State licensing boards · 97 professions · 4,947 requirement records

How hard is it
to get licensed?

Compare education hours, exam requirements, fees, and reciprocity for 97 regulated professions across all 50 states + DC, direct from state licensing boards.

Or jump to All professions By state Strictest states Most licensed Compare tool Statistics
Professions
97
States + DC
51
Requirement records
4,947
Categories
15

Across 97 professions and 4,947 state×profession requirement rows, California ranks #1 on the licensing-burden index (score 28.5) while New Hampshire ranks #49 (score 65.0). 54.9% of rows are board-confirmed rather than category estimates. Lower burden score means heavier documented barriers on the same 97-profession grid, not fewer titles.

Interstate compact passport

Enacted member counts from the live compact_members table (290 state×compact seats across 8 tracked compacts). Each stamp opens the covered profession, not a second reciprocity estimate.

  1. Stamp 01 · 2019 PSYPACT 42 enacted states
  2. Stamp 02 · 2000 Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) 39 enacted states
  3. Stamp 03 · 2017 Interstate Medical Licensure Compact 38 enacted states
  4. Stamp 04 · 2017 Physical Therapy Compact 37 enacted states
  5. Stamp 05 · 2021 Audiology & SLP Compact 35 enacted states
  6. Stamp 06 · 2021 Occupational Therapy Compact 35 enacted states
  7. Stamp 07 · 2022 Counseling Compact 33 enacted states
  8. Stamp 08 · 2017 EMS Compact (REPLICA) 31 enacted states

Full compact membership bars also live on /statistics. Verify current board rules before relying on a compact privilege.

Where the licensing mass sits

Category counts and the board-confirmed share use the same requirements snapshot as the hero KPIs, not a second query.

1. Healthcare26 professions2. Construction15 professions3. Cosmetology10 professions4. Education6 professions5. Finance5 professions6. Legal & Security5 professions7. Miscellaneous5 professions8. Transportation5 professions
Regulated professions profiled in each licensing category
0%100%54.9%
Board-confirmed share of 4,947 requirement rows (not category estimates)

Training hours vs. licensing fee

The same 47-profession corpus above, plotted by average required training hours against average initial licensing fee: the fee tracks bureaucracy more than training cost.

Training hours barely predict the licensing fee

All professions: avg confirmed training hours vs. avg confirmed initial fee

0 hrs1553.7 hrs3107.5 hrs4661.2 hrs6214.9 hrs$29.2$116.1$203$289.9$376.8Avg training hoursAvg initial fee ($)Armed Security Guard, Avg training hours: 41 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $128Athletic Trainer, Avg training hours: 2959 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $142Auctioneer, Avg training hours: 135 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $152Barber, Avg training hours: 1230 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $92Bartender / Alcohol Server, Avg training hours: 2 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $50Chauffeur / Limousine Driver, Avg training hours: 18 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $80Childcare Center Director, Avg training hours: 55 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $105Commercial Truck Driver (CDL), Avg training hours: 233 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $103Cosmetologist, Avg training hours: 1276 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $104Dental Hygienist, Avg training hours: 2959 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $201Electrician, Avg training hours: 5837 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $131Electrologist, Avg training hours: 609 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $112Elevator Installer, Avg training hours: 5837 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $188Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Avg training hours: 157 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $94Esthetician, Avg training hours: 628 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $95Food Handler / Food Safety Certification, Avg training hours: 3 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $45Home Inspector, Avg training hours: 99 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $196HVAC Technician, Avg training hours: 3837 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $105Insurance Agent, Avg training hours: 48 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $126Interior Designer, Avg training hours: 0 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $50Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Avg training hours: 3459 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $155Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Avg training hours: 1230 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $132Licensed Professional Counselor, Avg training hours: 2959 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $147Marriage and Family Therapist, Avg training hours: 2959 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $178Massage Therapist, Avg training hours: 659 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $119Mortgage Loan Originator, Avg training hours: 20 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $361Nail Technician, Avg training hours: 425 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $85Occupational Therapist, Avg training hours: 3459 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $178Optometrist, Avg training hours: 4459 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $270Paramedic, Avg training hours: 1567 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $142Pest Control Applicator, Avg training hours: 18 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $105Pharmacist, Avg training hours: 4689 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $215Physical Therapist, Avg training hours: 3459 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $201Physician Assistant, Avg training hours: 3689 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $238Plumber, Avg training hours: 5837 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $154Private Investigator, Avg training hours: 2777 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $211Process Server, Avg training hours: 26 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $168Psychologist, Avg training hours: 5919 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $284Radiologic Technologist, Avg training hours: 2122 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $142Real Estate Agent / Salesperson, Avg training hours: 104 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $154Real Estate Broker, Avg training hours: 156 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $211Registered Nurse, Avg training hours: 2459 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $155Respiratory Therapist, Avg training hours: 1959 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $142School Bus Driver, Avg training hours: 77 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $80Speech-Language Pathologist, Avg training hours: 3459 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $201Veterinarian, Avg training hours: 4919 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $284Veterinary Technician, Avg training hours: 1959 hrs · Avg initial fee ($): $142Little training, real feeYears of training, modest fee

Browse by Category

26 Healthcare 15 Construction 10 Cosmetology 6 Education 5 Finance 5 Legal & Security 5 Miscellaneous 5 Transportation 4 Animal Care 4 Mental Health 3 Agriculture 3 Real Estate 2 Design 2 Engineering 2 Food & Hospitality

Most burdensome states

All state burden rankings

States with the most burdensome occupational licensing requirements (lower score = more burdensome)

1
California
Burden score 28.5 · rank #1
28.5
 2
Oregon
Burden score 30.2 · rank #2
30.2
 3
Illinois
Burden score 31.0 · rank #3
31.0
 4
Nevada
Burden score 32.1 · rank #4
32.1
 5
Colorado
Burden score 33.5 · rank #5
33.5

Least burdensome states

Full licensing burden index

States with fewer occupational licensing burdens (higher score = less burdensome)

1
New Hampshire
Burden score 65.0 · rank #49
65.0
 2
Maine
Burden score 64.0 · rank #48
64.0
 3
Vermont
Burden score 63.5 · rank #47
63.5
 4
Wyoming
Burden score 63.0 · rank #46
63.0
 5
South Dakota
Burden score 62.0 · rank #45
62.0

In-demand licensing lookups

These profession hubs collect the most search interest for state-specific licensing paths. Each link opens the nationwide requirement table for that title (estimate URLs consolidate here).

