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Vermont

Vermont Occupational Licensing

31 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

31st most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$194

Vermont Licensing Overview

Vermont licenses 31 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 31st in the nation. Vermont licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Dental Assistant (8 other).

On average, Vermont requires $194 in licensing fees, 266 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Vermont is the most regulated?

Out of the 31 occupations that require an occupational license in Vermont, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $368 in fees, 1 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Vermont is the least regulated?

Out of the 31 occupations that require an occupational license in Vermont, a license for Animal Breeder has the lowest burden. A Animal Breeder license requires $25 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Vermont is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Vermont costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1400 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Vermont is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Vermont 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 5 clock hours of education.

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

In Vermont, 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 $368 in fees, 1 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Vermont, 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, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Weigher, Milk Sampler, Massage Therapist, Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Animal Breeder.

In Vermont, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Vermont, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Midwife, Direct Entry, Optician, Fire Alarm Installer, Cosmetologist, Barber, Shampooer, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Manicurist, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Security Guard, Unarmed, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Vermont licenses 31 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here—fewer than all but one other state. Its laws rank as the 28th most burdensome, requiring an average of $193 in fees, 287 days of education and experience, and around two exams. These lower-than-average burdens, combined with a lower-than-average number of occupations licensed, make Vermont the 50th most broadly and onerously licensed state—the second-best in the nation.

Despite licensing relatively few occupations, Vermont licenses several for which many other states deem licensure unnecessary. These occupations include dental assistant (licensed by eight other states), bartender (12 others), optician (21 others), weigher (24 others), animal breeder (27 others) and auctioneer (29 others).

Vermont also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that arguably have a stronger connection to public health and safety. For example, cosmetologists must study for the better part of a year (roughly 350 days or 1,500 hours), pay $360 in fees and pass three exams to obtain a license to work. EMTs, on the other hand, must only complete less than a month of education (roughly 26 days or 110 hours) and pass two exams. Vermont could expand lower-income employment opportunities by reducing or repealing its licensing burdens 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.

Vermont 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 50 368 2555 4 years 3 years 1 0 0
2 Athletic Trainer 49 490 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
3 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 315 1095 None 3 years 3 0 0
4 Midwife, Direct Entry 37 1400 730 2 years None 1 12 0
5 Optician 22 325 730 2 years None 1 12 18
6 Fire Alarm Installer 39 180 730 2 clock hours 2 years 1 0 0
7 Cosmetologist 51 375 233 1000 clock hours None 3 12 0
8 Barber 51 160 175 750 clock hours None 3 12 0
9 Shampooer 33 100 175 750 clock hours None 3 12 0
10 Makeup Artist 37 285 117 500 clock hours None 3 12 0
10 Skin Care Specialist 51 285 117 500 clock hours None 3 12 0
12 School Bus Driver 51 167 1 8 clock hours None 6 0 18
13 Child Care Home, Family 44 20 12 54 clock hours None 0 12 18
14 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 153 0 None None 5 0 18
15 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 139 0 None None 5 0 18
16 Truck Driver, Other 51 139 0 None None 4 0 18
17 Emergency Medical Technician 51 98 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 18
18 Manicurist 51 245 47 200 clock hours None 3 0 0
19 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 135 0 None None 3 0 18
20 Pest Control Applicator 51 105 0 None None 2 0 18
21 Weigher 24 25 0 None None 0 0 18
22 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 0 1 5 clock hours None 0 0 18
23 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 85 9 40 clock hours None 1 0 0
24 Milk Sampler 43 50 0 None None 1 0 0
25 Auctioneer 28 100 9 40 clock hours None 0 0 0
26 Massage Therapist 45 75 0 None None 0 0 0
27 Dental Assistant 8 70 0 None None 0 0 0
28 Pharmacy Technician 44 50 0 None None 0 0 0
29 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 30 0 None None 0 0 0
29 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 30 0 None None 0 0 0
31 Animal Breeder 29 25 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