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North Carolina

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

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.

North Carolina State Licensing Requirements for Lower-Income Occupations

Select a chart to view:
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

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report