Minnesota is one of the better states in the nation for occupational licensing, ranking as only the 46th most broadly and onerously licensed state for lower-income occupations. It licenses 34 of the 102 occupations studied here, which is fewer than most states. Its laws rank as the 29th most burdensome and require, on average, $238 in fees, 300 days of education and experience, and around two exams.
Despite its better-than-average rankings, Minnesota licenses some occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license electrical helpers (just one), packers (five), title examiners (six) or dental assistants (eight). Workers in these occupations are allowed to operate in most states without state licensure, calling into question why Minnesota deems licensure necessary. Minnesota also licenses dental assistants more stringently than the few other states that license the occupation, requiring $681 in fees, an estimated 425 days of education and three exams. By comparison, the average requirements across licensed states are just $138 in fees, 92 days of education and experience, and one exam.
Minnesota licenses dental assistants so onerously that it is easier to become an EMT than it is to become a dental assistant. EMTs must complete just 150 hours (roughly 35 days) of education, meaning that dental assistants need 12 times as much schooling. Cosmetologists and barbers also face more stringent licensing requirements than EMTs. Cosmetologists must demonstrate 10 times as much education (1,550 hours or roughly 362 days) and barbers almost 18 times as much (1,500 hours each of education and experience, equivalent to 613 days). Minnesota could reduce barriers to employment in lower-income occupations by reducing or repealing such high education and experience requirements, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing occupational licenses with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
Idaho licenses 67 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 30th most burdensome, requiring an average of $164 in fees, 332 days of education and experience, and around one exam. Despite ranking in the less burdensome half of states, Idaho is in the top half of broadly and onerously licensed states—ranking 16th—because it licenses a higher number of occupations than most states.
Idaho frequently licenses occupations that are unlicensed by other states. Bill collection agencies are licensed by just 30 other states but must demonstrate three years (roughly 1,095 days) of experience before they can operate in Idaho. (The average across licensed states is just 159 days.) And log scalers and nursery workers are each licensed by only one other state.
Idaho also imposes higher-than-average burdens on fire and security alarm installers. The state requires 1,460 days (four years) of experience before alarm installers can open for business. The average across licensed states is about 40 percent lower: approximately 915 days of education and experience for fire alarm installers and 836 days for security alarm installers.
Idaho also imposes particularly heavy burdens on some occupations with little connection to public safety. EMTs, for example, must demonstrate only 150 hours (an estimated 35 days) of education to become licensed. But would-be cosmetologists must complete 2,000 hours (about 467 days) of education to become licensed—some of the highest cosmetology license requirements in the nation. Idaho could open up more employment opportunities in the state by reducing or repealing burdensome licensing requirements for cosmetologists and other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.
Illinois’ licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 35th most burdensome. On average, Illinois’ barriers to entry are $244 in fees, 249 days lost to education and experience, and around one exam. Licensing 40 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, Illinois is the 39th most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Illinois imposes more onerous requirements than many other states for some occupations. For example, sign language interpreters—the state’s most onerously licensed occupation—must pay a $900 fee, complete four years and 40 hours of education (roughly 1,469 days total), and pass two exams to become licensed. But more than half of states (29) do not license the occupation at all and, among those that do, the average requirements are just $661 in fees, about 1,088 days of education and experience, and two exams.
Illinois 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, it takes more schooling to become a barber or a cosmetologist in Illinois than it does to become an EMT. EMTs can become licensed after completing about 37 days (160 hours) of education. Barbers and cosmetologists, on the other hand, must spend nearly 10 times as long in school (1,500 hours or roughly 350 days) before they can work. Illinois could expand lower-income employment opportunities by reducing or repealing these and other licensing burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
Indiana licenses 37 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its licensing laws rank as the 26th most burdensome because Indiana’s barriers to entry average $163 in fees, 323 days lost to education and experience, and approximately one exam. Indiana ranks as the 44th most broadly and onerously licensed state for lower-income workers, making it better than most but still leaving ample room for improvement.
Indiana licenses several occupations that are not licensed by other states, such as veterinary technicians (licensed by 36 states), auctioneers (30 states), sign language interpreters (22 states), taxi drivers and chauffeurs (16 states), and bartenders (13 states). Among those, sign language interpreters in Indiana face particularly steep burdens of more than four years of education, two exams and $725 in fees.
Indiana 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, in Indiana, it is harder to become a manicurist than it is to become an EMT. EMTs need only about 37 days (160 hours) of education, while manicurists need around 105 days (450 hours) of education. Indiana should consider whether this and other heavy licensing burdens can be reduced, repealed or—if government regulation is necessary—replaced with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
Iowa’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 37th most burdensome. The state’s average barriers to entry are $178 in fees, 288 days lost to education and experience, and around one exam. Because Iowa licenses a relatively high number of the 102 occupations studied here—71—it ranks as the 12th most broadly and onerously licensed state, making it one of the worst states for occupational licensing for lower-income workers.
Iowa frequently licenses occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license travel agencies (six) or dental assistants (eight). Iowa’s dental assistant license requires 20 hours of education and six months of experience (about 185 days total), $86 in fees, and three exams, steep requirements given that most states do not license the occupation at all. Iowa also licenses commercial and residential HVAC contractors and HVAC sheet metal contractors—some of the most heavily burdened occupations in the nation—much more onerously than the three dozen or so other states that license them. These occupations require 2,190 days—a full six years—of experience in Iowa compared to averages of about half that across licensed states.
