States with Strictest Occupational Licensing

All 50 states plus D.C. ranked by licensing burden — a composite score based on number of licensed occupations, average required education hours, average initial and renewal fees, and other factors. Higher burden rank = more restrictive licensing environment.

Rank State Burden Score Tier
1 California 28.5 High
2 Oregon 30.2 High
3 Illinois 31.0 High
4 Nevada 32.1 High
5 Colorado 33.5 High
6 Arizona 34.2 High
7 Washington 35.0 High
8 Hawaii 35.8 High
9 New Mexico 36.5 High
10 Montana 37.0 High
11 Louisiana 38.0 Medium
12 Connecticut 40.0 Medium
12 Rhode Island 37.5 Medium
13 Maryland 40.5 Medium
13 New Jersey 41.0 Medium
14 Massachusetts 41.5 Medium
15 Florida 42.0 Medium
17 New York 43.2 Medium
18 District of Columbia 43.8 Medium
18 Pennsylvania 44.0 Medium
19 Delaware 44.5 Medium
20 Texas 45.5 Medium
22 Ohio 46.0 Medium
24 Michigan 47.5 Medium
25 Georgia 48.0 Medium
26 North Carolina 48.5 Low
27 Indiana 49.0 Low
28 Virginia 50.0 Low
29 Tennessee 51.0 Low
30 Minnesota 52.0 Low
31 Missouri 52.5 Low
32 Wisconsin 53.0 Low
33 Alabama 53.5 Low
34 Mississippi 54.0 Low
34 Utah 54.5 Low
34 West Virginia 54.5 Low
35 Kentucky 55.0 Low
36 Arkansas 56.0 Low
37 South Carolina 57.0 Low
38 Oklahoma 57.5 Low
39 Iowa 58.0 Low
40 Kansas 58.5 Low
41 Nebraska 59.0 Low
42 Alaska 59.5 Low
43 Idaho 60.0 Low
44 North Dakota 61.0 Low
45 South Dakota 62.0 Low
46 Wyoming 63.0 Low
47 Vermont 63.5 Low
48 Maine 64.0 Low
49 New Hampshire 65.0 Low
Burden tiers: High (ranks 1–10) = most restrictive licensing environments. Medium (ranks 11–25) = moderate licensing burden. Low (ranks 26–51) = least restrictive.

Source: Institute for Justice, License to Work research program Institute for Justice, License to Work research program Burden score is a composite of multiple factors including number of licensed occupations, average education requirements, average fees, and other barriers to entry