Occupational licensing is a form of government regulation that requires a license to pursue a particular profession or vocation. Many associate this with licenses obtained by physicians or lawyers, but for many occupations the licensing requirement has created a barrier to entry and results in higher cost for consumers. North Carolina features 51 occupational licensing boards licensing access to well over 100 occupations. Some of those are geologists, refrigeration examiners, hearing aid dealers, landscape contractors, pastoral counselors, barbers, auctioneers, among many more. All of these professions are required to pay fees to the State of North Carolina. In Fiscal Year 2012-13, the State collected $63.7 million in occupational licensing fees.
All data comes from the North Carolina State Government Fee Report for Fiscal Year 2012-13. Click here for the Report.
