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Maine

Maine Occupational Licensing

46 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

26th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$226

Maine Licensing Overview

Maine licenses 46 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 26th in the nation. Maine licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Dietetic Technician (2 other), Log Scaler (2 other), Tree Trimmer (8 other), Electrical Helper (3 other), Animal Control Officer (7 other), Funeral Attendant (3 other), Packer (7 other).

On average, Maine requires $226 in licensing fees, 323 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Interpreter, Sign Language, Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Maine is the most regulated?

Out of the 46 occupations that require an occupational license in Maine, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $421 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Maine is the least regulated?

Out of the 46 occupations that require an occupational license in Maine, a license for Milk Sampler has the lowest burden. A Milk Sampler license requires $1 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Maine is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Maine costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1596 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Maine is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Maine 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 7 clock hours of education.

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

In Maine, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2190 days (6 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $421 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Maine, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Massage Therapist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Tree Trimmer, Pest Control Applicator, Child Care Home, Family, Electrical Helper, Auctioneer, Taxidermist, Bill Collection Agency, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Animal Breeder, Funeral Attendant, Packer, Fisher, Commercial, Pharmacy Technician, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Weigher, Milk Sampler.

In Maine, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Maine, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Interpreter, Sign Language, Athletic Trainer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Travel Guide, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Dietetic Technician, Mobile Home Installer, Log Scaler, Veterinary Technician, School Bus Driver, Cosmetologist, Barber, Massage Therapist, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Emergency Medical Technician, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Tree Trimmer, Manicurist, Pest Control Applicator, Auctioneer, Taxidermist, Animal Control Officer. School Bus Driver, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator require 6 exams.

Maine licenses 45 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 31st most burdensome, requiring an average of $188 in fees, 298 days of education and experience, and around one exam. It ranks as the 33rd most broadly and onerously licensed, placing it among the lower half of states but still leaving plenty of room for improvement.

Maine licenses several occupations that are not licensed by other states. For example, three of Maine’s licensed occupations are licensed by only one other state each: electrical helpers, dietetic technicians and log scalers. The latter two occupations also face fairly burdensome requirements. Dietetic technicians must pay $171 in fees, demonstrate about 835 days of education and experience (comprising two years of education and 450 hours of experience), and pass one exam. Meanwhile, log scalers must pay a $25 fee, demonstrate 730 days (two years) of experience and pass one exam.

Maine also imposes more onerous burdens on some occupations than on others that may present greater risks to the public. For example, barbers and cosmetologists must complete 1,500 hours (around 350 days) of education to become licensed. That is over 13 times the hours required to obtain Maine’s EMT license and begin working as an emergency first responder (111 hours, or about 26 days). Maine could improve employment prospects in the state by reducing or repealing heavy licensing burdens for barbers, cosmetologists and many other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.

Maine 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 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 421 2190 4 years 2 years 2 0 0
2 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 1256 1460 4 years None 2 12 18
3 Athletic Trainer 49 501 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
4 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 268 1460 None 4 years 2 0 0
5 Travel Guide 37 235 1095 None 3 years 2 0 18
6 Fire Alarm Installer 39 256 996 270 clock hours 4000 clock hours 1 0 0
6 Security Alarm Installer 37 256 996 270 clock hours 4000 clock hours 1 0 0
8 Midwife, Direct Entry 37 1596 730 2 years None 1 12 0
9 Dietetic Technician 2 171 835 2 years 450 clock hours 1 0 0
10 Mobile Home Installer 37 121 731 5 clock hours 2 years 1 0 18
11 Log Scaler 2 25 730 None 2 years 1 0 18
12 Veterinary Technician 36 366 730 2 years None 1 0 0
13 School Bus Driver 51 164 365 None 1 year 6 0 21
14 Cosmetologist 51 150 350 1500 clock hours None 2 0 0
15 Barber 51 41 350 1500 clock hours None 2 0 0
16 Massage Therapist 45 256 0 None None 1 12 18
17 Makeup Artist 37 231 140 600 clock hours None 2 0 0
17 Skin Care Specialist 51 231 140 600 clock hours None 2 0 0
19 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 124 0 None None 5 0 21
20 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 104 0 None None 5 0 16
21 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 0 1 7 clock hours None 0 12 0
22 Emergency Medical Technician 51 119 39 5.5 credit hours None 2 0 16
23 Truck Driver, Other 51 104 0 None None 4 0 16
24 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 195 0 None None 6 0 0
25 Tree Trimmer 8 130 0 None None 2 0 18
26 Manicurist 51 131 47 200 clock hours None 2 0 0
27 Pest Control Applicator 51 175 0 None None 4 0 0
28 Child Care Home, Family 44 160 0 None None 0 0 18
29 Electrical Helper 3 96 0 None None 0 0 16
30 Auctioneer 28 421 0 None None 1 0 0
31 Taxidermist 28 127 0 None None 2 0 0
32 Animal Control Officer 7 50 11 45 clock hours None 1 0 0
33 Bill Collection Agency 29 300 0 None None 0 0 0
34 Gaming Cage Worker 30 299 0 None None 0 0 0
34 Gaming Dealer 29 299 0 None None 0 0 0
34 Gaming Supervisor 31 299 0 None None 0 0 0
34 Slot Supervisor 29 299 0 None None 0 0 0
38 Animal Breeder 29 108 0 None None 0 0 0
39 Funeral Attendant 3 101 0 None None 0 0 0
40 Packer 7 50 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Fisher, Commercial 43 48 0 None None 0 0 0
42 Pharmacy Technician 44 41 0 None None 0 0 0
43 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 25 0 None None 0 0 0
43 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 25 0 None None 0 0 0
43 Weigher 24 25 0 None None 0 0 0
46 Milk Sampler 43 1 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