Idaho

Idaho Licensing Overview

Idaho licenses 66 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are about average when compared to other states. The state's licensing laws rank 24th in the nation. Idaho licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Log Scaler (2 other), Nursery Worker (2 other).

On average, Idaho requires $187 in licensing fees, 330 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in an Idaho is the most regulated?

Out of the 66 occupations that require an occupational license in Idaho, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $363 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in an Idaho is the least regulated?

Out of the 66 occupations that require an occupational license in Idaho, a license for Coach, Head (High School Sports) has the lowest burden. A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 8.5 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in Idaho is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Idaho costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $2300 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Idaho is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Idaho costs the least for Coach, Head (High School Sports). A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 8.5 clock hours of education.

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

In Idaho, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2555 days (7 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $363 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Idaho, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Travel Guide, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Log Scaler, Farm Labor Contractor, Milk Sampler, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial, Nursery Worker, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Taxidermist, Animal Breeder.

In Idaho, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Idaho, 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), Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Veterinary Technician, Earth Driller, Water Well, Cosmetologist, School Bus Driver, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Other, Barber, Shampooer, Skin Care Specialist, Massage Therapist, Pharmacy Technician, Manicurist, Makeup Artist, Travel Guide, Emergency Medical Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Mobile Home Installer, Log Scaler, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Idaho licenses 67 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 30th most burdensome, requiring an average of $164 in fees, 332 days of education and experience, and around one exam. Despite ranking in the less burdensome half of states, Idaho is in the top half of broadly and onerously licensed states—ranking 16th—because it licenses a higher number of occupations than most states.

Idaho frequently licenses occupations that are unlicensed by other states. Bill collection agencies are licensed by just 30 other states but must demonstrate three years (roughly 1,095 days) of experience before they can operate in Idaho. (The average across licensed states is just 159 days.) And log scalers and nursery workers are each licensed by only one other state.

Idaho also imposes higher-than-average burdens on fire and security alarm installers. The state requires 1,460 days (four years) of experience before alarm installers can open for business. The average across licensed states is about 40 percent lower: approximately 915 days of education and experience for fire alarm installers and 836 days for security alarm installers.

Idaho also imposes particularly heavy burdens on some occupations with little connection to public safety. EMTs, for example, must demonstrate only 150 hours (an estimated 35 days) of education to become licensed. But would-be cosmetologists must complete 2,000 hours (about 467 days) of education to become licensed—some of the highest cosmetology license requirements in the nation. Idaho could open up more employment opportunities in the state by reducing or repealing burdensome licensing requirements for cosmetologists 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	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	363	2555	4 years	3 years	2	0	18
2	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	385	2190	None	6 years	2	0	18
3	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	355	2190	None	6 years	2	0	18
3	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	355	2190	None	6 years	2	0	18
3	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	355	2190	None	6 years	2	0	18
6	Fire Alarm Installer	39	390	1460	None	4 years	2	0	16
6	Security Alarm Installer	37	390	1460	None	4 years	2	0	16
8	Athletic Trainer	49	540	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
9	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	2300	730	2 years	None	1	12	0
10	Bill Collection Agency	29	150	1095	None	3 years	0	0	0
11	Veterinary Technician	36	525	730	2 years	None	2	0	18
12	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	275	730	None	2 years	1	0	0
13	Cosmetologist	51	109	373	1600 clock hours	None	2	10	17
14	School Bus Driver	51	193	367	10 clock hours	1 year	6	0	18
15	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	201	365	None	1 year	5	0	18
16	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	190	365	None	1 year	5	0	18
17	Truck Driver, Other	51	191	365	None	1 year	4	0	18
18	Barber	51	60	210	900 clock hours	None	3	10	17
19	Shampooer	33	186	210	900 clock hours	None	2	10	17
20	Skin Care Specialist	51	214	140	600 clock hours	None	2	10	17
21	Massage Therapist	45	310	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
22	Pharmacy Technician	44	192	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
23	Manicurist	51	214	93	400 clock hours	None	2	10	17
24	Makeup Artist	37	214	23	100 clock hours	None	2	10	17
25	Travel Guide	37	960	0	None	None	1	0	18
26	Emergency Medical Technician	51	98	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	16
27	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	90	0	None	None	3	0	18
28	Pest Control Applicator	51	80	0	None	None	2	0	18
29	Mobile Home Installer	37	220	1	8 clock hours	None	1	0	18
30	Log Scaler	2	25	0	None	None	2	0	0
31	Farm Labor Contractor	10	250	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Milk Sampler	43	25	0	None	None	1	0	0
33	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	150	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	150	0	None	None	0	0	0
35	Fisher, Commercial	43	112	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Nursery Worker	2	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Pipelayer Contractor	27	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
64	Taxidermist	28	40	0	None	None	0	0	0
65	Animal Breeder	29	19	0	None	None	0	0	0
66	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	1	8.5 clock hours	None	0	0	0

Idaho Occupational Licensing

66 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

24th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$187