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West Virginia

West Virginia Occupational Licensing

67 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

41st most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$200

West Virginia Licensing Overview

West Virginia licenses 67 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 41st in the nation. West Virginia licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Upholsterer (9 other).

On average, West Virginia requires $200 in licensing fees, 214 days of education and about 2 exam.

Which occupation in a West Virginia is the most regulated?

Out of the 67 occupations that require an occupational license in West Virginia, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $423 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a West Virginia is the least regulated?

Out of the 67 occupations that require an occupational license in West Virginia, licenses for Animal Breeder, Travel Guide have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in West Virginia is the most expensive?

An occupational license in West Virginia costs the most for Mobile Home Installer. A Mobile Home Installer license requires $694 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in West Virginia is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in West Virginia costs the least for Milk Sampler, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide where the license costs $10.

Which occupational license in West Virginia takes the most time to obtain?

In West Virginia, 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 $423 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in West Virginia takes the least time to obtain?

In West Virginia, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Mobile Home Installer, Interpreter, Sign Language, Wildlife Control Operator, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Child Care Home, Family, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker 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), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler, Upholsterer, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide.

In West Virginia, which occupational licenses require exams?

In West Virginia, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Earth Driller, Water Well, Athletic Trainer, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Veterinary Technician, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Truck Driver, Other, Cosmetologist, HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Barber, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Auctioneer, Manicurist, Pharmacy Technician, Coach, Head (High School Sports), Massage Therapist, Mobile Home Installer, Emergency Medical Technician, Interpreter, Sign Language, Wildlife Control Operator, Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker 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), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 7 exams.

West Virginia’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the nation’s 44th most burdensome. They require, on average, $172 in fees, 210 days of education and experience, and around two exams. But because West Virginia licenses more occupations than most states—70 of the 102 studied here—it ranks as the 14th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

West Virginia licenses several occupations that are not licensed elsewhere, such as upholsterers (licensed by nine other states), crane operators (17 others) and sign language interpreters (21 others). West Virginia also licenses auctioneers—who are unlicensed in 21 states—and does so quite onerously. While the licensed-state average of days lost to education and experience is an estimated 94 days for auctioneers, West Virginia requires more than twice as much: an estimated 201 days, or six months of experience and 80 hours of education.

West Virginia also imposes requirements on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for others with a stronger connection to public safety. For example, in West Virginia, manicurists and massage therapists face more stringent requirements than EMTs. To provide their services, these workers must complete between 93 and 117 days of education. EMTs, on the other hand, can become licensed after completing only around 35 days (150 hours) of education. West Virginia could create more economic opportunity by reducing or repealing many of its occupational licenses, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

West Virginia 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 50 423 2190 4 years 2 years 2 0 18
2 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 567 1460 None 4 years 4 0 18
3 Athletic Trainer 49 643 1460 4 years None 1 0 18
4 School Bus Driver 51 179 1106 52 clock hours 3 years 7 12 21
5 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 169 730 None 2 years 5 0 18
6 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 159 730 None 2 years 5 0 18
7 Veterinary Technician 36 425 730 2 years None 2 0 18
8 Fire Alarm Installer 39 277 730 None 2 years 3 0 18
8 Security Alarm Installer 37 277 730 None 2 years 3 0 18
10 Truck Driver, Other 51 159 730 None 2 years 4 0 18
11 Cosmetologist 51 186 420 1800 clock hours None 3 12 18
12 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 356 365 None 1 year 3 0 18
12 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 356 365 None 1 year 3 0 18
14 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 296 365 None 1 year 3 0 18
14 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 296 365 None 1 year 3 0 18
16 Barber 51 134 280 1200 clock hours None 2 12 18
17 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 100 365 None 1 year 4 0 0
18 Pest Control Applicator 51 100 365 None 1 year 3 0 0
19 Makeup Artist 37 221 140 600 clock hours None 3 12 18
19 Skin Care Specialist 51 221 140 600 clock hours None 3 12 18
21 Auctioneer 28 250 202 87.5 clock hours 6 months 3 0 18
22 Manicurist 51 221 93 400 clock hours None 3 12 18
23 Pharmacy Technician 44 142 143 620 clock hours None 1 12 0
24 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 250 2 14.5 clock hours None 3 12 18
25 Massage Therapist 45 545 117 500 clock hours None 1 0 0
26 Mobile Home Installer 37 694 0 None None 2 0 0
27 Emergency Medical Technician 51 218 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 16
28 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 275 0 None None 2 0 0
29 Wildlife Control Operator 23 50 0 None None 1 0 18
30 Gaming Cage Worker 30 100 0 None None 0 0 21
30 Gaming Dealer 29 100 0 None None 0 0 21
30 Gaming Supervisor 31 100 0 None None 0 0 21
30 Slot Supervisor 29 100 0 None None 0 0 21
34 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) 24 195 0 None None 2 0 0
34 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 195 0 None None 2 0 0
34 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 195 0 None None 2 0 0
34 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 195 0 None None 2 0 0
34 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 195 0 None None 2 0 0
34 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 195 0 None None 2 0 0
34 Pipelayer Contractor 27 195 0 None None 2 0 0
41 Child Care Home, Family 44 55 0 None None 0 0 18
42 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 202 0 None None 1 0 0
42 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 202 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) 24 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) 25 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) 22 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Insulation Contractor (Commercial) 24 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Painting Contractor (Commercial) 22 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Paving Contractor (Commercial) 24 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) 26 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) 23 142 0 None None 1 0 0
44 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 142 0 None None 1 0 0
64 Milk Sampler 43 10 0 None None 1 0 0
65 Upholsterer 9 90 0 None None 0 0 0
66 Animal Breeder 29 10 0 None None 0 0 0
66 Travel Guide 37 10 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