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Connecticut

Connecticut Occupational Licensing

65 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

17th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$290

Connecticut Licensing Overview

Connecticut licenses 65 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are about average when compared to other states. The state's licensing laws rank 17th in the nation. Connecticut licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Home Entertainment Installer (3 other), Tree Trimmer (8 other), Forest Worker (1 other), Upholsterer (9 other), Animal Trainer (7 other).

On average, Connecticut requires $290 in licensing fees, 374 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Preschool Teacher, Public School.

Which occupation in a Connecticut is the most regulated?

Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in Connecticut, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $1010 in fees, 2 exams, 40 months experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Connecticut is the least regulated?

Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in Connecticut, licenses for Animal Trainer, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Slot Supervisor have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in Connecticut is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Connecticut costs the most for Preschool Teacher, Public School. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $1010 in fees, 2 exams, 40 months experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in Connecticut is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Connecticut costs the least for Animal Trainer, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Slot Supervisor where the license costs $0.

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

In Connecticut, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2673 days (7 years and 28 days) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $1010 in fees, 2 exams, 40 months experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Connecticut, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Tree Trimmer, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Fisher, Commercial, Child Care Home, Family, Bill Collection Agency, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Weigher, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Forest Worker, Locksmith, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler, Taxidermist, Pharmacy Technician, Travel Guide, Upholsterer, Animal Breeder, Animal Trainer, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Slot Supervisor.

In Connecticut, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Connecticut, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Earth Driller, Water Well, Interpreter, Sign Language, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Athletic Trainer, School Bus Driver, Optician, Crane Operator, Home Entertainment Installer, Cosmetologist, Barber, Massage Therapist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Tree Trimmer, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Emergency Medical Technician, Pest Control Applicator, Forest Worker, Wildlife Control Operator, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Connecticut licenses 64 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 24th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $264 in fees, 361 days lost to education and experience, and approximately one exam. Because it licenses an above-average number of occupations, these burdens make Connecticut the 18th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Connecticut imposes education burdens and fees on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, in Connecticut, it is more difficult to become a massage therapist than an EMT. To practice their craft, would-be massage therapists must complete 500 hours (roughly 117 days) of education and pay a $575 fee, while EMTs must complete only 150 hours (about 35 days) of education and pay an $80 fee.

Particularly troubling, Connecticut licenses two occupations that are licensed by no other states: home entertainment installers and forest workers. Home entertainment installers must sacrifice about 575 days to education and experience (comprising one year of experience and 900 hours of education), pay $185 in fees, and pass an exam before they can get to work. Forest workers must pay $300 in fees and pass an exam. Connecticut should consider reducing or repealing such unnecessary licensing burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Connecticut 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 1010 2673 4 years 40 months 2 0 0
2 Fire Alarm Installer 39 435 2190 None 6 years 3 8 18
2 Security Alarm Installer 37 435 2190 None 6 years 3 8 18
4 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 705 2190 None 6 years 3 0 18
5 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 705 1825 None 5 years 3 0 0
6 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 433 1825 None 5 years 3 0 0
7 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 885 1460 4 years None 2 0 18
8 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 705 1460 None 4 years 3 0 18
8 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 705 1460 None 4 years 3 0 18
8 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 705 1460 None 4 years 3 0 18
11 Athletic Trainer 49 580 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
12 School Bus Driver 51 224 1097 10 clock hours 3 years 6 0 21
13 Optician 22 800 730 2 years None 5 12 18
14 Crane Operator 16 150 730 None 2 years 2 0 18
15 Home Entertainment Installer 3 185 575 900 clock hours 1 year 1 12 0
16 Cosmetologist 51 100 350 1500 clock hours None 1 9 0
17 Barber 51 100 233 1000 clock hours None 1 8 0
18 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 375 11 45 clock hours None 0 12 18
19 Massage Therapist 45 575 186 750 clock hours 60 clock hours 1 0 0
20 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 219 0 None None 5 0 21
21 Tree Trimmer 8 725 0 None None 2 0 18
22 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 131 0 None None 5 0 18
23 Truck Driver, Other 51 126 0 None None 4 0 18
24 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 263 0 None None 3 0 18
25 Emergency Medical Technician 51 98 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 16
26 Skin Care Specialist 51 100 140 600 clock hours None 0 0 0
27 Pest Control Applicator 51 221 0 None None 1 0 18
28 Fisher, Commercial 43 385 0 None None 0 0 16
29 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 228 1 8 clock hours None 0 0 18
30 Child Care Home, Family 44 40 0 None None 0 0 20
31 Bill Collection Agency 29 600 0 None None 0 0 0
32 Taxi Driver/Chauffeur 13 88 0 None None 0 0 18
33 Weigher 24 40 0 None None 0 0 18
34 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 500 0 None None 0 0 0
34 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 500 0 None None 0 0 0
34 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 500 0 None None 0 0 0
37 Forest Worker 1 300 0 None None 1 0 0
38 Wildlife Control Operator 23 250 1 8.5 clock hours None 1 0 0
39 Locksmith 12 293 0 None None 0 0 0
40 Manicurist 51 100 23 100 clock hours None 0 0 0
41 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 220 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 220 0 None None 0 0 0
54 Milk Sampler 43 20 0 None None 1 0 0
55 Taxidermist 28 105 0 None None 0 0 0
56 Pharmacy Technician 44 100 0 None None 0 0 0
56 Travel Guide 37 100 0 None None 0 0 0
58 Upholsterer 9 75 0 None None 0 0 0
59 Animal Breeder 29 50 0 None None 0 0 0
60 Animal Trainer 7 0 0 None None 0 0 0
60 Gaming Cage Worker 30 0 0 None None 0 0 0
60 Gaming Dealer 29 0 0 None None 0 0 0
60 Gaming Supervisor 31 0 0 None None 0 0 0
60 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 0 0 None None 0 0 0
60 Slot Supervisor 29 0 0 None 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