North Carolina

North Carolina Licensing Overview

North Carolina licenses 66 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 39th in the nation.

On average, North Carolina requires $231 in licensing fees, 228 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Interpreter, Sign Language, Bill Collection Agency.

Which occupation in a North Carolina is the most regulated?

Out of the 66 occupations that require an occupational license in North Carolina, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $580 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a North Carolina is the least regulated?

Out of the 66 occupations that require an occupational license in North Carolina, a license for Travel Guide has the lowest burden. A Travel Guide license requires $18 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in North Carolina is the most expensive?

An occupational license in North Carolina costs the most for Interpreter, Sign Language. A Interpreter, Sign Language license requires $1148 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in North Carolina is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in North Carolina 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 14 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in North Carolina takes the most time to obtain?

In North Carolina, 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 $580 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in North Carolina takes the least time to obtain?

In North Carolina, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Locksmith, Bill Collection Agency, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, 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), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Weigher, Mobile Home Installer, Fisher, Commercial, Milk Sampler, Animal Breeder, Taxidermist, Travel Guide.

In North Carolina, which occupational licenses require exams?

In North Carolina, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Interpreter, Sign Language, Athletic Trainer, Optician, Pest Control Applicator, Veterinary Technician, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Barber, Earth Driller, Water Well, Cosmetologist, School Bus Driver, Massage Therapist, Pharmacy Technician, Auctioneer, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Manicurist, Locksmith, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, 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), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Mobile Home Installer, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

North Carolina’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 41st most burdensome in the nation. They require, on average, $199 in fees, 234 days of education and experience, and around one exam. Because North Carolina licenses more of the lower-income occupations studied here than most other states—67 of 102—it ranks as the nation’s 17th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

North Carolina licenses several occupations that are unlicensed elsewhere, such as opticians and sign language interpreters, who are both licensed by just 21 other states. Despite infrequent licensure in other states, both occupations are fairly onerously licensed in North Carolina. Opticians must demonstrate about 912 days of education and experience (comprising two years of education and six months of experience) before becoming licensed—much more than the average of 714 days across licensed states. And sign language interpreters face $938 in fees and 1,469 days (four years and 40 hours) of education in North Carolina—considerably higher than the licensed-state averages of $661 in fees and 1,088 days of education and experience.

North Carolina also licenses some occupations much more onerously than it does others that may have a stronger connection to public safety. For example, North Carolina has one of the most burdensome barbering licenses in the nation, requiring $270 in fees, 722 days lost to education and experience (comprising 1,528 hours of schooling and one year of experience), and three exams. But EMTs need just 43 days (166 hours of education and 24 hours of experience) and two exams to become licensed. North Carolina should consider whether its heavy licensing burdens for barbers and other occupations can be reduced, repealed or—if government regulation is necessary—replaced with less restrictive regulatory 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	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	580	2555	4 years	3 years	2	0	18
2	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	1148	1460	4 years	None	2	0	18
3	Athletic Trainer	49	590	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
4	Optician	22	560	912	2 years	6 months	4	12	18
5	Pest Control Applicator	51	350	735	8 clock hours	2 years & 24 clock hours	3	0	18
6	Veterinary Technician	36	425	730	2 years	None	2	0	18
7	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	280	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
7	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	280	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
7	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	280	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
7	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	280	730	None	2 years	2	0	18
11	Fire Alarm Installer	39	185	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
11	Security Alarm Installer	37	185	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
13	Barber	51	355	721	1528 clock hours	12 months	3	0	0
14	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	250	546	None	18 months	1	0	18
15	Child Care Home, Family	44	154	375	50 clock hours	1 year	0	12	21
16	Cosmetologist	51	222	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	0	0
17	School Bus Driver	51	138	185	3 days	6 months	6	0	18
18	Massage Therapist	45	345	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
19	Pharmacy Technician	44	159	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	0
20	Auctioneer	28	338	19	80 clock hours	None	1	12	18
21	Makeup Artist	37	193	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	0
21	Skin Care Specialist	51	193	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	0
23	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	177	0	None	None	5	0	18
24	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	172	0	None	None	5	0	18
25	Truck Driver, Other	51	172	0	None	None	4	0	18
26	Emergency Medical Technician	51	106	56	240 clock hours	None	1	0	18
27	Manicurist	51	193	70	300 clock hours	None	2	0	0
28	Locksmith	12	438	0	None	None	1	0	18
29	Bill Collection Agency	29	1048	0	None	None	0	0	0
30	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	325	0	None	None	1	0	18
31	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	145	0	None	None	2	0	18
32	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	285	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Pipelayer Contractor	27	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
33	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	154	0	None	None	1	0	18
58	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	46	3	16 clock hours	None	0	0	18
59	Weigher	24	25	0	None	None	0	0	18
60	Mobile Home Installer	37	250	0	None	None	1	0	0
61	Fisher, Commercial	43	400	0	None	None	0	0	0
62	Milk Sampler	43	5	0	None	None	1	0	0
63	Animal Breeder	29	75	0	None	None	0	0	0
64	Taxidermist	28	52	0	None	None	0	0	0
65	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	2	14 clock hours	None	0	0	0
66	Travel Guide	37	18	0	None	None	0	0	0

North Carolina Occupational Licensing

66 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

39th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$231