Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)
Cement finishing contractors, also known as concrete mason contractors, contract with clients to smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads or curbs, using a variety of hand and power tools; align forms for sidewalks, curbs or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.
Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the cement finishers who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.
License required by 30 states
51st most burdensome licensing requirements
42nd most widely and onerously licensed occupation
Thirty states license cement finishing contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require 307 days of education and experience, $300 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 15 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 51st most burdensome.
| Burden Rank | State | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 30 | $938.25 | 1,460 | - | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Arizona | 30 | $826.00 | 1,460 | - | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | California | 30 | $579.00 | 1,460 | - | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Hawaii | 30 | $615.00 | 1,460 | - | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 30 | $317.76 | 730 | - | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Maryland | 30 | $433.00 | 730 | - | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Utah | 30 | $549.00 | 733 | 20 clock hours | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Virginia | 30 | $320.00 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 30 | $50.00 | 365 | - | 1 years | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Mississippi | 30 | $290.00 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Michigan | 30 | $286.00 | 14 | 60 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Oregon | 30 | $410.00 | 3 | 16 clock hours | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 13 | Louisiana | 30 | $460.00 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 30 | $200.00 | 1 | 5 clock hours | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 15 | West Virginia | 30 | $174.00 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | North Dakota | 30 | $125.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 17 | Tennessee | 30 | $305.00 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | D C | 30 | $442.20 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 30 | $145.00 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Alabama | 30 | $350.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Alaska | 30 | $300.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | 30 | $250.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Connecticut | 30 | $220.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Washington | 30 | $113.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | New Jersey | 30 | $110.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Arkansas | 30 | $50.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Iowa | 30 | $50.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | 30 | $50.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Idaho | 30 | $30.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Nebraska | 30 | $0.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |