New York

New York Licensing Overview

New York licenses 41 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 30th in the nation. New York licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Upholsterer (9 other), Animal Trainer (7 other).

On average, New York requires $275 in licensing fees, 275 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Optician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator.

Which occupation in a New York is the most regulated?

Out of the 41 occupations that require an occupational license in New York, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $743 in fees, 3 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a New York is the least regulated?

Out of the 41 occupations that require an occupational license in New York, a license for Weigher has the lowest burden. A Weigher license requires $15 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in New York is the most expensive?

An occupational license in New York costs the most for Vegetation Pesticide Applicator. A Vegetation Pesticide Applicator license requires $2250 in fees, 5 exams, 1 year experience, and 42 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in New York is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in New York costs the least for Emergency Medical Technician, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur where the license costs $0.

Which occupational license in New York takes the most time to obtain?

In New York, 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 $743 in fees, 3 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in New York takes the least time to obtain?

In New York, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Other, Travel Guide, Fisher, Commercial, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Earth Driller, Water Well, Wildlife Control Operator, Upholsterer, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Animal Breeder, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Animal Trainer, Farm Labor Contractor, Weigher.

In New York, which occupational licenses require exams?

In New York, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Midwife, Direct Entry, Crane Operator, Optician, Mobile Home Installer, Veterinary Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Massage Therapist, Cosmetologist, Skin Care Specialist, Makeup Artist, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, School Bus Driver, Barber, Shampooer, Manicurist, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Security Guard, Unarmed, Travel Guide, Earth Driller, Water Well, Wildlife Control Operator. Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, School Bus Driver require 6 exams.

New York licenses 41 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, which is fewer than most other states. Its laws are the 32nd most burdensome, requiring an average of $279 in fees, 275 days of education and experience, and around two exams. New York ranks as the 37th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Despite licensing fewer occupations than average, New York licenses some occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license animal trainers (eight), upholsterers (nine), farm labor contractors (nine) or crane operators (17). Not only are crane operators unlicensed by most states, but they also face particularly heavy burdens in New York. Aspiring crane operators in the Empire State must demonstrate three years (1,095 days) of experience before they can work. But the average education and experience required of crane operators across licensed states is only 222 days of education and experience—just one fifth of the time required by New York. New York also requires much higher fees for some occupations than other states. While the national average fees for pesticide applicator licenses are $260, New York charges $3,000 for its vegetation pesticide applicator license and $2,200 for its pest control applicator one.

New York 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, its education requirements for veterinary technicians are considerably higher than those for EMTs, who provide emergency first aid to humans. Aspiring EMTs study for about a month (118 hours or an estimated 28 days), while would-be vet techs need 26 times more education—two years (730 days)—to become licensed. New York should evaluate whether such onerous licensing requirements can be reduced, repealed or—if government regulation is necessary—replaced 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	743	2555	4 years	3 years	3	0	0
2	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	822	2190	6 years	None	1	0	21
3	Crane Operator	16	150	1095	None	3 years	2	0	21
4	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	302	1112	75 clock hours	3 years	0	0	0
5	Optician	22	1033	730	2 years	None	2	12	18
6	Mobile Home Installer	37	200	733	16 clock hours	2 years	1	12	0
7	Veterinary Technician	36	502	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
8	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	2250	374	42 clock hours	1 year	5	0	17
9	Pest Control Applicator	51	2000	374	42 clock hours	1 year	4	0	17
10	Massage Therapist	45	303	233	1000 clock hours	None	1	12	18
11	Child Care Home, Family	44	25	369	21 clock hours	1 year	0	0	18
12	Cosmetologist	51	70	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	17
13	Skin Care Specialist	51	70	140	601 clock hours	None	2	0	17
14	Makeup Artist	37	70	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	17
15	Fire Alarm Installer	39	289	19	81 clock hours	None	6	0	18
15	Security Alarm Installer	37	289	19	81 clock hours	None	6	0	18
17	School Bus Driver	51	50	1	4 clock hours	None	6	0	21
18	Barber	51	75	68	291 clock hours	None	2	0	17
19	Shampooer	33	60	68	291 clock hours	None	2	0	17
20	Manicurist	51	70	58	250 clock hours	None	2	0	17
21	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	50	0	None	None	5	0	21
22	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	50	0	None	None	5	0	18
23	Truck Driver, Other	51	50	0	None	None	4	0	18
24	Emergency Medical Technician	51	0	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	17
25	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	138	1	8 clock hours	None	1	0	18
26	Travel Guide	37	100	0	None	None	1	0	18
27	Fisher, Commercial	43	250	0	None	None	0	0	16
28	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	0	0	None	None	0	0	18
29	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	160	0	None	None	2	0	0
30	Wildlife Control Operator	23	50	0	None	None	1	0	0
31	Upholsterer	9	150	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Gaming Cage Worker	30	105	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Gaming Dealer	29	105	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Gaming Supervisor	31	105	0	None	None	0	0	0
32	Slot Supervisor	29	105	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Animal Breeder	29	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
36	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	100	0	None	None	0	0	0
39	Animal Trainer	7	88	0	None	None	0	0	0
40	Farm Labor Contractor	10	87	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Weigher	24	15	0	None	None	0	0	0

New York Occupational Licensing

41 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

30th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$275