Massachusetts’ licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the 10th most burdensome, requiring, on average, $309 in fees, 513 days lost to education and experience, and roughly one exam. Massachusetts licenses fewer lower-income occupations than most states—50 of 102—making it the 29th most broadly and onerously licensed state.
Massachusetts licenses some occupations much more onerously than other states, including some that are already among the nation’s most burdened occupations. For example, both of the state’s commercial sheet metal contractor licenses—HVAC and other—require five years (1,825 days) of experience. But the average education and experience requirement across licensed states is 1,215 days for HVAC sheet metal contractors and just 567 days for other sheet metal contractors. These disparities are particularly jarring given that several states do not license these occupations at all.
Massachusetts also imposes burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for other occupations that may present greater risks to the public. Cosmetologists, for example, must complete 1,000 hours of education and then demonstrate two years of experience (the equivalent of 963 days)—the heaviest education and experience requirements of their type. But Massachusetts deems EMTs able to administer life-saving aid after having demonstrated only 150 hours (about 35 days) of education. To expand opportunity for lower-income workers, Massachusetts should repeal or reduce irrationally heavy licensing burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—replace them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.
Burden Rank | Occupation | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Min. Grade | Min. Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Preschool Teacher, Public School | 50 | $405 | 2555 | 4 years | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | $370 | 1825 | 5 years | 1 | 12 | 17 | |
2 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) | 26 | $370 | 1825 | 5 years | 1 | 12 | 17 | |
4 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | $447 | 1460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
5 | Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) | 36 | $370 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 12 | 17 | |
5 | Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) | 31 | $370 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 12 | 17 | |
7 | School Bus Driver | 51 | $200 | 1107 | 28 clock hours | 3 years and 32 clock hours | 6 | 0 | 18 |
8 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $500 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
8 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | 29 | $500 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
8 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $500 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
8 | Glazier Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $500 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
8 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $500 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
8 | Mason Contractor (Residential) | 31 | $500 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
14 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | $275 | 1095 | 3 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
15 | Cosmetologist | 51 | $270 | 963 | 1000 clock hours | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
16 | Optician | 22 | $509 | 730 | 2 years | 3 | 12 | 18 | |
17 | Fire Alarm Installer | 39 | $330 | 800 | 300 clock hours | 2 years | 2 | 12 | 0 |
18 | Barber | 51 | $164 | 779 | 1000 clock hours | 18 months | 3 | 0 | 18 |
19 | HVAC Contractor (Commercial) | 37 | $115 | 700 | 1000 clock hours | 2000 clock hours | 1 | 12 | 18 |
20 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | $450 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
20 | Vegetation Pesticide Applicator | 51 | $450 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
22 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | $276 | 800 | 300 clock hours | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
23 | Child Care Home, Family | 44 | $135 | 189 | 6 months and 32 clock hours | 0 | 12 | 18 | |
24 | Massage Therapist | 44 | $225 | 152 | 650 clock hours | 0 | 12 | 18 | |
25 | Shampooer | 37 | $188 | 233 | 1000 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
26 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | $150 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | ||
27 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | $140 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | ||
28 | Gaming Supervisor | 30 | $1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
28 | Slot Supervisor | 28 | $1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
30 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | $140 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 | ||
31 | Emergency Medical Technician | 51 | $150 | 35 | 150 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
32 | Bill Collection Agency | 31 | $1300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
33 | Pharmacy Technician | 44 | $150 | 56 | 240 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
34 | Skin Care Specialist | 50 | $188 | 70 | 300 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
35 | Funeral Attendant | 3 | $70 | 7 | 1 credit hours | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
36 | Auctioneer | 30 | $100 | 19 | 83 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
37 | Crane Operator | 18 | $75 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | ||
38 | Gaming Cage Worker | 29 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
38 | Gaming Dealer | 28 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
40 | Manicurist | 50 | $188 | 23 | 100 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
41 | Dental Assistant | 9 | $60 | 1 | 4 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
42 | Wildlife Control Operator | 23 | $136 | 1 | 1 days | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
43 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
43 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
43 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
46 | Fisher, Commercial | 43 | $195 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
47 | Travel Guide | 37 | $65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
48 | Animal Breeder | 28 | $32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
49 | Milk Sampler | 42 | $20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
50 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 48 * | $0 | 1 | 6.5 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 0 |