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Delaware

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

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.

Delaware 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 50 156 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

License to Work

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

View Report