Vermont
Vermont licenses 31 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here—fewer than all but one other state. Its laws rank as the 28th most burdensome, requiring an average of $193 in fees, 287 days of education and experience, and around two exams. These lower-than-average burdens, combined with a lower-than-average number of occupations licensed, make Vermont the 50th most broadly and onerously licensed state—the second-best in the nation.
Despite licensing relatively few occupations, Vermont licenses several for which many other states deem licensure unnecessary. These occupations include dental assistant (licensed by eight other states), bartender (12 others), optician (21 others), weigher (24 others), animal breeder (27 others) and auctioneer (29 others).
Vermont also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that arguably have a stronger connection to public health and safety. For example, cosmetologists must study for the better part of a year (roughly 350 days or 1,500 hours), pay $360 in fees and pass three exams to obtain a license to work. EMTs, on the other hand, must only complete less than a month of education (roughly 26 days or 110 hours) and pass two exams. Vermont 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.
| Burden Rank | Occupation | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preschool Teacher, Public School | $667 | 2555 | 4 years | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Athletic Trainer | $400 | 1460 | 4 years | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Midwife, Direct Entry | $1100 | 1095 | 3 years | - | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 4 | Earth Driller, Water Well | $290 | 1095 | - | 3 years | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Optician | $325 | 730 | 2 years | - | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| 6 | Fire Alarm Installer | $180 | 730 | - | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Cosmetologist | $360 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | - | 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 8 | Barber | $110 | 233 | 1000 clock hours | - | 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 8 | Shampooer | $110 | 233 | 1000 clock hours | - | 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 10 | Makeup Artist | $360 | 140 | 600 clock hours | - | 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 10 | Skin Care Specialist | $360 | 140 | 600 clock hours | - | 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 12 | Manicurist | $360 | 93 | 400 clock hours | - | 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 13 | School Bus Driver | $231 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | $185 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 15 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | $171 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 16 | Child Care Home, Family | $0 | 0 | - | 2 clock hours | 0 | 12 | 18 |
| 17 | Truck Driver, Other | $139 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 18 | Emergency Medical Technician | $0 | 26 | 110 clock hours | - | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 19 | Security Guard, Unarmed | $60 | 9 | 40 clock hours | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 20 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | $105 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Weigher | $25 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 22 | Bartender | $0 | 1 | 3 clock hours | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 23 | Pest Control Applicator | $105 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Milk Sampler | $50 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Auctioneer | $100 | 9 | 40 clock hours | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Dental Assistant | $60 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Pharmacy Technician | $50 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Animal Breeder | $25 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | $20 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | $20 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | $0 | 1 | 4.5 clock hours | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |