Institute for Justice
LTW Occupation
Security Alarm Installer
License to Work: A National Study of Burdens from Occupational Licensing
Highlights
License required in 34 states12th most burdensome licensing requirements
17th most heavily regulated occupation
(Last updated April 24, 2012)
Definition
Security alarm installers, also known as security alarm technicians, install, program, maintain and repair security alarm wiring and equipment and ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes.Summary
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia require a license to work as a security alarm installer. On average, these requirements cost aspiring security alarm installers 535 days of education and training, $213 in licensing fees and require them to take one exam -- the 12th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.License requirements for security alarm installers vary widely across states. For example, Delaware only requires the installer to register,
whereas Vermont has the most burdensome requirements at more than five years lost to experience, $250 in fees and one exam. In 17 of the 34 states, security alarm installers are required to have a year or more of experience, often to obtain a level of electrician's license, while another 14 states do not require any education or experience.
(Last updated May 1, 2012)
State Licensing Requirements
| Burden Rank | State | Fees | Education/Experience (Days) | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 250 | 2,001 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Michigan | 200 | 1,460 | 1 | 12 | 25 |
| 3 | Hawaii | 380 | 1,460 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 50 | 1,400 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 5 | Idaho | 80 | 1,460 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Illinois | 832 | 1,099 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Florida | 628 | 1,095 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 165 | 1,095 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 70 | 1,095 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | California | 156 | 933 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 100 | 933 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Washington | 128 | 941 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Texas | 58 | 733 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Oregon | 50 | 730 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | New Mexico | 186 | 730 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Tennessee | 310 | 420 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 17 | Georgia | 72 | 365 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | 330 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 19 | New York | 275 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 20 | Nevada | 1036 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Connecticut | 142 | 168 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 23 | Montana | 104 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 24 | Louisiana | 280 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | 205 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 26 | Maryland | 150 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 27 | Utah | 172 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Virginia | 100 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 29 | Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Arizona | 320 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Alaska | 250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Washington, D.C. | 96 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Arkansas | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Delaware | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