Iowa also places some of the highest experience requirements in the nation on barbers and cosmetologists. Aspiring licensees must demonstrate 2,100 hours (roughly 490 days) of experience, while EMTs need only demonstrate 110 hours (roughly 26 days) to become licensed. Iowa should evaluate whether its high burdens for barbers, cosmetologists and other occupations can be reduced, repealed or—if government regulation is necessary—replaced with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
Kansas’ licensing laws for lower-income workers rank as the 40th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $133 in fees, 200 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. Because Kansas licenses relatively few of the lower-income occupations studied here—35 out of 102—it ranks as the 45th most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Kansas licenses several occupations that are unlicensed elsewhere. For example, psychiatric technicians are licensed by just four other states but in Kansas must sacrifice the better part of a year to education (900 hours or roughly 210 days), pass an exam and pay a $146 fee to become licensed. Veterinary technicians, likewise, are licensed by only 35 other states yet must pay $330 in fees, lose two years (730 days) to education and pass two exams to work in Kansas.
Kansas 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, barbers and cosmetologists are two of Kansas’ most strictly licensed occupations. Both licenses require approximately 350 days (1,500 hours) of education. In addition, the barber license requires a $180 fee and three exams, while the cosmetology license requires $195 in fees and two exams. By comparison, Kansas’ EMT license requires only about 81 days (11.5 credit hours) of education, $130 in fees and two exams. Kansas should reduce or repeal some of its more burdensome and irrational licensing requirements, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
Kentucky’s lower-income occupational licensing laws rank as the 12th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $240 in fees, 466 days of education and experience, and around two exams. Because Kentucky licenses relatively few of the lower-income occupations studied here—37 out of 102—it ranks as the 40th most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Kentucky imposes more onerous requirements than many other states for several occupations. For example, the average license requirements for auctioneers are a $278 fee, 94 days of education and experience, and one exam. Kentucky, on the other hand, requires nearly twice as much in fees ($530), nearly eight times as much education and experience (around 751 days, comprising two years of experience and 92 hours of education), and twice as many exams (two). These steep requirements are out of sync with the relatively lower burdens imposed by other states that license auctioneers, and 31 states do not license them at all.
Kentucky also makes it much more difficult to enter 20 occupations than it does to become an EMT. EMTs must only pay a $168 fee, complete about 28 days (119 hours) of education and pass two exams to obtain a license. But cosmetologists, for example, must pay $200 in fees, sacrifice an estimated 602 days to education and experience (comprising 1,800 hours of education and six months of experience), and pass three exams before being allowed to work in Kentucky. To open up opportunity for lower-income workers, Kentucky should repeal or reduce its heavy burdens for cosmetologists and other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.
Connecticut licenses 64 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its laws are the 24th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $264 in fees, 361 days lost to education and experience, and approximately one exam. Because it licenses an above-average number of occupations, these burdens make Connecticut the 18th most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Connecticut imposes education burdens and fees on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, in Connecticut, it is more difficult to become a massage therapist than an EMT. To practice their craft, would-be massage therapists must complete 500 hours (roughly 117 days) of education and pay a $575 fee, while EMTs must complete only 150 hours (about 35 days) of education and pay an $80 fee.
Particularly troubling, Connecticut licenses two occupations that are licensed by no other states: home entertainment installers and forest workers. Home entertainment installers must sacrifice about 575 days to education and experience (comprising one year of experience and 900 hours of education), pay $185 in fees, and pass an exam before they can get to work. Forest workers must pay $300 in fees and pass an exam. Connecticut should consider reducing or repealing such unnecessary licensing burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
Washington, D.C., licenses 60 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, and its laws are the 38th most burdensome. On average, D.C.’s licenses require $400 in fees, 261 days of education and experience, and roughly one exam. D.C. ranks as the 26th most broadly and onerously licensed state, placing it in the middle of the pack.
D.C. is one of only four states that license interior designers—the most arduously licensed occupation in this study. Aspiring interior designers must complete six years (2,190 days) of education and pay $1,485 in fees to work in D.C. Such high barriers to entry defy common sense given that the vast majority of states do not deem licensure for interior designers necessary.
D.C. imposes education burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for others that likely present greater risks to the public. For example, D.C.’s license for dental assistants requires 211 days of education. Not only is this more than double the average of 92 days required by the nine states that license the occupation, but it is also substantially more than D.C.’s EMT license requires. To become licensed, EMTs need complete only about 28 days (four credit hours) of education. D.C. could open up employment opportunities for lower-income workers by reducing or repealing many of its occupational licensing requirements, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
Delaware licenses fewer of the lower-income occupations studied here than most states—44 out of 102—but its laws rank as the 15th most burdensome in the nation. On average, Delaware licenses require $199 in fees, 475 days lost to education and experience, and approximately one exam. The state ranks as the 32nd most broadly and onerously licensed.
Delaware licenses some occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere, such as non-instructional teacher assistants, who are licensed by only four other states. Delaware also licenses pesticide applicators more onerously than many other states: Both pest control applicators and vegetation pesticide applicators in Delaware must demonstrate 730 days (two years) of experience before opening their businesses, when the national average of days lost to education and experience is just 274 days for pest control applicators and 134 days for vegetation pesticide applicators.
Delaware also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive or illogical compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, while EMTs must only demonstrate 150 hours (around 35 days) of specialized education, pay $149 and pass two exams, barbers and cosmetologists must sacrifice 10 times as many hours to education (1,500 hours or about 350 days), pay over $200 and pass two exams. To expand opportunity, Delaware should reduce, if not repeal, inconsistent or irrational licensing burdens like these, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
