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Iowa

Iowa Occupational Licensing

71 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

38th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$152

Iowa Licensing Overview

Iowa licenses 71 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 38th in the nation. Iowa licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Dental Assistant (8 other), Electrical Helper (3 other).

On average, Iowa requires $152 in licensing fees, 269 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Fire Alarm Installer.

Which occupation in an Iowa is the most regulated?

Out of the 71 occupations that require an occupational license in Iowa, licenses for , HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) have the highest burden.

Which occupation in an Iowa is the least regulated?

Out of the 71 occupations that require an occupational license in Iowa, licenses for Electrical Helper, Taxidermist have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in Iowa is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Iowa costs the most for Fire Alarm Installer. A Fire Alarm Installer license requires $1270 in fees, 3 exams, 5 years experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Iowa is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Iowa costs the least for Milk Sampler, Electrical Helper, Taxidermist where the license costs $20.

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

In Iowa, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Preschool Teacher, Public School.It takes 2190 days (6 years) total.

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

In Iowa, 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, Wildlife Control Operator, Interpreter, Sign Language, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Security Guard, Unarmed, Pest Control Applicator, Fisher, Commercial, Animal Breeder, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), 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), Bill Collection Agency, Electrical Helper, Taxidermist.

In Iowa, which occupational licenses require exams?

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

Iowa’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 37th most burdensome. The state’s average barriers to entry are $178 in fees, 288 days lost to education and experience, and around one exam. Because Iowa licenses a relatively high number of the 102 occupations studied here—71—it ranks as the 12th most broadly and onerously licensed state, making it one of the worst states for occupational licensing for lower-income workers.

Iowa frequently licenses occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license travel agencies (six) or dental assistants (eight). Iowa’s dental assistant license requires 20 hours of education and six months of experience (about 185 days total), $86 in fees, and three exams, steep requirements given that most states do not license the occupation at all. Iowa also licenses commercial and residential HVAC contractors and HVAC sheet metal contractors—some of the most heavily burdened occupations in the nation—much more onerously than the three dozen or so other states that license them. These occupations require 2,190 days—a full six years—of experience in Iowa compared to averages of about half that across licensed states.

Iowa also places some of the highest experience requirements in the nation on barbers and cosmetologists. Aspiring licensees must demonstrate 2,100 hours (roughly 490 days) of experience, while EMTs need only demonstrate 110 hours (roughly 26 days) to become licensed. Iowa should evaluate whether its high burdens for barbers, cosmetologists and other occupations can be reduced, repealed or—if government regulation is necessary—replaced with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Iowa 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 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 434 2190 None 6 years 2 12 18
1 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 434 2190 None 6 years 2 12 18
1 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 434 2190 None 6 years 2 12 18
1 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 434 2190 None 6 years 2 12 18
5 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 507 2190 4 years 2 years 2 0 0
6 Fire Alarm Installer 39 1270 1825 None 5 years 3 0 0
7 Athletic Trainer 49 510 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
8 Security Alarm Installer 37 915 730 None 2 years 2 0 0
9 Veterinary Technician 36 370 730 2 years None 2 0 0
10 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 225 730 None 2 years 2 0 0
11 Barber 51 135 490 2100 clock hours None 2 10 16
12 Cosmetologist 51 118 490 2100 clock hours None 1 12 0
12 Shampooer 33 118 490 2100 clock hours None 1 12 0
14 Mobile Home Installer 37 300 366 8 clock hours 1 year 1 0 18
15 Dental Assistant 8 86 182 2 clock hours 6 months 2 12 17
16 Skin Care Specialist 51 118 140 600 clock hours None 1 12 0
17 Makeup Artist 37 115 140 600 clock hours None 1 12 0
18 Pharmacy Technician 44 169 117 500 clock hours None 1 12 0
19 Manicurist 51 115 76 325 clock hours None 1 12 0
20 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 160 13 56 clock hours None 0 12 18
21 School Bus Driver 51 96 3 15 clock hours None 6 0 18
22 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 86 0 None None 5 0 18
23 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 76 0 None None 5 0 18
24 Massage Therapist 45 315 117 500 clock hours None 1 0 0
25 Emergency Medical Technician 51 178 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 18
26 Truck Driver, Other 51 76 0 None None 4 0 18
27 Wildlife Control Operator 23 25 0 None None 2 0 18
28 Milk Sampler 43 20 1 1 day None 2 0 16
29 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 470 0 None None 1 0 0
30 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 100 0 None None 3 0 0
31 Taxi Driver/Chauffeur 13 64 0 None None 0 0 18
32 Gaming Cage Worker 30 58 0 None None 0 0 18
32 Gaming Dealer 29 58 0 None None 0 0 18
32 Gaming Supervisor 31 58 0 None None 0 0 18
32 Slot Supervisor 29 58 0 None None 0 0 18
36 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 40 0 None None 0 0 18
37 Pest Control Applicator 51 100 0 None None 2 0 0
38 Fisher, Commercial 43 202 0 None None 0 0 0
39 Animal Breeder 29 175 0 None None 0 0 0
40 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 75 0 None None 0 0 0
40 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 75 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) 24 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) 24 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) 25 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) 22 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Insulation Contractor (Commercial) 24 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Painting Contractor (Commercial) 22 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Paving Contractor (Commercial) 24 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Pipelayer Contractor 27 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) 26 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) 23 50 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 50 0 None None 0 0 0
69 Bill Collection Agency 29 50 0 None None 0 0 0
70 Electrical Helper 3 20 0 None None 0 0 0
70 Taxidermist 28 20 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