Paving Contractor (Commercial)
License required by 24 states
28th most burdensome licensing requirements.
66th most widely and onerously licensed occupation.
Paving contractors contract with clients to apply concrete, asphalt or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways, or to tamp gravel, dirt or other materials.
Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the paving equipment operators 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-four states license paving 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. Twelve states require no experience. On average, states require 508 days of education and experience, $365 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and one exam. These high barriers give commercial paving contractors the 28th 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 | 24 | $180 | 1825 | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Nevada | 24 | $1,078 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 3 | California | 24 | $579 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
| 4 | Hawaii | 24 | $615 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 5 | Arizona | 24 | $836 | 1460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Oregon | 24 | $385 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | New Mexico | 24 | $318 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 8 | Virginia | 24 | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 24 | $310 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Utah | 24 | $477 * | 733 * | 20 clock hours * | 2 years * | 1 * | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Mississippi | 24 | $640 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Alabama | 24 | $502 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Louisiana | 24 | $460 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 14 | Rhode Island | 24 | $200 | 1 | 5 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 15 | North Dakota | 24 | $125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 16 | D C | 24 | $655 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 17 | Tennessee | 24 | $305 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 18 | North Carolina | 24 | $145 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 19 | West Virginia | 24 | $132 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Alaska | 24 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 21 | Washington | 24 | $113 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 22 | Iowa | 24 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 23 | Idaho | 24 | $35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 24 | Nebraska | 24 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
