Kentucky

License to Work: A National Study of Burdens from Occupational Licensing

Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Connecticut Colorado Washington, D.C. Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming

Highlights

27 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed
15th most burdensome licensing laws
45th most extensively and onerously licensed state

(Last updated April 24, 2012)

Summary

Kentucky licenses just 27 of the 102 occupations studied, fewer than any state but Wyoming. That accounts for its ranking as the 45th most broadly and onerously licensed state. However, Kentucky's licensing laws impose burdens that are well above average -- the 15th most burdensome in the nation. Kentucky requires, on average, $230 in fees, 336 days of education and training and two exams to obtain a license in these 27 occupations.

Kentucky's licensing requirements for several occupations are above-average. Of the 33 states that license auctioneers, Kentucky's laws are the third most stringent, requiring a full two years of experience compared to a national average of just about three months. Of the 50 states that license skin care specialists, Kentucky's licensing laws are the third most restrictive -- 233 days, or nearly eight months, of training compared to a national average of about four-and-a half months. Barbers in Kentucky also face above average restrictions -- 620 days compared to a national average of 416 days of required education and experience.

Requirements like these that far outstrip those of other states are candidates for reform, as are occupations whose entry restrictions are overly burdensome compared to others. For example, in Kentucky it takes four times as much training -- 140 days -- to become a manicurist or massage therapist as it does to become an emergency medical technician.

Licensing Requirements

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Preschool Teacher	49	50	1,825	1	0	0
2	Athletic Trainer	46	400	1,460	1	0	0
3	Auctioneer	33	305	730	2	12	18
4	Optician	22	50	730	3	12	18
5	Barber	50	330	620	2	12	17.5
6	Earth Driller	47	65	730	3	0	0
7	HVAC Contractor (General/Commercial)	40	150	700	1	0	18
8	Veterinary Technologist	37	135	730	2	0	0
9	Cosmetologist	51	125	420	2	10	16
10	Makeup Artist	36	200	233	2	12	18
10	Skin Care Specialist	50	200	233	2	12	18
12	Manicurist	50	87	140	2	10	0
13	Massage Therapist	39	125	140	1	0	18
14	Sign Language Interpreter	16	1070	2	3	12	0
15	Emergency Medical Technician	51	105	32	2	12	18
16	School Bus Driver	51	110	4	6	0	21
17	Cathodic Protection Tester	16	1500	8	2	0	0
18	Bus Driver (City/Transit)	51	125	0	5	0	18
19	Truck Driver	51	125	0	4	0	18
20	Animal Control Officer	17	0	0	1	0	18
21	Fisher	41	625	0	0	0	0
22	Mobile Home Installer	39	100	3	1	0	0
23	Milk Sampler	34	15	1	1	0	0
24	Pest Control Applicator	51	25	0	1	0	0
24	Vegetation Pesticide Handler	51	25	0	1	0	0
26	Taxidermist	26	150	0	0	0	0
27	Packager	7	20	0	0	0	0