Hawaii
63 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed
1st most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations
5th most extensively and onerously licensed state for moderate-income occupations
Summary
Hawaii’s occupational licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the most burdensome in the nation. On average, Hawaii’s barriers to entry comprise $438 in fees, 988 days—nearly three years—of education and experience, and around two exams. Hawaii also licenses 63 of the 102 occupations studied here—more than average, though fewer than some other similarly burdensome states. For this reason, it ranks as the fifth most broadly and onerously licensed state. While this rank is better than Hawaii’s first-place burden score, it still means the Aloha State is one of the worst licensing environments for lower-income occupations.
Some of Hawaii’s most burdensome licenses are for occupations rarely licensed by other states. Tree trimmers, for example, must pay $615 in fees, demonstrate 1,460 days (four years) of experience and pass two exams before they can work, while the average burdens in the seven states that license the occupation are $325 in fees, 574 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. With so few states licensing tree trimmers, it is questionable for Hawaii to license them at all, let alone so onerously.
Hawaii also imposes burdens on 54 occupations that are more onerous than those for EMTs, an occupation that arguably has a stronger connection to public safety. For example, it is harder to become a city/transit bus driver, cosmetologist or construction contractor than it is to become an EMT. Would-be EMTs must demonstrate 180 hours of education and 135 hours of experience (losing about 74 days) and pass two exams, while all 33 of the Hawaii contractor licenses studied require nearly 20 times as much education and experience (1,460 days or four years) and at least one—if not two—exams. Hawaii could improve its rankings by repealing or reducing such heavy burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing 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 | $584 | 2,555 | 4 years | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
2 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Fire Alarm Installer | 39 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | 27 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Glazier Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Glazier Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | 37 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | 35 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Insulation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Mason Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Mason Contractor (Residential) | 31 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Painting Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Paving Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Paving Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Pipelayer Contractor | 27 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | 36 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) | 26 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | 31 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
2 | Tree Trimmer | 7 | $615 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
35 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | $685 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
36 | Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $540 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
36 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | 29 | $540 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
36 | Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) | 23 | $540 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
36 | Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $540 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
40 | Optician | 22 | $536 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 12 | 18 | ||
41 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | $355 | 730 | 2 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
41 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | $355 | 730 | 2 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
43 | Cosmetologist | 51 | $110 | 420 | 1800 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 16 | ||
44 | School Bus Driver | 51 | $165 | 365 | 1 years | 6 | 0 | 21 | ||
45 | Shampooer | 37 | $110 | 292 | 1250 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 16 | ||
46 | Barber | 51 | $45 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 17 | ||
47 | Makeup Artist | 41 | $110 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 16 | ||
47 | Skin Care Specialist | 50 | $110 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 16 | ||
49 | Manicurist | 50 | $110 | 82 | 350 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 16 | ||
50 | Security Guard, Unarmed | 34 | $150 | 1 | 8 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 18 | ||
51 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | $160 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 | |||
52 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | $155 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 | |||
53 | Massage Therapist | 44 | $140 | 133 | 570 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
54 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | $155 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 21 | |||
55 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | $184 | 74 | 180 clock hours | 135 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
56 | Crane Operator | 18 | $375 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | |||
57 | Weigher | 25 | $25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | |||
58 | Child Care Home, Family | 44 | $71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |||
59 | Bill Collection Agency | 31 | $139 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
60 | Travel Agency | 7 | $110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
61 | Auctioneer | 30 | $100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
62 | Fisher, Commercial | 43 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
63 | Travel Guide | 37 | $35 | 2 | 12 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 0 |