Maryland
59 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed
11th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations
20th most extensively and onerously licensed state for moderate-income occupations
Summary
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 | $436 | 2,555 | 4 years | 3 years | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
2 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | $750 | 2,190 | 6 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | ||
3 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | 37 | $405 | 2,190 | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
3 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | 35 | $405 | 2,190 | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
5 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | $165 | 2,190 | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
5 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | 36 | $165 | 2,190 | 6 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
7 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | $600 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
8 | Midwife, Direct Entry | 28 | $1920 | 1,095 | 3 years | 1 | 12 | 21 | ||
9 | Tree Trimmer | 7 | $30 | 1,095 | 2 years | 1 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
10 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 48 | $0 | 734 | 21.5 clock hours | 2 years | 0 | 12 | 23 | |
11 | Veterinary Technician | 36 | $395 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
12 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | $533 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | 29 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | 27 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Glazier Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Mason Contractor (Residential) | 31 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Paving Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | 31 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
13 | Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $433 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | ||
26 | Massage Therapist | 44 | $698 | 560 | 600 clock hours and 60 Credit Hours | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
27 | Cosmetologist | 51 | $104 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | 2 | 9 | 17 | ||
28 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | $75 | 365 | 1 years | 4 | 0 | 18 | ||
29 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | $225 | 365 | 1 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
30 | Skin Care Specialist | 50 | $104 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 2 | 9 | 17 | ||
31 | Barber | 51 | $50 | 280 | 1200 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
32 | Manicurist | 50 | $104 | 58 | 250 clock hours | 2 | 9 | 17 | ||
33 | Child Care Home, Family | 44 | $52 | 5 | 27 clock hours | 0 | 12 | 18 | ||
34 | School Bus Driver | 51 | $90 | 3 | 6 clock hours | 9 clock hours | 6 | 0 | 21 | |
35 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | $90 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | |||
35 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | $90 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | |||
37 | Taxi Driver/Chauffeur | 16 | $53 | 182 | 6 months | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
38 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | $90 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 | |||
39 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | $60 | 39 | 165 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 16 | ||
40 | Crane Operator | 18 | $225 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | |||
41 | Pharmacy Technician | 44 | $63 | 37 | 160 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 17 | ||
42 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | $133 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |||
43 | Bill Collection Agency | 31 | $700 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
44 | Gaming Cage Worker | 29 | $437 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
44 | Gaming Dealer | 28 | $437 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
44 | Gaming Supervisor | 30 | $437 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
44 | Slot Supervisor | 28 | $437 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
48 | Fisher, Commercial | 43 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
49 | Milk Sampler | 42 | $50 | 1 | 1 days | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
50 | Taxidermist | 28 | $50 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
50 | Wildlife Control Operator | 23 | $50 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
52 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | $100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
53 | Animal Breeder | 28 | $62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
54 | Travel Guide | 37 | $56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
55 | Upholsterer | 10 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
56 | Packer | 6 | $30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
57 | Farm Labor Contractor | 10 | $25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
58 | Security Guard, Unarmed | 34 | $15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
59 | Animal Trainer | 9 | $5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |