New Jersey

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

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Highlights

48 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed
20th most burdensome licensing laws
16th most extensively and onerously licensed state

(Last updated April 24, 2012)

Summary

New Jersey is the 16th most broadly and onerously licensed state, placing it in the second tier of states. The average barriers for the 48 occupations licensed are $179 in fees, 292 days lost to education and experience and one exam -- the 20th most burdensome licensing requirements. For six occupations, New Jersey has the most burdensome requirements. The state also licenses 25 occupations that a majority of other states choose not to license.

New Jersey's poor ranking is from requiring training and fees for many of its licensed occupations beyond what other states require and from licensing more occupations than most states. For example, the state licenses 11 residential contractor occupations, for which only around 10 states require a license.

The state also has large barriers to entry in occupations that most other states do not even license. For example court clerks, only licensed by three other states, are required to have two years of experience. The other states do not require anything near that much time. Aspiring locksmiths lose more than three years to education, yet the 12 other states that license these workers do not require any more than 16 days. Cathodic protection testers (those who inspect certain systems designed to protect buried or submerged metal piping and tanks) lose two years to training. Only one other state requires more than eight days.

New Jersey is the only state to require that city/transit bus drivers possess a driver's license for three years prior to working. Only eight states have any such requirement, and New Jersey's is the longest. Most states and the District of Columbia require only tests, fees and a minimum age. Animal control officers are required to pay $749 in fees, the highest fee among the 17 states that license the occupation; average fees are $116. School sports coaches must be licensed teachers, which requires earning a four-year degree. Only three other states require anything close to that; the national average is 254 days.

To encourage employment opportunities in these low- and moderate-income occupations, New Jersey could drastically reduce the higher burdens or eliminate some licenses all together.

Licensing Requirements

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Athletic Trainer	46	370	1,460	1	12	18
2	Preschool Teacher	49	190	1,460	1	0	0
3	Coach (School Sports)	24	0	1,460	0	0	0
4	Locksmith	13	228	1,176	1	12	18
5	School Bus Driver	51	171	1,095	6	0	21
6	Bus Driver (City/Transit)	51	169	1,095	5	0	21
7	Earth Driller	47	50	1,095	1	12	0
8	Optician	22	25	857	2	12	0
9	Court Clerk	4	50	754	1	12	21
10	Cathodic Protection Tester	16	1500	738	2	0	0
11	Midwife	29	125	730	1	0	18
12	Child Care Worker	33	0	730	0	0	0
13	Cosmetologist	51	110	280	2	12	17
13	Barber	50	110	280	2	12	17
15	Skin Care Specialist	50	110	140	2	12	17
15	Makeup Artist	36	110	140	2	12	17
17	Manicurist	50	110	70	2	12	0
18	Massage Therapist	39	270	117	1	0	0
19	Crane Operator	18	415	0	3	0	18
20	Truck Driver	51	167	0	4	0	18
21	Animal Control Officer	17	749	10	0	0	18
22	Emergency Medical Technician	51	70	28	2	0	18
23	Teacher Assistant	29	115	0	1	12	0
24	Gaming Supervisor	23	750	0	0	0	0
25	Security Guard	37	153	5	0	0	18
26	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	12	73	0	0	0	21
27	Vegetation Pesticide Handler	51	175	10	2	0	0
27	Pest Control Applicator	51	175	10	2	0	0
29	Milk Sampler	34	0	0	2	0	0
30	Gaming Dealer	24	350	0	0	0	0
30	Gaming Cage Worker	22	350	0	0	0	0
32	Fisher	41	102	0	0	0	0
33	Slot Key Person	21	95	0	0	0	0
34	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	8	90	0	0	0	0
34	Sheet Metal Contractor (Residential)	7	90	0	0	0	0
34	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	9	90	0	0	0	0
34	Painting Contractor (Residential)	10	90	0	0	0	0
34	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker (Residential)	10	90	0	0	0	0
34	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	9	90	0	0	0	0
34	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	9	90	0	0	0	0
34	Mason Contractor (Residential)	10	90	0	0	0	0
34	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	10	90	0	0	0	0
34	Door Repair Contractor	35	90	0	0	0	0
34	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	9	90	0	0	0	0
34	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	11	90	0	0	0	0
46	Animal Trainer	20	50	0	0	0	0
47	Animal Breeder	26	18	0	0	0	0
48	HVAC Contractor (General/Commercial)	40	0	0	0	0	0