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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Occupational Licensing

42 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

43rd most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$258

Wisconsin Licensing Overview

Wisconsin licenses 42 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 43rd in the nation. Wisconsin licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Animal Control Officer (7 other), Animal Trainer (7 other).

On average, Wisconsin requires $258 in licensing fees, 197 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry, Bill Collection Agency.

Which occupation in a Wisconsin is the most regulated?

Out of the 42 occupations that require an occupational license in Wisconsin, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $575 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Wisconsin is the least regulated?

Out of the 42 occupations that require an occupational license in Wisconsin, a license for Fisher, Commercial has the lowest burden. A Fisher, Commercial license requires $2 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Wisconsin is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Wisconsin costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $1359 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Wisconsin is the least expensive?

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

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

In Wisconsin, 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 $575 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

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

In Wisconsin, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Bill Collection Agency, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Auctioneer, Pipelayer Contractor, Pest Control Applicator, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide, Milk Sampler, Animal Trainer, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Farm Labor Contractor, Security Guard, Unarmed, Taxidermist, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Fisher, Commercial.

In Wisconsin, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Wisconsin, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Interpreter, Sign Language, Veterinary Technician, Earth Driller, Water Well, Cosmetologist, Massage Therapist, Barber, Shampooer, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Auctioneer, Pipelayer Contractor, Mobile Home Installer, Pest Control Applicator, Milk Sampler, Animal Control Officer. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Wisconsin licenses 42 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, which is fewer than most states. Ranking as the 42nd most burdensome, Wisconsin’s licensing laws require, on average, $259 in fees, 214 days of education and experience, and around one exam. The state ranks as the nation’s 36th most broadly and onerously licensed.

Wisconsin frequently licenses occupations that are unlicensed by other states. For example, few other states license animal trainers (eight), farm labor contractors (nine), bartenders (12) or sign language interpreters (21). Among those, sign language interpreters face particularly steep education and experience requirements: 1,469 days (four years and 40 clock hours) of education. The average in states that license the occupation, meanwhile, is 1,088 days. And bill collection agencies, which are unlicensed in 20 states, face unusually high fees in Wisconsin ($1,200 versus an average of $551).

Wisconsin 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, it takes over 10 times as long to become a cosmetologist in Wisconsin as it does to become an EMT. EMTs must complete roughly 35 days (150 hours) of education, while cosmetologists need an estimated 362 (1,550 hours). Wisconsin 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.

Wisconsin 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 50 575 2555 4 years 3 years 2 12 0
2 Athletic Trainer 49 465 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
3 Midwife, Direct Entry 37 1359 730 2 years None 1 12 0
4 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 315 730 2 years None 2 12 18
5 Veterinary Technician 36 490 730 2 years None 2 0 18
6 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 100 739 39 clock hours 2 years 1 0 20
7 Cosmetologist 51 391 362 1550 clock hours None 2 0 18
8 Massage Therapist 45 270 140 600 clock hours None 2 12 18
9 Barber 51 378 233 1000 clock hours None 2 0 18
10 Shampooer 33 354 233 1000 clock hours None 2 0 18
11 Makeup Artist 37 383 105 450 clock hours None 2 0 18
11 Skin Care Specialist 51 383 105 450 clock hours None 2 0 18
13 Manicurist 51 343 70 300 clock hours None 2 0 18
14 School Bus Driver 51 279 0 None None 6 0 18
15 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 269 0 None None 5 0 18
16 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 254 0 None None 5 0 18
17 Truck Driver, Other 51 254 0 None None 4 0 18
18 Emergency Medical Technician 51 98 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 18
19 Bill Collection Agency 29 1200 0 None None 0 0 0
20 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 180 0 None None 2 0 16
21 Auctioneer 28 173 0 None None 1 0 18
22 Child Care Home, Family 44 100 22 3 credit hours & 7 clock hours None 0 0 18
23 Pipelayer Contractor 27 165 0 None None 1 0 18
24 Mobile Home Installer 37 115 2 12 clock hours None 1 0 18
25 Pest Control Applicator 51 145 0 None None 1 0 16
26 Animal Breeder 29 625 0 None None 0 0 0
27 Travel Guide 37 40 0 None None 0 0 18
28 Bartender 12 0 1 3 clock hours None 0 0 18
29 Milk Sampler 43 60 0 None None 2 0 0
30 Animal Control Officer 7 60 9 40 clock hours None 1 0 0
31 Animal Trainer 7 25 0 None None 0 0 10
32 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 175 0 None None 0 0 0
32 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 175 0 None None 0 0 0
32 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 175 0 None None 0 0 0
32 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 175 0 None None 0 0 0
36 Farm Labor Contractor 10 100 0 None None 0 0 0
37 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 62 0 None None 0 0 0
38 Taxidermist 28 50 0 None None 0 0 0
39 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 30 0 None None 0 0 0
39 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 30 0 None None 0 0 0
41 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 0 1 4 clock hours None 0 0 0
42 Fisher, Commercial 43 2 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