Michigan

Michigan Licensing Overview

Michigan licenses 48 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 20th in the nation. Michigan licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Animal Control Officer (7 other).

On average, Michigan requires $281 in licensing fees, 308 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Fire Alarm Installer.

Which occupation in a Michigan is the most regulated?

Out of the 48 occupations that require an occupational license in Michigan, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $549 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Michigan is the least regulated?

Out of the 48 occupations that require an occupational license in Michigan, a license for Animal Breeder has the lowest burden. A Animal Breeder license requires $18 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Michigan is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Michigan costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1783 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 clock hours & 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Michigan is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Michigan costs the least for Coach, Head (High School Sports), Animal Control Officer where the license costs $0.

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

In Michigan, 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 $549 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Michigan, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Security Alarm Installer, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Other, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Milk Sampler, Taxidermist, Fisher, Commercial, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Animal Breeder.

In Michigan, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Michigan, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Midwife, Direct Entry, Fire Alarm Installer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Veterinary Technician, Barber, Cosmetologist, Shampooer, Bill Collection Agency, Makeup Artist, Manicurist, Skin Care Specialist, Massage Therapist, Pharmacy Technician, Security Alarm Installer, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Emergency Medical Technician, Truck Driver, Other, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Michigan licenses 49 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, which is fewer than the national average. Its laws are the 33rd most burdensome. On average, Michigan’s barriers to entry into lower-income occupations are $242 in fees, 255 days lost to education and experience, and approximately two exams. It ranks as the 30th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Michigan licenses some occupations that are not licensed by other states. For example, 15 states do not license veterinary technicians at all, but to work in Michigan they must pay $350 in fees, complete two years (730 days) of education and pass an exam. Similarly, many states do not license animal control officers (44), taxi drivers and chauffeurs (35), or residential painting contractors (23), among other occupations. Michigan also imposes more onerous requirements than many other states for some occupations. Fire alarm installers, for example, must pay $1,045 in fees before becoming licensed. That is nearly twice the $557 average across states that license the occupation.

Michigan also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, people wishing to start a bill collection agency must demonstrate six months (roughly 182 days) of experience to receive a license. Meanwhile, EMTs must complete only 194 hours (about 45 days) of education. Not only is it illogical to require four times as much training for bill collection agencies as for emergency first responders, but 20 states do not license bill collection agencies at all. Michigan can expand employment opportunities in the state by reducing or repealing irrationally burdensome licensing requirements, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing licensing with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as insurance, inspections or voluntary certification.

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	549	2555	4 years	3 years	2	0	18
2	Athletic Trainer	49	628	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
3	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	200	1095	None	3 years	1	0	0
3	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	200	1095	None	3 years	1	0	0
3	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	200	1095	None	3 years	1	0	0
3	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	200	1095	None	3 years	1	0	0
7	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1783	730	2 clock hours & 2 years	None	1	12	0
8	Fire Alarm Installer	39	1095	730	None	2 years	4	0	20
9	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	40	730	None	2 years	2	12	18
10	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	340	730	None	2 years	3	0	18
11	Pest Control Applicator	51	285	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
12	Veterinary Technician	36	463	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
13	Barber	51	247	420	1800 clock hours	None	2	10	17
14	Cosmetologist	51	200	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	9	17
14	Shampooer	33	200	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	9	17
16	Bill Collection Agency	29	264	182	None	6 months	1	12	18
17	Makeup Artist	37	230	93	400 clock hours	None	2	9	17
17	Manicurist	51	230	93	400 clock hours	None	2	9	17
17	Skin Care Specialist	51	230	93	400 clock hours	None	2	9	17
20	Massage Therapist	45	298	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	0
21	Pharmacy Technician	44	264	117	501 clock hours	None	1	12	0
22	Security Alarm Installer	37	628	0	None	None	1	12	21
23	School Bus Driver	51	70	3	18 clock hours	None	6	0	18
24	Child Care Home, Family	44	50	1	6 clock hours	None	0	12	18
25	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	65	0	None	None	5	0	18
26	Emergency Medical Technician	51	138	45	194 clock hours	None	2	0	18
27	Truck Driver, Other	51	60	0	None	None	4	0	18
27	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	60	0	None	None	4	0	18
29	Gaming Supervisor	31	750	0	None	None	0	0	21
29	Slot Supervisor	29	750	0	None	None	0	0	21
31	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	294	14	60 clock hours	None	1	0	18
31	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	294	14	60 clock hours	None	1	0	18
31	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	294	14	60 clock hours	None	1	0	18
31	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	294	14	60 clock hours	None	1	0	18
31	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	294	14	60 clock hours	None	1	0	18
31	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	294	14	60 clock hours	None	1	0	18
31	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	294	14	60 clock hours	None	1	0	18
38	Gaming Cage Worker	30	200	0	None	None	0	0	21
38	Gaming Dealer	29	200	0	None	None	0	0	21
40	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	35	0	None	None	1	0	18
41	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	1	7 clock hours	None	0	0	18
42	Milk Sampler	43	25	0	None	None	2	0	0
43	Animal Control Officer	7	0	23	100 clock hours	None	0	0	0
44	Taxidermist	28	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Fisher, Commercial	43	76	0	None	None	0	0	0
46	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	35	0	None	None	0	0	0
46	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	35	0	None	None	0	0	0
48	Animal Breeder	29	18	0	None	None	0	0	0

Michigan Occupational Licensing

48 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

20th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$281