Delaware

Delaware Licensing Overview

Delaware licenses 42 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 11th in the nation. Delaware licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional (5 other).

On average, Delaware requires $230 in licensing fees, 495 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Delaware is the most regulated?

Out of the 42 occupations that require an occupational license in Delaware, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $156 in fees, 1 exams, 4 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Delaware is the least regulated?

Out of the 42 occupations that require an occupational license in Delaware, licenses for Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential) have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in Delaware is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Delaware costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1582 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Delaware is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Delaware costs the least for Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Coach, Head (High School Sports), Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential) where the license costs $0.

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

In Delaware, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2920 days (8 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $156 in fees, 1 exams, 4 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Delaware, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Security Alarm Installer, Travel Guide, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Animal Breeder, Milk Sampler, Fisher, Commercial, Weigher, Coach, Head (High School Sports), Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential).

In Delaware, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Delaware, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Fire Alarm Installer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Veterinary Technician, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Cosmetologist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Barber, Shampooer, Truck Driver, Other, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Massage Therapist, Emergency Medical Technician, Mobile Home Installer, Security Guard, Unarmed, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Delaware licenses fewer of the lower-income occupations studied here than most states—44 out of 102—but its laws rank as the 15th most burdensome in the nation. On average, Delaware licenses require $199 in fees, 475 days lost to education and experience, and approximately one exam. The state ranks as the 32nd most broadly and onerously licensed.

Delaware licenses some occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere, such as non-instructional teacher assistants, who are licensed by only four other states. Delaware also licenses pesticide applicators more onerously than many other states: Both pest control applicators and vegetation pesticide applicators in Delaware must demonstrate 730 days (two years) of experience before opening their businesses, when the national average of days lost to education and experience is just 274 days for pest control applicators and 134 days for vegetation pesticide applicators.

Delaware also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive or illogical compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, while EMTs must only demonstrate 150 hours (around 35 days) of specialized education, pay $149 and pass two exams, barbers and cosmetologists must sacrifice 10 times as many hours to education (1,500 hours or about 350 days), pay over $200 and pass two exams. To expand opportunity, Delaware should reduce, if not repeal, inconsistent or irrational licensing burdens like these, 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	156	2920	4 years	4 years	1	0	0
2	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	153	2190	None	6 years	1	0	16
2	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	153	2190	None	6 years	1	0	16
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	153	2190	None	6 years	1	0	16
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	153	2190	None	6 years	1	0	16
6	Athletic Trainer	49	628	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
7	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1582	730	2 years	None	1	12	21
8	Fire Alarm Installer	39	616	730	None	2 years	3	0	18
9	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	180	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
10	Veterinary Technician	36	427	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
11	Pest Control Applicator	51	105	730	None	2 years	2	0	0
11	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	105	730	None	2 years	2	0	0
13	Cosmetologist	51	225	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	10	16
14	School Bus Driver	51	58	368	16 clock hours	1 year	6	0	18
15	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	53	365	None	1 year	5	0	18
16	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	48	365	None	1 year	5	0	18
17	Barber	51	218	292	1250 clock hours	None	2	10	16
17	Shampooer	33	218	292	1250 clock hours	None	2	10	16
19	Truck Driver, Other	51	48	365	None	1 year	4	0	18
20	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	68	366	6 clock hours	1 year	0	0	18
21	Makeup Artist	37	276	140	600 clock hours	None	2	10	16
21	Skin Care Specialist	51	276	140	600 clock hours	None	2	10	16
23	Manicurist	51	313	70	300 clock hours	None	2	10	16
24	Massage Therapist	45	344	117	500 clock hours	None	1	0	18
25	Child Care Home, Family	44	65	3	18 clock hours	None	0	12	18
26	Emergency Medical Technician	51	173	42	180 clock hours	None	2	0	18
27	Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional	5	0	0	None	None	0	12	0
28	Mobile Home Installer	37	330	2	12 clock hours	None	1	0	18
29	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	134	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
30	Security Alarm Installer	37	195	0	None	None	0	0	18
31	Travel Guide	37	160	0	None	None	0	0	18
32	Gaming Supervisor	31	565	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Slot Supervisor	29	565	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Gaming Cage Worker	30	265	0	None	None	0	0	0
34	Gaming Dealer	29	265	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Animal Breeder	29	190	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Milk Sampler	43	5	0	None	None	1	0	0
38	Fisher, Commercial	43	150	0	None	None	0	0	0
39	Weigher	24	25	0	None	None	0	0	0
40	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	0	1 clock hour	None	0	0	0
41	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	0	0	None	None	0	0	0

Delaware Occupational Licensing

42 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

11th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$230