Illinois

Illinois Licensing Overview

Illinois licenses 41 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are less burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 35th in the nation.

On average, Illinois requires $281 in licensing fees, 234 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor.

Which occupation in an Illinois is the most regulated?

Out of the 41 occupations that require an occupational license in Illinois, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $685 in fees, 3 exams, no experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in an Illinois is the least regulated?

Out of the 41 occupations that require an occupational license in Illinois, a license for Taxidermist has the lowest burden. A Taxidermist license requires $26 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Illinois is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Illinois costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1300 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Illinois is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Illinois costs the least for Coach, Head (High School Sports), Wildlife Control Operator where the license costs $0.

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

In Illinois, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer.It takes 1460 days (4 years) total.

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

In Illinois, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Auctioneer, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Bill Collection Agency, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Wildlife Control Operator, Security Guard, Unarmed, Milk Sampler, Animal Breeder, Fisher, Commercial, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Travel Guide, Taxidermist.

In Illinois, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Illinois, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Security Alarm Installer, Fire Alarm Installer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Interpreter, Sign Language, Earth Driller, Water Well, Veterinary Technician, Barber, Cosmetologist, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Pest Control Applicator, Pharmacy Technician, Massage Therapist, Emergency Medical Technician, Manicurist, Auctioneer, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Locksmith, Mobile Home Installer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Coach, Head (High School Sports), Wildlife Control Operator, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Illinois’ licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 35th most burdensome. On average, Illinois’ barriers to entry are $244 in fees, 249 days lost to education and experience, and around one exam. Licensing 40 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, Illinois is the 39th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Illinois imposes more onerous requirements than many other states for some occupations. For example, sign language interpreters—the state’s most onerously licensed occupation—must pay a $900 fee, complete four years and 40 hours of education (roughly 1,469 days total), and pass two exams to become licensed. But more than half of states (29) do not license the occupation at all and, among those that do, the average requirements are just $661 in fees, about 1,088 days of education and experience, and two exams.

Illinois 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, it takes more schooling to become a barber or a cosmetologist in Illinois than it does to become an EMT. EMTs can become licensed after completing about 37 days (160 hours) of education. Barbers and cosmetologists, on the other hand, must spend nearly 10 times as long in school (1,500 hours or roughly 350 days) before they can work. Illinois could expand lower-income employment opportunities by reducing or repealing these and other licensing 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	685	1460	4 years	None	3	0	0
2	Athletic Trainer	49	590	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
3	Security Alarm Installer	37	317	1095	None	3 years	1	0	21
4	Fire Alarm Installer	39	288	1095	None	3 years	1	0	21
5	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1300	730	2 years	None	1	12	21
6	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	470	730	2 years	None	2	12	18
7	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	50	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
8	Veterinary Technician	36	375	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
9	Barber	51	156	350	1500 clock hours	None	1	12	16
10	Cosmetologist	51	230	350	1500 clock hours	None	1	0	16
11	Makeup Artist	37	191	175	750 clock hours	None	1	12	16
12	Skin Care Specialist	51	157	175	750 clock hours	None	1	12	16
13	Pest Control Applicator	51	375	112	16 credit hours	None	2	12	18
14	Pharmacy Technician	44	157	140	600 clock hours	None	1	12	18
15	Massage Therapist	45	370	140	600 clock hours	None	1	0	18
16	Emergency Medical Technician	51	65	35	150 clock hours	None	1	12	18
17	Manicurist	51	215	82	350 clock hours	None	1	0	16
18	Auctioneer	28	271	0	None	None	1	12	18
19	School Bus Driver	51	69	0	2 clock hours	None	6	0	21
20	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	55	0	None	None	5	0	21
21	Gaming Supervisor	31	1078	0	None	None	0	0	21
21	Slot Supervisor	29	1078	0	None	None	0	0	21
23	Child Care Home, Family	44	28	4	23 clock hours	None	0	12	18
24	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	50	0	None	None	5	0	18
25	Truck Driver, Other	51	50	0	None	None	4	0	18
26	Locksmith	12	550	3	20 clock hours	None	1	0	18
27	Bill Collection Agency	29	750	0	None	None	0	0	18
28	Gaming Cage Worker	30	278	0	None	None	0	0	21
28	Gaming Dealer	29	278	0	None	None	0	0	21
30	Mobile Home Installer	37	150	2	10 clock hours	None	1	0	18
31	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	180	0	None	None	4	0	0
32	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	1	4 clock hours	None	1	0	19
33	Wildlife Control Operator	23	0	0	None	None	1	0	18
34	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	55	0	None	None	0	0	18
35	Milk Sampler	43	25	0	0.75 clock hour	None	2	0	0
36	Animal Breeder	29	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
37	Fisher, Commercial	43	61	0	None	None	0	0	0
38	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
38	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
38	Travel Guide	37	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Taxidermist	28	26	0	None	None	0	0	0

Illinois Occupational Licensing

41 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

35th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$281