado should reduce, if not repeal, its inconsistent or irrational burdens for lower-income workers, 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 | 350 | 1825 | 4 years | 1 year | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | 540 | 1460 | 4 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Midwife, Direct Entry | 37 | 1600 | 830 | 2 years | 5 births | 1 | 12 | 19 | |
| 4 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | 230 | 730 | None | 2 years | 3 | 0 | 21 | |
| 5 | Bill Collection Agency | 29 | 1500 | 730 | None | 2 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | 513 | 728 | None | 24 months | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Mobile Home Installer | 37 | 150 | 366 | 8 clock hours | 1 year | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 8 | Cosmetologist | 51 | 177 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 16 | |
| 9 | Barber | 51 | 152 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 16 | |
| 10 | Psychiatric Technician | 4 | 260 | 242 | 34.5 credit hours | None | 1 | 12 | 0 | |
| 11 | Shampooer | 33 | 177 | 280 | 1200 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 16 | |
| 12 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | 576 | 243 | None | 8 months | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Manicurist | 51 | 169 | 140 | 600 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 16 | |
| 14 | Makeup Artist | 37 | 152 | 140 | 600 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 16 | |
| 14 | Skin Care Specialist | 51 | 152 | 140 | 600 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 16 | |
| 16 | Massage Therapist | 45 | 395 | 117 | 500 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | School Bus Driver | 51 | 161 | 0 | None | None | 6 | 0 | 18 | |
| 18 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | 311 | 0 | None | None | 5 | 0 | 18 | |
| 18 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | 311 | 0 | None | None | 5 | 0 | 18 | |
| 20 | Gaming Supervisor | 31 | 1275 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
| 20 | Slot Supervisor | 29 | 1275 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
| 22 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | 311 | 0 | None | None | 4 | 0 | 18 | |
| 23 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | 150 | 35 | 150 clock hours | None | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 24 | Child Care Home, Family | 44 | 100 | 4 | 21.5 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 25 | Travel Guide | 37 | 100 | 12 | 50 clock hours | None | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 26 | Gaming Cage Worker | 30 | 115 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
| 26 | Gaming Dealer | 29 | 115 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
| 28 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 47 | 100 | 1 | 5 clock hours | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 29 | Milk Sampler | 43 | 50 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 30 | Weigher | 24 | 25 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 31 | Animal Breeder | 29 | 209 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 32 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | 170 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 32 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | 170 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 34 | Fisher, Commercial | 43 | 40 | 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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