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2nd Edition

By Dick M. Carpenter II, Ph.D., Lisa Knepper, Kyle Sweetland and Jennifer McDonald

Indiana

37 of 102 lower-income occupations licensed

26th most burdensome licensing laws

44th most broadly and onerously licensed state

Indiana licenses 37 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here. Its licensing laws rank as the 26th most burdensome because Indiana’s barriers to entry average $163 in fees, 323 days lost to education and experience, and approximately one exam. Indiana ranks as the 44th most broadly and onerously licensed state for lower-income workers, making it better than most but still leaving ample room for improvement.

Indiana licenses several occupations that are not licensed by other states, such as veterinary technicians (licensed by 36 states), auctioneers (30 states), sign language interpreters (22 states), taxi drivers and chauffeurs (16 states), and bartenders (13 states). Among those, sign language interpreters in Indiana face particularly steep burdens of more than four years of education, two exams and $725 in fees.

Indiana also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. For example, in Indiana, it is harder to become a manicurist than it is to become an EMT. EMTs need only about 37 days (160 hours) of education, while manicurists need around 105 days (450 hours) of education. Indiana should consider whether this and other heavy licensing burdens can be reduced, repealed or—if government regulation is necessary—replaced with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Burden Rank Occupation States Licensed Fees Estimated Calendar Days Lost Education Experience Exams Min. Grade Min. Age
1 Midwife, Direct Entry 28 $1000 2695 3 years 80 births 1 12 21
2 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 $478 2190 4 years and 2 years 3 0 0
3 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 $725 * 1469 * 4 years and 40 clock hours * 2 0 18
4 Athletic Trainer 49 $394 1460 4 years 1 0 0
5 Veterinary Technician 36 $392 730 2 years 2 12 18
6 School Bus Driver 51 $153 370 20 clock hours 1 years and 12 clock hours 6 0 21
7 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 $153 365 1 years 5 0 21
8 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 $153 365 1 years 5 0 18
9 Cosmetologist 51 $92 350 1500 clock hours 1 10 18
10 Truck Driver, Other 51 $153 365 1 years 4 0 18
11 Barber 51 $84 350 1500 clock hours 2 0 18
12 Mobile Home Installer 39 $150 366 8 clock hours 1 year(s) 0 0 18
13 Taxi Driver/Chauffeur 16 $19 365 1 years 1 0 18
14 Makeup Artist 41 $92 163 700 clock hours 1 10 18
14 Skin Care Specialist 50 $92 163 700 clock hours 1 10 18
16 Manicurist 50 $92 105 450 clock hours 1 8 18
17 Pharmacy Technician 44 $193 0 1 12 18
18 Emergency Medical Technician 51 $80 37 160 clock hours 2 0 18
19 Child Care Home, Family 44 $52 1 7.5 clock hours 0 12 0
20 Auctioneer 30 $105 19 80 clock hours 1 0 18
21 Gaming Cage Worker 29 $250 0 0 0 21
21 Gaming Dealer 28 $250 0 0 0 21
23 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 $125 0 1 0 18
24 Bartender 13 $45 0 2 clock hours 1 0 19
25 Gaming Supervisor 30 $100 0 0 0 21
25 Slot Supervisor 28 $100 0 0 0 21
27 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 $90 3 16 clock hours 3 0 0
28 Bill Collection Agency 31 $100 0 0 0 18
29 Pest Control Applicator 51 $90 0 2 0 0
30 Milk Sampler 42 $0 2 1 days 1 days 1 0 0
31 Wildlife Control Operator 23 $0 0 1 0 0
32 Travel Guide 37 $100 0 0 0 0
33 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 $50 0 0 0 0
33 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 $50 0 0 0 0
35 Fisher, Commercial 43 $20 0 0 0 0
36 Taxidermist 28 $15 0 0 0 0
37 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 48 * $0 0 1 clock hours 0 0 0

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