Delaware
44 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed
15th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations
32nd most extensively and onerously licensed state for moderate-income occupations
Summary
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 | $296 | 2,555 | 4 years | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
2 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | 37 | $109 | 2,190 | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
2 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | 35 | $109 | 2,190 | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | $109 | 2,190 | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | 36 | $109 | 2,190 | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
6 | Midwife, Direct Entry | 28 | $1253 | 1,095 | 3 years | 1 | 12 | 21 | ||
7 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | $425 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
8 | Fire Alarm Installer | 39 | $566 | 730 | 2 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
9 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | $180 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
10 | Veterinary Technician | 36 | $397 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
11 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | $55 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
11 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | $55 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
13 | Cosmetologist | 51 | $225 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 16 | ||
13 | Shampooer | 37 | $225 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 16 | ||
15 | Barber | 51 | $218 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 16 | ||
16 | School Bus Driver | 51 | $40 | 368 | 12 clock hours | 1 years and 6 clock hours | 6 | 0 | 18 | |
17 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | $35 | 365 | 1 years | 5 | 0 | 18 | ||
18 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | $30 | 365 | 1 years | 5 | 0 | 18 | ||
19 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | $30 | 365 | 1 years | 4 | 0 | 18 | ||
20 | Taxi Driver/Chauffeur | 16 | $3 | 366 | 6 clock hours | 1 years | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
21 | Makeup Artist | 41 | $265 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 16 | ||
22 | Skin Care Specialist | 50 | $263 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 16 | ||
23 | Manicurist | 50 | $267 | 70 | 300 clock hours | 2 | 10 | 16 | ||
24 | Massage Therapist | 44 | $390 | 117 | 500 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
25 | Child Care Home, Family | 44 | $65 | 2 | 12 clock hours | 0 | 12 | 18 | ||
26 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | $149 | 35 | 150 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
27 | Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional | 5 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |||
28 | Mobile Home Installer | 39 | $238 | 3 | 15 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
29 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | $260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |||
30 | Security Guard, Unarmed | 34 | $89 | 3 | 16 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
31 | Gaming Supervisor | 30 | $569 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
31 | Slot Supervisor | 28 | $569 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
33 | Travel Guide | 37 | $100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |||
34 | Gaming Cage Worker | 29 | $269 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
34 | Gaming Dealer | 28 | $269 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
36 | Animal Breeder | 28 | $173 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
37 | Milk Sampler | 42 | $5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
38 | Fisher, Commercial | 43 | $150 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
39 | Auctioneer | 30 | $75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
39 | Bill Collection Agency | 31 | $75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
41 | Weigher | 25 | $25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
42 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 48 | $0 | 0 | 0.5 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
43 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
43 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |