Virginia
Virginia’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are some of the worst in the nation, ranking as the seventh most burdensome. On average, Virginia law requires $291 in fees, 620 days of education and experience, and approximately one exam. Licensing more lower-income occupations than average—68 of the 102 studied here—Virginia is also the seventh most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Virginia licenses a number of occupations that most other states do not license, including animal control officers (licensed by six other states), upholsterers (nine others), locksmiths (13 others), commercial floor sander contractors (21 others) and commercial painting contractors (21 others). The latter two contractor occupations face particularly steep training requirements in Virginia, where aspirants must demonstrate an estimated 731 days of education and experience (two years of experience and eight hours of education). By comparison, on average, licensed states require fewer than 500 days of education and experience (485 for floor sander contractors and 488 days for painting contractors). Given that so few states see fit to license these occupations at all, Virginia’s requirements appear excessive.
Virginia also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem disproportionate compared to those for other occupations that may present a greater risk to public safety. For example, it takes roughly 63 days (nine credit hours) and $80 in fees to become a licensed EMT. Becoming a licensed landscape contractor, on the other hand, requires roughly 731 days (two years of experience and eight hours of education) and $320 in fees. Virginia could improve its rankings by reducing or repealing such heavy licensing burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
| Burden Rank | Occupation | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earth Driller, Water Well | $460 | 2203 | 56 clock hours | 6 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | $720 | 1826 | 8 clock hours | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | HVAC Contractor (Residential) | $720 | 1826 | 8 clock hours | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | $720 | 1826 | 8 clock hours | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | $720 | 1826 | 8 clock hours | 5 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Preschool Teacher, Public School | $630 | 1460 | 4 years | - | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | $450 | 1461 | 4 years and 4 clock hours | - | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 8 | Athletic Trainer | $430 | 1460 | 4 years | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Midwife, Direct Entry | $1277 | 1095 | 3 years | - | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 10 | Security Alarm Installer | $650 | 1096 | 8 clock hours | 3 years | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Optician | $350 | 730 | 2 years | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 12 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Fire Alarm Installer | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Glazier Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Glazier Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Mason Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Mason Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Painting Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Paving Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Paving Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Pipelayer Contractor | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 41 | Insulation Contractor (Commercial) | $235 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 41 | Mobile Home Installer | $235 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 43 | Veterinary Technician | $375 | 730 | 2 years | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | $120 | 365 | 1 years | - | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 45 | Pest Control Applicator | $120 | 365 | 1 years | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 46 | Cosmetologist | $280 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 47 | Barber | $275 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | Child Care Home, Family | $39 | 92 | - | 3 months and 6 clock hours | 0 | 12 | 18 |
| 49 | Massage Therapist | $335 | 117 | 500 clock hours | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 50 | School Bus Driver | $33 | 8 | 24 clock hours | 24 clock hours | 6 | 0 | 18 |
| 51 | Pharmacy Technician | $154 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 52 | Skin Care Specialist | $175 | 140 | 600 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 53 | Emergency Medical Technician | $80 | 63 | 9 credit hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 54 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | $30 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 55 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | $27 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 56 | Truck Driver, Other | $27 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 57 | Auctioneer | $65 | 19 | 80 clock hours | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 58 | Manicurist | $175 | 35 | 150 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 59 | Locksmith | $75 | 3 | 18 clock hours | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 59 | Security Guard, Unarmed | $75 | 3 | 18 clock hours | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 61 | Weigher | $25 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 62 | Fisher, Commercial | $190 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 62 | Travel Guide | $190 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 64 | Milk Sampler | $0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 64 | Wildlife Control Operator | $0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 66 | Animal Control Officer | $0 | 20 | 84 clock hours | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 67 | Taxidermist | $40 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 68 | Upholsterer | $25 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |