Georgia
Georgia’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations rank as the 14th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $185 in fees, 464 days of education and experience, and about two exams. But because Georgia licenses a below-average number of the occupations studied here (41 out of 102), it ranks as the 34th most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Georgia licenses some occupations more onerously than many other states do. Pipelayer contractors, for example, must demonstrate 1,097 days of education and experience (comprising 12 hours of education and three years of experience). That is twice the average (546 days) required across licensed states. Pipelayer contractors are not even licensed everywhere: Just 26 other states deem licensure necessary. And Georgia licenses other occupations that are rarely licensed by other states, such as non-instructional teacher assistants (just four other states) and opticians (21 others).
Georgia also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, the education requirements for personal care occupations can be up to 13 times higher than those for EMTs: Cosmetologists and barbers must complete 1,500 hours (about 350 days) of education, and skin care specialists 1,000 hours (about 233 days), while EMTs must complete only 110 hours (about 26 days). Georgia can improve its rankings by reducing or repealing its heavy burdens for cosmetologists, barbers, skin care specialists 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 | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preschool Teacher, Public School | $351 | 2555 | 4 years | 3 years | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | $281 | 2555 | 4 years | 3 years | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | $297 | 1829 | 24 clock hours | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | $297 | 1829 | 24 clock hours | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | $297 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | $297 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Athletic Trainer | $350 | 1460 | 4 years | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Pipelayer Contractor | $253 | 1097 | 12 clock hours | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | School Bus Driver | $115 | 734 | 24 clock hours | 2 years | 6 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Earth Driller, Water Well | $725 | 730 | - | 2 years | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Veterinary Technician | $360 | 730 | 2 years | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Optician | $115 | 365 | 1 years | - | 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 13 | Cosmetologist | $139 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 17 |
| 14 | Barber | $30 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | - | 2 | 7 | 16 |
| 15 | Makeup Artist | $139 | 233 | 1000 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 17 |
| 15 | Skin Care Specialist | $139 | 233 | 1000 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 17 |
| 17 | Fire Alarm Installer | $237 | 365 | - | 1 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Security Alarm Installer | $237 | 365 | - | 1 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Massage Therapist | $320 | 117 | 500 clock hours | - | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| 20 | Manicurist | $139 | 123 | 525 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 17 |
| 21 | Auctioneer | $420 | 19 | 80 clock hours | - | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| 22 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | $120 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 23 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | $115 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 24 | Truck Driver, Other | $115 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 25 | Emergency Medical Technician | $155 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 26 | Teacher Assistant, Non-Instructional | $0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 27 | Child Care Home, Family | $101 | 31 | 120 clock hours | 16 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 28 | Wildlife Control Operator | $35 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 29 | Mobile Home Installer | $300 | 1 | 1 days | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Pharmacy Technician | $100 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 31 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | $190 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | $75 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 32 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | $75 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 34 | Pest Control Applicator | $185 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Travel Guide | $25 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 36 | Fisher, Commercial | $17 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 37 | Taxi Driver/Chauffeur | $15 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 38 | Animal Breeder | $263 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Taxidermist | $150 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Milk Sampler | $0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | Weigher | $15 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | Midwife, Direct Entry | $0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |