Missouri

Missouri Licensing Overview

Missouri licenses 33 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 28th in the nation.

On average, Missouri requires $192 in licensing fees, 281 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor.

Which occupation in a Missouri is the most regulated?

Out of the 33 occupations that require an occupational license in Missouri, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $196 in fees, 3 exams, 4 years experience, and 4 years & 30 contact hours of education.

Which occupation in a Missouri is the least regulated?

Out of the 33 occupations that require an occupational license in Missouri, a license for Fisher, Commercial has the lowest burden. A Fisher, Commercial license requires $25 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Missouri is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Missouri costs the most for Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor where the license costs $1000.

Which occupational license in Missouri is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Missouri 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 13 clock hours & 4 years of education.

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

In Missouri, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2927 days (8 years and 7 days) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $196 in fees, 3 exams, 4 years experience, and 4 years & 30 contact hours of education.

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

In Missouri, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Animal Breeder, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Child Care Home, Family, Milk Sampler, Pharmacy Technician, Auctioneer, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Taxidermist, Fisher, Commercial.

In Missouri, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Missouri, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Veterinary Technician, Cosmetologist, Interpreter, Sign Language, Pest Control Applicator, Barber, Skin Care Specialist, Makeup Artist, Manicurist, Massage Therapist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Mobile Home Installer, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Missouri’s occupational licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 22nd most burdensome in the nation. Its laws require, on average, $179 in fees, 348 days of education and experience, and around one exam. Missouri licenses fewer lower-income occupations than average (37 of the 102 studied here), making it only the 43rd most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Missouri is the only state to license psychiatric aides, who work under the direct supervision of licensed nurses and other medical professionals to assist mentally impaired and emotionally disturbed patients. Missouri is also one of only five states to license psychiatric technicians, who are allowed to perform more skilled work than psychiatric aides. Making matters worse, Missouri licenses these rarely licensed occupations onerously, requiring two years (730 days) of experience for both.

Missouri also imposes education and fee burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, veterinary technicians, who are licensed by only 36 states, must complete two years (730 days) of education and pay $360 in fees to become licensed in Missouri. Meanwhile, EMTs—who provide emergency first aid to humans—need complete just 100 hours (roughly 23 days) of education and pay just $80 in fees. Missouri should reduce or repeal its illogically burdensome requirements for vet techs and other occupations, 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	196	2927	4 years & 30 contact hours	4 years	3	0	0
2	Athletic Trainer	49	415	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
3	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	1462	13 clock hours & 4 years	None	0	0	0
4	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	110	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
5	Veterinary Technician	36	375	730	2 years	None	2	0	0
6	Cosmetologist	51	138	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	10	17
7	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	442	420	60 credit hours	None	2	0	18
8	Pest Control Applicator	51	155	365	None	1 year	2	0	18
9	Barber	51	158	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	10	17
10	Skin Care Specialist	51	168	175	750 clock hours	None	2	10	17
11	Makeup Artist	37	135	175	750 clock hours	None	2	10	17
12	Manicurist	51	168	93	400 clock hours	None	2	10	17
13	Massage Therapist	45	363	117	500 clock hours	None	1	0	18
14	Gaming Supervisor	31	1000	0	None	None	0	0	18
14	Slot Supervisor	29	1000	0	None	None	0	0	18
16	School Bus Driver	51	86	0	None	None	6	0	18
17	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	86	0	None	None	5	0	18
17	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	86	0	None	None	5	0	18
19	Truck Driver, Other	51	86	0	None	None	4	0	18
20	Emergency Medical Technician	51	140	26	110 clock hours	None	2	0	18
21	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	155	0	None	None	2	0	18
22	Mobile Home Installer	37	150	1	8 clock hours	None	1	0	18
23	Animal Breeder	29	125	0	None	None	0	0	18
23	Gaming Cage Worker	30	125	0	None	None	0	0	18
23	Gaming Dealer	29	125	0	None	None	0	0	18
26	Child Care Home, Family	44	42	0	1 clock hour	None	0	0	18
27	Milk Sampler	43	25	0	None	None	1	0	0
28	Pharmacy Technician	44	78	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Auctioneer	28	52	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Taxidermist	28	30	0	None	None	0	0	0
33	Fisher, Commercial	43	25	0	None	None	0	0	0

Missouri Occupational Licensing

33 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

28th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$192