Popular Professions

Browse all 97 licensed professions

Amusement Ride Operator

Miscellaneous

Operates carnival and amusement rides. Licensed for safety.

Compare requirements →

Animal Breeder

Animal Care

Breeds animals for sale. Licensed in many states for animal welfare.

Compare requirements →

Arborist / Tree Surgeon

Agriculture

Provides tree care services. Licensed in some states and cities.

Compare requirements →

Armed Security Guard

Legal & Security

Provides security services with authorization to carry a firearm.

Compare requirements →

Athletic Agent

Miscellaneous

Represents athletes in negotiations. Registered in ~40 states.

Compare requirements →

Athletic Trainer

Healthcare

Prevents and treats injuries for athletes. Requires BOC examination.

Compare requirements →

Auctioneer

Miscellaneous

Conducts auctions for the sale of goods and property.

Compare requirements →

Barber

Cosmetology

Cuts and styles hair. Licensed in all 50 states and DC.

Compare requirements →

Bartender / Alcohol Server

Food & Hospitality

Prepares and serves alcoholic beverages in licensed establishments.

Compare requirements →

Learn About Occupational Licensing

From license reciprocity to state-by-state burden rankings, our guides help you navigate professional licensing requirements.

License Transfer Guide

Moving to a new state

State Burden Rankings

Most vs. least licensed

Licensing Basics

What you need to know

Reciprocity Guide

Cross-state recognition

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PlainCredential?

PlainCredential is a free tool for comparing occupational licensing requirements across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It helps workers and job seekers understand what credentials they need to work legally in their profession.

Where does PlainCredential get its licensing data?

Data is compiled from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the Institute for Justice (IJ) License to Work research, supplemented by verification against individual state licensing board websites.

How many professions does PlainCredential cover?

PlainCredential tracks licensing requirements for 97 professions across 51 jurisdictions (50 states + D.C.), covering 4,947 individual licensing requirement records.

Is PlainCredential free?

Yes, PlainCredential is completely free. You can look up licensing requirements for any covered profession in any state without any account or payment.

Related Guides

Editorial context for the plaincredential dataset, methodology, comparisons, and deep dives into the underlying records.

Continuing Education Requirements Explained

In-depth guide with context and practical steps.

Criminal Records and Professional Licensing

In-depth guide with context and practical steps.

Guide

In-depth guide with context and practical steps.

Research

Original analysis from PlainCredential, every statistic derived from our own database. See all research.

Research

Healthcare Licensing Across 26 Professions

A breakdown of licensing thresholds, education hours, and renewal cycles across 26 Healthcare-category professions (1,326 requirement rows), drawn from NCSL and IJ jurisdiction data.

 Research

Aggregated Licensing Burdens in 15 Southern States

Regional burden comparison for the same 97 tracked professions across 15 Southern states, with cohort requirement rows read live from the licensing database.

 Research

Licensing Breakdown for 26 Healthcare Professions

Education hours, fees, and CE demands across 26 Healthcare professions in 51 jurisdictions (1,326 rows), including RN Alabama vs Alaska comparisons.

What to do with this

54.9% of the 4,947 requirement rows are board-confirmed, not category estimates -- here's how to use that.

  • Before relocating or entering a profession, compare its education hours, fees, and exam requirements across states. Browse all professions
  • See where your target state ranks on the licensing-burden index (California is the strictest at #1). State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

About this data

How PlainCredential works, and why you can trust these numbers

What this site is

PlainCredential compares occupational licensing requirements (education hours, exam requirements, fees, and reciprocity) for 97 professions across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., 4,947 individual licensing requirement records in all.

Editorial process

  1. Source. Compile licensing requirements from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice License to Work research.
  2. Verify. Each requirement is checked against the relevant state licensing board website to confirm it reflects the board’s current published rule.
  3. Publish. Compile a per-profession, per-state page with education hours, exam requirements, fees, and reciprocity, so readers can compare requirements before relocating or entering a profession.

Editorial independence & corrections

PlainCredential is independent and accepts no payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from any licensing board or professional association. Found an error or an outdated requirement? File a correction via the contact page; we review corrections and publish updates with a visible revision note. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

Frequently asked

What is PlainCredential?

PlainCredential is a free tool for comparing occupational licensing requirements across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It helps workers and job seekers understand what credentials they need to work legally in their profession.

Where does PlainCredential get its licensing data?

Data is compiled from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the Institute for Justice (IJ) License to Work research, supplemented by verification against individual state licensing board websites.

How many professions does PlainCredential cover?

PlainCredential tracks licensing requirements for 97 professions across 51 jurisdictions (50 states + D.C.), covering 4,947 individual licensing requirement records.

Is PlainCredential free?

Yes, PlainCredential is completely free. You can look up licensing requirements for any covered profession in any state without any account or payment.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential registry (current as of May 15, 2026) contains 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Download the jurisdiction snapshot (same CSV as /statistics): licensing-statistics.csv (CC BY 4.0).