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.
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.
Out of the 67 occupations that require an occupational license in West Virginia, licenses for Animal Breeder, Travel Guide have the lowest burden.
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.
An occupational license for in West Virginia costs the least for Milk Sampler, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide where the license costs $10.
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.
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, 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.
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 |
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
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