Washington

Washington Licensing Overview

Washington licenses 76 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 47th in the nation. Washington licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Travel Agency (5 other), Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment (4 other), Dental Assistant (8 other).

On average, Washington requires $230 in licensing fees, 171 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Washington is the most regulated?

Out of the 76 occupations that require an occupational license in Washington, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $410 in fees, 1 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Washington is the least regulated?

Out of the 76 occupations that require an occupational license in Washington, a license for Farm Labor Contractor has the lowest burden. A Farm Labor Contractor license requires $35 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Washington is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Washington costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1996 in fees, 3 exams, no experience, and 3 years of education.

Which occupational license in Washington is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Washington costs the least for Coach, Head (High School Sports), Bartender where the license costs $0.

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

In Washington, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2190 days (6 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $410 in fees, 1 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Washington, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bill Collection Agency, Travel Guide, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Fisher, Commercial, Weigher, Pest Control Applicator, Taxidermist, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Travel Agency, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Auctioneer, 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), Milk Sampler, Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment, Dental Assistant, Farm Labor Contractor.

In Washington, which occupational licenses require exams?

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

Washington is tied with Louisiana in licensing the most lower-income occupations in this study—77 of 102. The state’s licensing laws, however, are less burdensome than most, ranking 48th in the nation. On average, they require $209 in fees, 163 days of education and experience, and around one exam. Nevertheless, because Washington licenses so many occupations, it ranks as the ninth most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Washington’s long list of licensed occupations includes several that are rarely licensed elsewhere. For example, few other states license dairy equipment still machine setters (two), travel agencies (six), dental assistants (eight) or farm labor contractors (nine). Washington also licenses some more widely licensed occupations more onerously than other states. For example, water well earth drillers must sacrifice an estimated 1,265 days to education and experience (5,400 hours of experience and 32 continuing education units) to become licensed in the state. That is substantially more than the national average requirement of 837 days in this occupation.

Washington also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present a greater risk to public safety. For example, aspiring EMTs are deemed qualified first responders after completing an estimated 26 days (110 hours) of education and paying $80 in fees. Cosmetologists, on the other hand, face much more stringent requirements: roughly 373 days (1,600 hours) of education and $230 in fees. Washington could expand employment opportunities in the state by reducing or repealing its illogical 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.

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	410	2190	4 years	2 years	1	0	0
2	Fire Alarm Installer	39	700	1474	64 clock hours	4 years	5	0	16
2	Security Alarm Installer	37	700	1474	64 clock hours	4 years	5	0	16
4	Athletic Trainer	49	505	1461	4 years & 7 clock hours	None	1	0	0
5	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1996	1095	3 years	None	3	12	21
6	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	268	983	20 continuing education units	4200 clock hours	1	0	0
7	Optician	22	550	730	2 years	None	4	12	18
8	Wildlife Control Operator	23	50	731	4 clock hours	2 years	2	0	18
9	Veterinary Technician	36	595	730	2 years	None	2	0	0
10	School Bus Driver	51	195	391	110 clock hours	1 year	6	0	21
11	Cosmetologist	51	319	373	1600 clock hours	None	2	0	17
12	Barber	51	25	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	17
12	Shampooer	33	25	233	1000 clock hours	None	2	0	17
14	Pharmacy Technician	44	187	140	None	600 clock hours	1	12	0
15	Skin Care Specialist	51	319	175	750 clock hours	None	2	0	17
16	Massage Therapist	45	421	146	625 clock hours	None	2	0	18
17	Manicurist	51	319	140	600 clock hours	None	2	0	17
18	Emergency Medical Technician	51	98	35	150 clock hours	None	2	12	18
19	Mobile Home Installer	37	404	184	12 clock hours	6 months	1	0	0
20	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	325	37	160 clock hours	None	5	0	18
21	Child Care Home, Family	44	12	3	16 clock hours	None	0	12	21
22	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	1	7 clock hours	None	0	12	21
23	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	335	22	94 clock hours	None	5	0	18
24	Truck Driver, Other	51	325	19	80 clock hours	None	4	0	18
25	Bill Collection Agency	29	850	0	None	None	0	0	18
26	Crane Operator	16	240	4	None	24 clock hours	3	0	18
27	Travel Guide	37	780	0	None	None	0	0	16
28	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	99	3	16 clock hours	None	1	0	18
29	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	275	0	None	None	3	0	0
30	Fisher, Commercial	43	250	0	None	None	0	0	16
31	Bartender	12	0	1	3 clock hours	None	1	0	18
32	Weigher	24	140	0	None	None	0	0	18
33	Pest Control Applicator	51	275	0	None	None	2	0	0
34	Taxidermist	28	250	0	None	None	0	0	0
35	Gaming Cage Worker	30	219	0	None	None	0	0	0
35	Gaming Dealer	29	219	0	None	None	0	0	0
35	Gaming Supervisor	31	219	0	None	None	0	0	0
38	Travel Agency	5	202	0	None	None	0	0	0
39	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	181	0	None	None	0	0	0
39	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	181	0	None	None	0	0	0
41	Auctioneer	28	155	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Pipelayer Contractor	27	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
42	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	118	0	None	None	0	0	0
73	Milk Sampler	43	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
73	Still Machine Setter, Dairy Equipment	4	50	0	None	None	0	0	0
75	Dental Assistant	8	40	0	None	None	0	0	0
76	Farm Labor Contractor	10	35	0	None	None	0	0	0

Washington Occupational Licensing

76 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

47th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$230