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Rhode Island

Rhode Island Occupational Licensing

70 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

25th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$236

Rhode Island Licensing Overview

Rhode Island licenses 70 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are about average when compared to other states. The state's licensing laws rank 25th in the nation. Rhode Island licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional (5 other), Conveyor Operator (1 other), Tree Trimmer (8 other), Upholsterer (9 other).

On average, Rhode Island requires $236 in licensing fees, 297 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Rhode Island is the most regulated?

Out of the 70 occupations that require an occupational license in Rhode Island, licenses for , HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential) have the highest burden.

Which occupation in a Rhode Island is the least regulated?

Out of the 70 occupations that require an occupational license in Rhode Island, a license for Security Guard, Unarmed has the lowest burden. A Security Guard, Unarmed license requires $5 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Rhode Island is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Rhode Island costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1380 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Rhode Island is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Rhode Island costs the least for Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional, Bartender where the license costs $0.

Which occupational license in Rhode Island takes the most time to obtain?

In Rhode Island, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential).It takes 2920 days (8 years) total.

Which occupational license in Rhode Island takes the least time to obtain?

In Rhode Island, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Interpreter, Sign Language, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Bill Collection Agency, Conveyor Operator, Fire Alarm Installer, Crane Operator, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Wildlife Control Operator, Security Alarm Installer, Bartender, Earth Driller, Water Well, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Tree Trimmer, Gaming Cage Worker, Upholsterer, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide, Fisher, Commercial, Security Guard, Unarmed.

In Rhode Island, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Rhode Island, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Preschool Teacher, Public School, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Athletic Trainer, Optician, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Midwife, Direct Entry, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Barber, Cosmetologist, Shampooer, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Emergency Medical Technician, Massage Therapist, Interpreter, Sign Language, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Conveyor Operator, Fire Alarm Installer, Crane Operator, Wildlife Control Operator, Security Alarm Installer, Bartender, Earth Driller, Water Well, Tree Trimmer. School Bus Driver requires 7 exams.

Rhode Island is one of the worst states in the nation for occupational licensing, ranking as the 10th most broadly and onerously licensed. The state licenses more lower-income occupations than most states—72 of the 102 studied here. Rhode Island’s licensing laws rank as the 27th most burdensome, requiring an average of $223 in fees, 326 days of education and experience, and around one exam.

Rhode Island licenses some occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. It is the only state to license conveyor operators. And few other states license non-instructional teacher assistants (four), tree trimmers (six), bartenders (12) or sign language interpreters (21). Among those, sign language interpreters face particularly steep burdens. Rhode Island’s license requires $700 in fees, four years and 40 hours of education (an estimated 1,469 days), and two exams. Given that so few states see fit to license sign language interpreters at all, such heavy requirements are questionable.

Rhode Island also imposes education and experience 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 must complete nearly one year (roughly 350 days or 1,500 hours) of education before becoming licensed. These burdens are considerably heavier than those for EMTs. These emergency first responders need less than a month (an estimated 26 days or 110 hours) of education, even though they arguably bear more responsibility for public safety. Rhode Island could improve its rankings by reducing or repealing its heavy occupational licensing burdens for barbers, cosmetologists and other occupations, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives such as inspections or voluntary certification.

Rhode Island 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 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 660 2920 None 8 years 4 0 18
1 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 660 2920 None 8 years 4 0 18
3 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 586 2555 4 years 3 years 2 0 0
4 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 510 1825 None 5 years 2 0 18
5 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 468 1825 None 5 years 2 0 18
6 Athletic Trainer 49 450 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
7 Optician 22 330 1095 2 years 1 year 2 12 18
8 School Bus Driver 51 168 1097 10 clock hours 3 years 7 0 21
9 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 158 1095 None 3 years 5 0 21
10 Midwife, Direct Entry 37 1380 730 2 years None 1 12 0
11 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 168 730 None 2 years 6 0 18
12 Truck Driver, Other 51 148 730 None 2 years 4 0 18
13 Barber 51 100 350 1500 clock hours None 2 12 18
14 Cosmetologist 51 100 280 1200 clock hours None 2 12 18
14 Shampooer 33 100 280 1200 clock hours None 2 12 18
16 Taxi Driver/Chauffeur 13 33 365 None 1 year 0 0 21
17 Skin Care Specialist 51 100 140 600 clock hours None 2 12 18
18 Manicurist 51 100 70 300 clock hours None 2 12 18
19 Emergency Medical Technician 51 223 35 150 clock hours None 2 12 18
20 Massage Therapist 45 295 152 650 clock hours None 1 0 18
21 Child Care Home, Family 44 110 4 24 clock hours None 0 12 21
22 Pharmacy Technician 44 25 140 None 600 clock hours 0 0 18
23 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 455 0 None None 2 0 18
24 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 45 0 None None 4 0 18
25 Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional 5 0 7 30 clock hours None 0 12 0
26 Pest Control Applicator 51 45 0 None None 2 0 18
27 Bill Collection Agency 29 801 0 None None 0 0 0
28 Conveyor Operator 1 159 0 None None 1 0 18
29 Fire Alarm Installer 39 462 0 None None 2 0 0
30 Crane Operator 16 75 0 None None 1 0 18
31 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
31 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 200 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
44 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) 24 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) 24 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) 25 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) 22 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Insulation Contractor (Commercial) 24 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Painting Contractor (Commercial) 22 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Paving Contractor (Commercial) 24 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Pipelayer Contractor 27 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) 26 200 0 None None 0 0 18
44 Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) 23 200 0 None None 0 0 18
58 Wildlife Control Operator 23 25 0 None None 1 0 18
59 Security Alarm Installer 37 505 0 None None 1 0 0
60 Bartender 12 0 0 2 clock hours None 1 0 18
61 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 380 0 None None 1 0 0
62 Gaming Supervisor 31 300 0 None None 0 0 0
62 Slot Supervisor 29 300 0 None None 0 0 0
64 Tree Trimmer 8 50 0 None None 1 0 0
65 Gaming Cage Worker 30 185 0 None None 0 0 0
66 Upholsterer 9 180 0 None None 0 0 0
67 Animal Breeder 29 100 0 None None 0 0 0
67 Travel Guide 37 100 0 None None 0 0 0
69 Fisher, Commercial 43 50 0 None None 0 0 0
70 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 5 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