Arizona ranked fourth among U.S. states that have burdensome licensing laws for lower-income jobs, according to a report by the Institute for Justice (IJ).
Arizona requires an occupational license for 68 out of 102 lower-income jobs studied in the IJ analysis, making it the fourth “most broadly and onerously licensed state.” The report says licensed workers pay an average of $612 in fees and lose an average of 765 days to education, experience and usually at least one exam.
How do the burdens of getting an occupational license compare in Arizona?
Arizona occupational licensing requirements
| Burden Rank | Occupation | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams |
| 1 | Preschool Teacher, Public School | 50 | $437 | 2,190 | 4 years | 2 years | 2 |
| 2 | Interpreter, Sign Language | 22 | $820 | 1,469 | 4 years and 40 clock hours * | 2 | |
| 3 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $956 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 3 | Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $956 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 3 | Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $956 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 3 | Door Repair Contractor (Residential) | 29 | $956 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 3 | Fire Alarm Installer | 39 | $956 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 3 | Mason Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $956 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 3 | Mason Contractor
(Residential) | 31 | $956 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 10 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $886 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 10 | Pipelayer Contractor | 27 | $886 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 12 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $826 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 12 | Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $826 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 14 | Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $686 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 15 | Landscape Contractor (Commercial) | 47 | $586 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 15 | Landscape Contractor (Residential) | 48 | $586 | 1,460 | 4 years | 2 | |
| 17 | Paving Contractor (Commercial) | 24 | $836 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | |
| 18 | Paving Contractor
(Residential) | 28 | $636 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | |
| 19 | Athletic Trainer | 49 | $622 | 1,460 | 4 years | 1 | |
| 20 | Midwife, Direct Entry | 28 | $1,150 | 1,095 | 3 years | 2 | |
| 21 | Optician | 22 | $650 | 1,095 | 3 years | 3 | |
| 22 | Earth Driller, Water Well | 51 | $1,031 | 1,095 | 3 years | 3 | |
| 23 | Glazier Contractor (Commercial) | 26 | $956 | 1,095 | 3 years | 2 | |
| 23 | Glazier Contractor
(Residential) | 30 | $956 | 1,095 | 3 years | 2 | |
| 23 | Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) | 23 | $956 | 1,095 | 3 years | 2 | |
| 23 | Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $956 | 1,095 | 3 years | 2 | |
| 27 | Mobile Home Installer | 39 | $454 | 1,096 | 8 clock
hours | 3 years | 1 |
| 28 | HVAC Contractor
(Residential) | 35 | $956 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | |
| 28 | Painting Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | $956 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | |
| 28 | Painting Contractor (Residential) | 28 | $956 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | |
| 28 | Sheet Metal Contractor,
HVAC (Residential) | 36 | $956 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | |
| 32 | HVAC Contractor
(Commercial) | 37 | $686 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | |
| 32 | Sheet Metal Contractor,
HVAC (Commercial) | 37 | $686 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | |
| 34 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | |
| 34 | Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | |
| 34 | Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) | 22 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | |
| 34 | Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) | 27 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | |
| 34 | Insulation Contractor (Commercial) | 25 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | |
| 34 | Insulation Contractor (Residential) | 30 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | |
| 34 | Sheet Metal Contractor,
Other (Commercial) | 26 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | |
| 34 | Sheet Metal Contractor,
Other (Residential) | 31 | $906 | 730 | 2 years | 1 | |
| 42 | Veterinary Technician | 36 | $150 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | |
| 43 | Pest Control Applicator | 51 | $645 | 449 | 12 credit hours | 1 years | 4 |
| 43 | Vegetation Pesticide
Applicator | 51 | $645 | 449 | 12 credit hours | 1 years | 4 |
| 45 | Cosmetologist | 51 | $247 | 373 | 1600 clock hours | 2 | |
| 46 | School Bus Driver | 51 | $57 | 371 | 14 clock hours | 1 years and 20 clock hours | 7 |
| 47 | Barber | 51 | $140 | 350 | 1500 clock hours | 2 | |
| 48 | Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer | 51 | $50 | 365 | 1 years | 5 | |
| 49 | Bus Driver, City/Transit | 51 | $35 | 365 | 1 years | 5 | |
| 50 | Truck Driver, Other | 51 | $50 | 365 | 1 years | 4 | |
| 51 | Massage Therapist | 44 | $412 | 163 | 700 clock hours | 1 | |
| 52 | Pharmacy Technician | 44 | $197 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 1 | |
| 53 | Manicurist | 50 | $247 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 2 | |
| 53 | Skin Care Specialist | 50 | $247 | 140 | 600 clock hours | 2 | |
| 55 | Coach, Head (High School Sports) | 48 * | $129 | 163 | 15 credit hours | 250 clock hours | 0 |
| 56 | Emergency Medical
Technician | 51 | $80 | 26 | 110 clock hours | 2 | |
| 57 | Travel Guide | 37 | $337 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 58 | Bill Collection Agency | 31 | $1,500 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 59 | Weigher | 25 | $48 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 60 | Gaming Cage Worker | 29 | $250 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 60 | Gaming Dealer | 28 | $250 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 60 | Gaming Supervisor | 30 | $250 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 60 | Slot Supervisor | 28 | $250 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 64 | Security Alarm Installer | 37 | $192 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 65 | Security Guard, Unarmed | 34 | $72 | 1 | 8 clock hours | 0 | |
| 66 | Taxidermist | 28 | $150 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 67 | Animal Breeder | 28 | $75 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 68 | Milk Sampler | 42 | $50 | 0 | 0 |