Mississippi
Mississippi’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are only the 46th most burdensome in the nation, requiring, on average, $330 in fees, 160 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. However, because Mississippi licenses more lower-income occupations than average—66 of the 102 studied here—it is the 19th most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Mississippi’s laws are less burdensome than most, but its fees for some licenses are much higher than average. For example, fire and security alarm installers face fees of $1,090 before they can work in Mississippi. But the average fees across other states that license those occupations are about half that—$557 and $487, respectively.
Mississippi also imposes more extensive education requirements on some occupations than on others that may present greater risks to the public. For example, barbers and cosmetologists must complete roughly 350 days (1,500 hours) of education—nearly a year—to become licensed. Similarly, makeup artists must complete around 140 days (600 hours) of education and manicurists around 82 days (350 hours). EMTs, on the other hand, are deemed capable first responders after just 28 days (120 hours) of education. Mississippi can expand opportunity for workers by easing its barriers to entry for personal care occupations and other lower-income occupations. In keeping with 2017 legislation that enacted a policy favoring less restrictive alternatives to licensing, the state should also review all existing licenses to identify those that can be repealed and—if government regulation is necessary—replaced with less burdensome alternatives.
| Occupation | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic Trainer | $400 | 1460 | 4 years | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Auctioneer | $300 | 11 | 7.5 days | - | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| Barber | $85 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 0 |
| Bus Driver, City/Transit | $90 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Child Care Home, Family | $160 | 170 | 24 credit hours | 13 clock hours | 0 | 12 | 21 |
| Coach, Head (High School Sports) | $0 | 1 | 4.5 clock hours | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cosmetologist | $233 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 17 |
| Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) | $520 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Earth Driller, Water Well | $620 | 1095 | - | 3 years | 4 | 0 | 21 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $145 | 28 | 120 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| Fire Alarm Installer | $1090 | 72 | 28 clock hours | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fisher, Commercial | $30 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Gaming Cage Worker | $75 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Gaming Dealer | $75 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Gaming Supervisor | $75 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Glazier Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Glazier Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HVAC Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Insulation Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Insulation Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Interpreter, Sign Language | $225 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 797 | 2 years | 3 jobs, contractors | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Landscape Contractor (Residential) | $0 | 730 | 2 years | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Makeup Artist | $233 | 140 | 600 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 17 |
| Manicurist | $233 | 82 | 350 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 17 |
| Mason Contractor (Commercial) | $520 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mason Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Massage Therapist | $581 | 163 | 700 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| Milk Sampler | $0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mobile Home Installer | $100 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Painting Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Painting Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Paving Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Paving Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Pest Control Applicator | $0 | 105 | 15 credit hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $90 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 12 | 18 |
| Pipelayer Contractor | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Preschool Teacher, Public School | $442 | 1460 | 4 years | - | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| School Bus Driver | $77 | 1 | 8 clock hours | - | 6 | 0 | 18 |
| Security Alarm Installer | $1090 | 72 | 28 clock hours | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Shampooer | $85 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 0 |
| Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Skin Care Specialist | $233 | 140 | 600 clock hours | - | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| Slot Supervisor | $75 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Taxidermist | $12 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) | $640 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | $290 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Truck Driver, Other | $85 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 17 |
| Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | $85 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 17 |
| Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | $0 | 210 | 30 credit hours | - | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| Veterinary Technician | $410 | 730 | 2 years | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Weigher | $25 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 21 |