Institute for Justice
LTW State Data
Nebraska
License to Work: A National Study of Burdens from Occupational Licensing
Highlights
45 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed50th most burdensome licensing laws
31st most extensively and onerously licensed state
(Last updated April 24, 2012)
Summary
Nebraska has only the 50th most burdensome licensing laws, but it ranks as the 31st most broadly and onerously licensed state because it licenses 45 of the 102 low- to moderate-income occupations studied. Moreover, the burdens Nebraska imposes, while lower than other states, are still substantial: on average, $140 in fees, one exam and 147 days lost to education and experience.Nebraska has a lower burden rank because for 22 of its licensed occupations, it does not require experience or examinations, only a license fee. Even so, Nebraska has a number of occupations that require far more experience than any other state. For example, the operator of a bill collection agency is required to have two years of experience; no other state requires even one day. Similarly, aspiring title examiners lose one year to experience. Only five other states even license title examiners, and none have experience requirements. Massage therapists are required to have 233 days of training; the average among licensed states is just 139 days.
In addition to examining licensing requirements that are high compared to other states, Nebraska policy makers should consider whether some requirements are too burdensome compared to other licenses that are more directly linked to public safety. For example, it takes more than a year to become a barber or cosmetologist and two to seven months to earn a license as a massage therapist, skin care specialist or manicurist. By contrast, emergency medical technicians learn their skills in just about four days.
To improve employment prospects for low- to moderate-income workers, Nebraska could remove unnecessary licenses or excessive barriers.
