Georgia

Georgia Licensing Overview

Georgia licenses 41 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 12th in the nation. Georgia licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional (5 other).

On average, Georgia requires $197 in licensing fees, 472 days of education and about 2 exam.

Which occupation in a Georgia is the most regulated?

Out of the 41 occupations that require an occupational license in Georgia, licenses for , Coach, Head (High School Sports), Preschool Teacher, Public School have the highest burden.

Which occupation in a Georgia is the least regulated?

Out of the 41 occupations that require an occupational license in Georgia, a license for Weigher has the lowest burden. A Weigher license requires $15 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Georgia is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Georgia costs the most for Optician. A Optician license requires $715 in fees, 4 exams, no experience, and 1 year of education.

Which occupational license in Georgia is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Georgia costs the least for Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Milk Sampler where the license costs $0.

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

In Georgia, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Coach, Head (High School Sports), Preschool Teacher, Public School.It takes 2555 days (7 years) total.

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

In Georgia, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Wildlife Control Operator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pharmacy Technician, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Pest Control Applicator, Travel Guide, Fisher, Commercial, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Animal Breeder, Taxidermist, Milk Sampler, Weigher.

In Georgia, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Georgia, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Coach, Head (High School Sports), Preschool Teacher, Public School, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Athletic Trainer, Pipelayer Contractor, HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), School Bus Driver, Earth Driller, Water Well, Veterinary Technician, Optician, Cosmetologist, Barber, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Massage Therapist, Manicurist, Auctioneer, Child Care Home, Family, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Emergency Medical Technician, Truck Driver, Other, Wildlife Control Operator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Mobile Home Installer, Pest Control Applicator, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Georgia’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations rank as the 14th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $185 in fees, 464 days of education and experience, and about two exams. But because Georgia licenses a below-average number of the occupations studied here (41 out of 102), it ranks as the 34th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Georgia licenses some occupations more onerously than many other states do. Pipelayer contractors, for example, must demonstrate 1,097 days of education and experience (comprising 12 hours of education and three years of experience). That is twice the average (546 days) required across licensed states. Pipelayer contractors are not even licensed everywhere: Just 26 other states deem licensure necessary. And Georgia licenses other occupations that are rarely licensed by other states, such as non-instructional teacher assistants (just four other states) and opticians (21 others).

Georgia also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, the education requirements for personal care occupations can be up to 13 times higher than those for EMTs: Cosmetologists and barbers must complete 1,500 hours (about 350 days) of education, and skin care specialists 1,000 hours (about 233 days), while EMTs must complete only 110 hours (about 26 days). Georgia can improve its rankings by reducing or repealing its heavy burdens for cosmetologists, barbers, skin care specialists and other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	281	2555	4 years	3 years	3	0	0
1	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	281	2555	4 years	3 years	3	0	0
3	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	297	1829	24 clock hours	5 years	1	0	18
3	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	297	1829	24 clock hours	5 years	1	0	18
5	Athletic Trainer	49	440	1460	4 years	None	1	0	18
6	Pipelayer Contractor	27	317	1462	12 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
7	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	297	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
7	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	297	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
9	School Bus Driver	51	90	734	24 clock hours	2 years	6	0	18
10	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	525	730	None	2 years	3	0	0
11	Veterinary Technician	36	375	730	2 years	None	1	0	18
12	Optician	22	715	365	1 year	None	4	12	18
13	Cosmetologist	51	139	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	12	17
14	Barber	51	30	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	12	16
15	Fire Alarm Installer	39	237	365	None	1 year	1	0	18
15	Security Alarm Installer	37	237	365	None	1 year	1	0	18
17	Makeup Artist	37	139	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	12	17
17	Skin Care Specialist	51	139	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	12	17
19	Massage Therapist	45	320	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
20	Manicurist	51	139	123	525 clock hours	None	2	12	17
21	Auctioneer	28	420	19	80 clock hours	None	1	12	18
22	Child Care Home, Family	44	50	7	30 clock hours	None	1	12	21
23	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	100	0	None	None	5	0	18
24	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	95	0	None	None	5	0	18
25	Emergency Medical Technician	51	225	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
26	Truck Driver, Other	51	95	0	None	None	4	0	18
27	Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional	5	0	0	None	None	0	12	0
28	Wildlife Control Operator	23	45	0	None	None	1	0	18
29	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	190	0	None	None	3	0	0
30	Mobile Home Installer	37	375	1	1 day	None	1	0	0
31	Pharmacy Technician	44	100	0	None	None	0	0	17
32	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	75	0	None	None	0	0	18
32	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	75	0	None	None	0	0	18
34	Pest Control Applicator	51	190	0	None	None	2	0	0
35	Travel Guide	37	25	0	None	None	0	0	18
36	Fisher, Commercial	43	20	0	None	None	0	0	18
37	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	15	0	None	None	0	0	18
38	Animal Breeder	29	210	0	None	None	0	0	0
39	Taxidermist	28	155	0	None	None	0	0	0
40	Milk Sampler	43	0	0	None	None	1	0	0
41	Weigher	24	15	0	None	None	0	0	0

Georgia Occupational Licensing

41 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

12th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$197