Insulation Contractor (Commercial)
License required by 25 states
35th most burdensome licensing requirements.
61st most widely and onerously licensed occupation.
Insulation contractors contract with clients to line and cover structures with insulating materials. They may work with batt, roll or blown insulation materials.
Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the insulators who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.
Twenty-five states license insulation contractors working on commercial properties. Ten states require between two and five years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Alabama and Mississippi require completion of three contracted jobs. Thirteen states require no experience. On average, states require 458 days of education and experience, $366 in fees ($1,033 in Nevada), and around one exam. These high barriers give commercial insulation contractors the 35th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
States With Licenses
| Burden Rank | State | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | 25 | $180 | 1825 | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | California | 25 | $579 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
| 3 | Nevada | 25 | $1,033 | 1460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 4 | Hawaii | 25 | $615 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 5 | Oregon | 25 | $410 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Arizona | 25 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 7 | Utah | 25 | $549 * | 733 * | 20 clock hours * | 2 years * | 2 * | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | New Mexico | 25 | $249 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 9 | Virginia | 25 | $235 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 25 | $250 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Mississippi | 25 | $640 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Alabama | 25 | $492 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Louisiana | 25 | $460 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 14 | Rhode Island | 25 | $200 | 1 | 5 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 15 | North Dakota | 25 | $125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 16 | D C | 25 | $655 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 17 | Tennessee | 25 | $305 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 18 | Connecticut | 25 | $500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 19 | North Carolina | 25 | $145 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 20 | West Virginia | 25 | $132 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 21 | Alaska | 25 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 22 | Washington | 25 | $113 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 23 | Iowa | 25 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 24 | Idaho | 25 | $30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 25 | Nebraska | 25 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
