Maryland

Maryland Licensing Overview

Maryland licenses 58 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are more burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 9th in the nation. Maryland licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Tree Trimmer (8 other), Packer (7 other), Animal Trainer (7 other).

On average, Maryland requires $295 in licensing fees, 532 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Maryland is the most regulated?

Out of the 58 occupations that require an occupational license in Maryland, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $517 in fees, 4 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Maryland is the least regulated?

Out of the 58 occupations that require an occupational license in Maryland, a license for Animal Trainer has the lowest burden. A Animal Trainer license requires $5 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Maryland is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Maryland costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $2231 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Maryland is the least expensive?

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

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

In Maryland, 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 $517 in fees, 4 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Maryland, 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, Security Alarm Installer, Crane Operator, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Bill Collection Agency, Fisher, Commercial, Taxidermist, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Security Guard, Unarmed, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide, Packer, Farm Labor Contractor, Animal Trainer.

In Maryland, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Maryland, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Earth Driller, Water Well, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Tree Trimmer, Veterinary Technician, Landscape Contractor (Residential), 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, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Massage Therapist, Cosmetologist, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Barber, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Wildlife Control Operator, Milk Sampler, Crane Operator, Taxidermist. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Maryland’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 11th most burdensome. On average, Maryland’s barriers to entry into these occupations are $288 in fees, 529 days lost to education and experience, and about one exam. Because it licenses slightly fewer occupations than similarly burdensome states—59 of the 102 studied here—Maryland ranks as the nation’s 20th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Maryland licenses several occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license packers (five), tree trimmers (six), animal trainers (eight), upholsterers (nine) or farm labor contractors (nine). Among those, tree trimmers face particularly steep burdens. To obtain a license, they must demonstrate two years of education and one year of experience (1,095 days total), pass an exam, and pay a $30 fee. With so few states licensing tree trimmers, it is questionable for Maryland to license them at all, let alone so onerously.

Maryland also imposes high education and experience requirements on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, EMTs are deemed competent to work as first responders after only 165 hours (approximately 39 days) of education. Meanwhile, barbers must complete 1,200 hours (roughly 280 days) of education and cosmetologists 1,500 hours (roughly 350 days) before becoming licensed. To expand opportunity, Maryland should reduce, if not repeal, inconsistent or irrational burdens like these, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace 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	517	2555	4 years	3 years	4	0	0
2	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	525	2190	None	6 years	3	0	18
3	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	405	2190	None	6 years	2	0	0
3	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	405	2190	None	6 years	2	0	0
5	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	155	2190	None	6 years	2	0	0
5	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	155	2190	None	6 years	2	0	0
7	Athletic Trainer	49	741	1460	4 years	None	1	0	18
8	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	2231	730	2 years	None	1	12	21
9	Tree Trimmer	8	30	1095	2 years	1 year	1	0	18
10	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	735	30 clock hours	2 years	0	12	23
11	Veterinary Technician	36	410	730	2 years	None	2	0	18
12	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	533	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	433	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
26	Massage Therapist	45	745	560	600 clock hours & 60 credit hours	None	2	0	18
27	Cosmetologist	51	104	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	9	17
28	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	225	365	None	1 year	4	0	18
29	Pest Control Applicator	51	225	365	None	1 year	2	0	18
30	Skin Care Specialist	51	104	140	600 clock hours	None	2	9	17
31	Manicurist	51	104	58	250 clock hours	None	2	9	17
32	Barber	51	50	280	1200 clock hours	None	2	0	0
33	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	53	182	None	6 months	0	0	18
34	School Bus Driver	51	140	3	17 clock hours	None	6	0	21
35	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	140	0	None	None	5	0	18
35	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	140	0	None	None	5	0	18
37	Truck Driver, Other	51	140	0	None	None	4	0	18
38	Emergency Medical Technician	51	85	39	165 clock hours	None	2	0	16
39	Pharmacy Technician	44	83	37	None	160 clock hours	1	0	17
40	Wildlife Control Operator	23	50	0	None	None	1	0	18
41	Security Alarm Installer	37	113	0	None	None	0	0	18
42	Child Care Home, Family	44	51	6	36 clock hours	None	0	0	18
43	Milk Sampler	43	50	1	None	1 day	2	0	0
44	Crane Operator	16	0	0	None	None	2	0	0
45	Gaming Cage Worker	30	437	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Gaming Dealer	29	437	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Gaming Supervisor	31	437	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Slot Supervisor	29	437	0	None	None	0	0	0
49	Bill Collection Agency	29	350	0	None	None	0	0	0
50	Fisher, Commercial	43	300	0	None	None	0	0	0
51	Taxidermist	28	50	0	None	None	1	0	0
52	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
53	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	66	0	None	None	0	0	0
54	Animal Breeder	29	62	0	None	None	0	0	0
55	Travel Guide	37	41	0	None	None	0	0	0
56	Packer	7	30	0	None	None	0	0	0
57	Farm Labor Contractor	10	25	0	None	None	0	0	0
58	Animal Trainer	7	5	0	None	None	0	0	0

Maryland Occupational Licensing

58 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

9th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$295