Nebraska

Nebraska Licensing Overview

Nebraska licenses 61 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are less burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 51st in the nation. Nebraska licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Title Examiner (7 other).

On average, Nebraska requires $92 in licensing fees, 114 days of education and about 1 exam.

Which occupation in a Nebraska is the most regulated?

Out of the 61 occupations that require an occupational license in Nebraska, a license for Athletic Trainer has the highest burden. A Athletic Trainer license requires $419 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Nebraska is the least regulated?

Out of the 61 occupations that require an occupational license in Nebraska, licenses for Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in Nebraska is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Nebraska costs the most for Title Examiner. A Title Examiner license requires $725 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Nebraska is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Nebraska costs the least for Earth Driller, Water Well, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) where the license costs $0.

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

In Nebraska, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Athletic Trainer, Preschool Teacher, Public School.It takes 1460 days (4 years) total.

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

In Nebraska, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Interpreter, Sign Language, Title Examiner, Child Care Home, Family, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Earth Driller, Water Well, Fisher, Commercial, Milk Sampler, Farm Labor Contractor, Animal Breeder, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential).

In Nebraska, which occupational licenses require exams?

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

Nebraska’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the least burdensome in the nation. They require, on average, $76 in fees, 118 days of education and experience, and roughly one exam. However, because Nebraska licenses more lower-income occupations than average—63 of the 102 studied here—it is the 27th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Nebraska licenses several occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere, and it does so fairly onerously. For example, many states do not license title examiners (44) or bill collection agencies (20). Yet Nebraska title examiners face $825 in fees and one year of experience, compared to licensed-state averages of $355 and 104 days. And Nebraskans wishing to open a bill collection agency must demonstrate two years (730 days) of experience, compared to a licensed-state average of 159 days. Given that many states do not license these occupations at all, it is irrational that Nebraska licenses them so onerously.

Nebraska also imposes education requirements on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, barbers and cosmetologists need 2,100 hours (approximately 490 days) of education, while EMTs need only 138 hours (approximately 32 days). In 2017, a bill was introduced that, among other things, would have pared back Nebraska’s requirements for barbers, cosmetologists and other occupations. The bill failed, but Nebraska should try again and consider whether such licenses can be repealed altogether or—if government regulation is demonstrably necessary—replaced with less restrictive alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Athletic Trainer	49	419	1460	4 years	None	1	0	19
2	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	361	1460	4 years	None	2	0	0
3	Veterinary Technician	36	470	730	2 years	None	1	0	19
4	Bill Collection Agency	29	400	730	None	2 years	0	0	0
5	Fire Alarm Installer	39	105	730	None	2 years	1	0	0
6	Barber	51	200	420	1800 clock hours	None	2	12	17
7	Cosmetologist	51	78	420	1800 clock hours	None	1	12	17
7	Shampooer	33	78	420	1800 clock hours	None	1	12	17
9	Massage Therapist	45	305	233	1000 clock hours	None	1	0	19
10	Skin Care Specialist	51	83	140	600 clock hours	None	1	12	17
11	Pharmacy Technician	44	154	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
12	Manicurist	51	83	70	300 clock hours	None	2	12	17
13	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	395	0	None	None	2	12	18
14	Title Examiner	7	725	0	None	None	1	0	19
15	Child Care Home, Family	44	95	0	1 clock hour	None	0	12	19
16	School Bus Driver	51	52	2	11 clock hours	None	6	0	18
17	Emergency Medical Technician	51	143	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
18	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	52	0	None	None	5	0	18
18	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	52	0	None	None	5	0	18
20	Truck Driver, Other	51	52	0	None	None	4	0	18
21	Pest Control Applicator	51	90	0	None	None	2	0	18
21	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	90	0	None	None	2	0	18
23	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	0	0	None	None	2	0	19
24	Fisher, Commercial	43	500	0	None	None	0	0	0
25	Milk Sampler	43	25	0	None	None	2	0	0
26	Farm Labor Contractor	10	250	0	None	None	0	0	0
27	Animal Breeder	29	125	0	None	None	0	0	0
28	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	98	0	None	None	0	0	0
28	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	98	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	55	2	12 clock hours	None	0	0	0
31	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Pipelayer Contractor	27	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	0	0	None	None	0	0	0
31	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	0	0	None	None	0	0	0

Nebraska Occupational Licensing

61 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

51st most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$92