Oregon

Oregon Licensing Overview

Oregon licenses 69 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are more burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 7th in the nation. Oregon licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment (4 other).

On average, Oregon requires $311 in licensing fees, 530 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential).

Which occupation in an Oregon is the most regulated?

Out of the 69 occupations that require an occupational license in Oregon, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $812 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in an Oregon is the least regulated?

Out of the 69 occupations that require an occupational license in Oregon, a license for Coach, Head (High School Sports) has the lowest burden. A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $50 in fees, no exams, no experience, and 15 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in Oregon is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Oregon costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1950 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 3 years of education.

Which occupational license in Oregon is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Oregon costs the least for Milk Sampler. A Milk Sampler license requires $28 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no of education.

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

In Oregon, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2920 days (8 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $812 in fees, 2 exams, 4 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Oregon, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment, Milk Sampler, Fisher, Commercial, Locksmith, Bill Collection Agency, Farm Labor Contractor, Wildlife Control Operator, Shampooer, Travel Guide, Taxidermist.

In Oregon, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Oregon, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Midwife, Direct Entry, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Veterinary Technician, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Mobile Home Installer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Pharmacy Technician, Cosmetologist, Massage Therapist, Security Guard, Unarmed, Barber, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Manicurist, Pest Control Applicator, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment, Milk Sampler, Bartender, Child Care Home, Family, Locksmith, Farm Labor Contractor, Wildlife Control Operator, Shampooer. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Oregon’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are some of the worst in the nation, ranking as the eighth most burdensome. On average, they require $335 in fees, 537 days of education and experience, and roughly one exam. And because Oregon licenses more occupations than most other states—69 of the 102 studied here—it also ranks as the nation’s eighth most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Oregon licenses several occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license dairy equipment still machine setters (two), farm labor contractors (nine), bartenders (12), locksmiths (13), commercial floor sander contractors (21) or commercial painting contractors (21). Among those, the two commercial contractor occupations face particularly steep burdens. In addition to paying hundreds of dollars in fees, both must demonstrate roughly 1,463 days of education and experience (comprising four years of experience and 16 hours of education). That is triple the average education and experience requirements across licensed states.

Oregon also makes it much more difficult to enter some occupations than others that may present greater risks to the public. For example, EMTs need demonstrate only about a month of education and experience, (an estimated 28 days, comprising 110 hours of education and 16 hours of experience) and pass two exams to become licensed. But cosmetologists must complete more than a year of education (about 397 days or 1,700 hours) and pass three exams. Oregon could improve its rankings by reducing or repealing these and other illogical licensing burdens—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them 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	812	2920	4 years	4 years	2	0	18
2	Athletic Trainer	49	615	1460	4 years	None	1	0	18
3	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Pipelayer Contractor	27	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
3	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	310	1463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
19	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1950	1095	3 years	None	2	12	0
20	Fire Alarm Installer	39	425	1095	None	3 years	1	12	18
20	Security Alarm Installer	37	425	1095	None	3 years	1	12	18
22	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	1065	730	None	2 years	1	0	0
22	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	1065	730	None	2 years	1	0	0
24	Veterinary Technician	36	360	730	2 years	None	2	0	0
25	School Bus Driver	51	198	368	15 clock hours	1 year	6	0	18
26	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	188	365	None	1 year	5	0	18
26	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	188	365	None	1 year	5	0	18
28	Truck Driver, Other	51	178	365	None	1 year	4	0	18
29	Mobile Home Installer	37	440	376	16 clock hours	1600 clock hours	2	0	18
30	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	170	365	None	1 year	1	0	18
31	Pharmacy Technician	44	288	117	500 clock hours	None	1	12	18
32	Cosmetologist	51	90	266	1150 clock hours	None	3	0	0
33	Massage Therapist	45	336	146	625 clock hours	None	2	0	18
34	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	106	2	14 clock hours	None	1	12	18
35	Barber	51	120	181	786 clock hours	None	3	0	0
36	Makeup Artist	37	90	110	484 clock hours	None	3	0	0
36	Skin Care Specialist	51	90	110	484 clock hours	None	3	0	0
38	Emergency Medical Technician	51	253	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	18
39	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	264	0	None	None	3	0	18
40	Manicurist	51	90	63	281 clock hours	None	3	0	0
41	Pest Control Applicator	51	206	0	None	None	2	0	18
42	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
42	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	310	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
57	Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment	4	50	0	None	None	2	0	18
58	Milk Sampler	43	28	0	None	None	2	0	18
59	Bartender	12	29	1	3.75 clock hours	None	1	0	21
60	Child Care Home, Family	44	88	2	10.5 clock hours	None	1	0	18
61	Fisher, Commercial	43	454	0	None	None	0	0	0
62	Locksmith	12	180	0	None	None	1	0	0
63	Bill Collection Agency	29	401	0	None	None	0	0	0
64	Farm Labor Contractor	10	150	0	None	None	1	0	0
65	Wildlife Control Operator	23	90	0	None	None	1	0	0
66	Shampooer	33	65	0	None	None	1	0	0
67	Travel Guide	37	150	0	None	None	0	0	0
68	Taxidermist	28	111	0	None	None	0	0	0
69	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	50	3	15 clock hours	None	0	0	0

Oregon Occupational Licensing

69 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

7th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$311