Louisiana

Louisiana Licensing Overview

Louisiana licenses 77 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 45th in the nation. Louisiana licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Interior Designer (3 other), Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional (5 other), Florist (1 other), Tree Trimmer (8 other).

On average, Louisiana requires $333 in licensing fees, 175 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Interior Designer, Fire Alarm Installer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Security Alarm Installer.

Which occupation in a Louisiana is the most regulated?

Out of the 77 occupations that require an occupational license in Louisiana, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $486 in fees, 3 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Louisiana is the least regulated?

Out of the 77 occupations that require an occupational license in Louisiana, a license for Animal Breeder has the lowest burden. A Animal Breeder license requires $23 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Louisiana is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Louisiana costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1796 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Louisiana is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Louisiana costs the least for Bartender, Milk Sampler, Shampooer where the license costs $0.

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

In Louisiana, 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 $486 in fees, 3 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Louisiana, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Locksmith, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Bartender, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Florist, Tree Trimmer, Weigher, Travel Guide, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial, Bill Collection Agency, Animal Breeder.

In Louisiana, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Louisiana, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Interior Designer, Fire Alarm Installer, Athletic Trainer, Pest Control Applicator, Midwife, Direct Entry, Veterinary Technician, Earth Driller, Water Well, Barber, Cosmetologist, Mobile Home Installer, Skin Care Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, Makeup Artist, Manicurist, School Bus Driver, Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Security Alarm Installer, Massage Therapist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Auctioneer, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Security Guard, Unarmed, Wildlife Control Operator, Locksmith, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Bartender, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Florist, Tree Trimmer, Weigher, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Louisiana licenses 77 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 43rd most burdensome, requiring, on average, $360 in fees, 202 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. Because Louisiana licenses so many of the occupations studied in this report—tying with Washington for the most occupations licensed—it ranks as the sixth most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Louisiana 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 barriers to opening a fire alarm or security alarm installation business in Louisiana are extremely high, even though not every state licenses them. Alarm installers must pay over $1,400 in fees, demonstrate more than five years (over 1,800 days) of education and experience, and pass four exams. EMTs meanwhile need only pay $110 in fees, complete 110 hours (roughly 26 days) of education and pass two exams for licensure.

Louisiana also licenses several occupations that are rarely licensed by other states. For example, it is one of just four states to license interior designers—the most arduously licensed occupation in this study. It requires $1,240 in fees, six years (2,190 days) of education and one exam. Louisiana is also the only state to license florists and is joined by just four other states in licensing non-instructional teacher assistants and by six others in licensing tree trimmers. As one of the two states that license the most occupations studied here, Louisiana could substantially improve its rankings by repealing these and other occupational licenses, 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	486	2555	4 years	3 years	3	0	0
2	Interior Designer	3	1485	2190	5 years	1 year	1	12	0
3	Fire Alarm Installer	39	1673	1825	1 clock hour	5 years	4	0	18
4	Athletic Trainer	49	561	1460	4 years	None	1	0	18
5	Pest Control Applicator	51	210	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
6	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1796	730	2 years	None	1	12	21
7	Veterinary Technician	36	420	730	2 years	None	2	12	0
8	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	510	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
9	Barber	51	72	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	12	18
10	Cosmetologist	51	75	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	10	16
11	Mobile Home Installer	37	251	366	1 day	1 year	1	0	0
12	Skin Care Specialist	51	100	175	750 clock hours	None	2	10	16
13	Pharmacy Technician	44	281	140	None	600 clock hours	1	12	18
14	Makeup Artist	37	75	117	500 clock hours	None	2	10	16
14	Manicurist	51	75	117	500 clock hours	None	2	10	16
16	School Bus Driver	51	192	9	44 clock hours	None	6	0	21
17	Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional	5	55	0	None	None	1	12	20
18	Security Alarm Installer	37	1574	5	29 clock hours	None	3	0	0
19	Massage Therapist	45	431	117	500 clock hours	None	1	0	0
20	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	184	0	None	None	5	0	18
21	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	177	0	None	None	5	0	18
22	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	614	0	None	None	3	0	18
23	Truck Driver, Other	51	177	0	None	None	4	0	18
24	Emergency Medical Technician	51	209	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
25	Auctioneer	28	300	19	80 clock hours	None	1	0	18
26	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	270	0	None	None	2	0	18
27	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	78	3	16 clock hours	None	2	0	18
28	Wildlife Control Operator	23	40	2	10 clock hours	None	2	0	18
29	Locksmith	12	264	0	None	None	1	0	18
30	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	214	0	None	None	1	0	18
31	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	155	0	None	None	1	0	17
32	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	750	0	None	None	1	0	0
33	Gaming Cage Worker	30	200	0	None	None	0	0	21
33	Gaming Dealer	29	200	0	None	None	0	0	21
33	Gaming Supervisor	31	200	0	None	None	0	0	21
33	Slot Supervisor	29	200	0	None	None	0	0	21
37	Bartender	12	0	0	2 clock hours	None	1	0	18
38	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
38	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	400	0	1 clock hour	None	2	0	0
51	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	400	0	None	None	2	0	0
51	Pipelayer Contractor	27	400	0	None	None	2	0	0
53	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	400	0	1 clock hour	None	1	0	0
54	Florist	1	214	0	None	None	1	0	0
54	Tree Trimmer	8	214	0	None	None	1	0	0
56	Weigher	24	100	0	None	None	1	0	0
57	Travel Guide	37	310	0	None	None	0	0	0
58	Milk Sampler	43	0	1	1 day	None	1	0	0
59	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	255	0	None	None	0	0	0
73	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	140	3	15 clock hours	None	0	0	0
74	Shampooer	33	0	9	40 clock hours	None	0	0	0
75	Fisher, Commercial	43	55	0	None	None	0	0	0
76	Bill Collection Agency	29	25	0	None	None	0	0	0
77	Animal Breeder	29	23	0	None	None	0	0	0

Louisiana Occupational Licensing

77 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

45th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$333