North Dakota

North Dakota Licensing Overview

North Dakota licenses 65 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 48th in the nation. North Dakota licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Title Examiner (7 other), Animal Trainer (7 other).

On average, North Dakota requires $151 in licensing fees, 113 days of education and about 1 exam.

Which occupation in a North Dakota is the most regulated?

Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in North Dakota, a license for Interpreter, Sign Language has the highest burden. A Interpreter, Sign Language license requires $935 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a North Dakota is the least regulated?

Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in North Dakota, a license for Animal Trainer has the lowest burden. A Animal Trainer license requires $10 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in North Dakota is the most expensive?

An occupational license in North Dakota costs the most for Interpreter, Sign Language. A Interpreter, Sign Language license requires $935 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in North Dakota is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in North Dakota costs the least for Milk Sampler, Animal Trainer where the license costs $10.

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

In North Dakota, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Interpreter, Sign Language, Athletic Trainer.It takes 1460 days (4 years) total.

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

In North Dakota, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Bill Collection Agency, Pest Control Applicator, 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), Travel Guide, Title Examiner, Taxidermist, Child Care Home, Family, Fisher, Commercial, Animal Trainer.

In North Dakota, which occupational licenses require exams?

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

North Dakota has some of the least burdensome licensing laws for lower-income occupations in the nation, ranking 49th. Its laws require, on average, $156 in fees, 122 days of education and experience, and roughly one exam. But North Dakota licenses more lower-income occupations than average (65 of 102), making it the 23rd most broadly and onerously licensed state.

North Dakota licenses several occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, the state’s most onerously licensed occupation—sign language interpreter—is licensed by just 21 other states. And North Dakota’s license is burdensome, requiring $675 in fees, about 1,469 days (four years and 40 hours) of education and two exams. These steep burdens are questionable given that most states do not deem licensure necessary at all. North Dakota is also one of just seven states that license title examiners and one of nine states that license animal trainers.

North Dakota 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, North Dakota has one of the most burdensome barbering licenses in the nation, requiring 727 days of education and experience (comprising 1,550 hours of education and one year of experience), $250 in fees, and two exams. By contrast, the state’s EMT license requires just 35 days (150 hours) of education, $80 in fees and two exams. North Dakota can improve employment opportunities in the state by reducing or repealing its heavy burdens for barbers and many other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them 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	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	935	1460	4 years	None	2	0	18
2	Athletic Trainer	49	490	1460	4 years	None	1	0	0
3	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	721	1276	2 years	18 months	3	0	18
4	Veterinary Technician	36	350	730	2 years	None	1	0	0
5	Barber	51	100	362	1550 clock hours	None	2	12	18
6	Cosmetologist	51	145	350	1500 clock hours	None	3	12	0
6	Shampooer	33	145	350	1500 clock hours	None	3	12	0
8	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	300	365	None	1 year	1	0	0
9	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	91	243	44 clock hours	1000 clock hours	0	12	18
10	Massage Therapist	45	345	175	750 clock hours	None	1	12	18
11	Makeup Artist	37	197	140	600 clock hours	None	3	12	0
12	Skin Care Specialist	51	165	140	600 clock hours	None	3	12	0
13	Pharmacy Technician	44	162	140	600 clock hours	None	1	12	0
14	Manicurist	51	205	82	350 clock hours	None	3	0	0
15	School Bus Driver	51	31	0	None	None	6	0	21
16	Emergency Medical Technician	51	98	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	16
17	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	28	0	None	None	5	0	18
18	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	25	0	None	None	5	0	18
19	Truck Driver, Other	51	25	0	None	None	4	0	18
20	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	125	0	None	None	3	0	18
21	Bill Collection Agency	29	851	0	None	None	0	0	0
22	Mobile Home Installer	37	225	1	8 clock hours	None	1	0	18
23	Pest Control Applicator	51	100	0	None	None	2	0	18
24	Auctioneer	28	50	14	60 clock hours	None	0	0	18
25	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	150	0	None	None	0	0	18
25	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	150	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Pipelayer Contractor	27	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Travel Guide	37	100	0	None	None	0	0	18
59	Title Examiner	7	260	0	None	None	1	0	0
60	Milk Sampler	43	10	1	1 day	None	1	0	0
61	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	35	2	13 clock hours	None	0	0	0
62	Taxidermist	28	25	0	None	None	0	0	0
63	Child Care Home, Family	44	20	0	None	None	0	0	0
64	Fisher, Commercial	43	15	0	None	None	0	0	0
65	Animal Trainer	7	10	0	None	None	0	0	0

North Dakota Occupational Licensing

65 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

48th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$151