New Hampshire

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

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Highlights

34 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed
28th most burdensome licensing laws
43rd most extensively and onerously licensed state

(Last updated April 24, 2012)

Summary

New Hampshire requires a license to perform 34 of the 102 low- to moderate-income occupations studied. It ranks as the 43rd most broadly and onerously licensed state. On average, aspiring practitioners pay $209 in fees, lose 230 days to training and take two exams -- the 28th most burdensome licensing laws. Despite these better-than-average rankings, New Hampshire has room to improve.

New Hampshire imposes above-average barriers on some occupations. For example, it requires two years of training to become a mobile home installer, while the average across licensed states is just about eight months. Aspiring midwives must pay $920 in fees, whereas the average across licensed states is $619.

Eleven of the occupations New Hampshire licenses are also licensed by less than half of the other states. For example, New Hampshire is one of only five states that license shampooers. Occupations like these, where other states are doing fine without licensing an occupation, are candidates for reform.

So are occupations whose burdens appear out-of-line with public safety concerns. For example, in New Hampshire, it takes months of training to become a licensed cosmetologist, barber, massage therapist, skin care specialist or manicurist, but only 26 days to earn a license as 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	130	1,825	2	0	0
2	Athletic Trainer	46	450	1,460	1	0	0
3	Earth Driller	47	260	1,095	1	0	0
4	Midwife	29	920	730	3	12	0
5	School Bus Driver	51	80	732	6	0	18
6	Mobile Home Installer	39	75	731	0	0	18
7	Cosmetologist	51	124	350	2	12	0
8	Barber	50	124	187	2	12	16
9	Massage Therapist	39	125	175	2	12	0
10	Makeup Artist	36	154	140	3	12	0
10	Skin Care Specialist	50	154	140	3	12	0
12	Manicurist	50	119	70	2	12	0
13	Sign Language Interpreter	16	860	2	3	0	18
14	Cathodic Protection Tester	16	1500	8	2	0	0
15	Animal Trainer	20	0	90	0	0	18
16	Bus Driver (City/Transit)	51	70	0	5	0	18
17	Truck Driver	51	60	0	4	0	18
18	Emergency Medical Technician	51	70	26	2	0	18
19	Pest Control Applicator	51	20	0	3	0	18
19	Vegetation Pesticide Handler	51	20	0	3	0	18
21	Shampooer	5	25	35	0	0	16
22	Weigher	24	106	0	1	0	18
23	Travel Guide	21	60	0	1	0	18
24	Pharmacy Technician	12	25	0	0	0	18
25	Child Care Worker	33	27	0	0	0	16
26	Auctioneer	33	115	19	1	0	0
27	Gaming Supervisor	23	510	0	0	0	0
27	Slot Key Person	21	510	0	0	0	0
29	Animal Breeder	26	200	0	0	0	0
30	Coach (School Sports)	24	45	1	0	0	0
31	Fisher	41	50	0	0	0	0
31	Taxidermist	26	50	0	0	0	0
33	Gaming Dealer	24	40	0	0	0	0
34	Security Guard	37	20	0	0	0	0