Ohio ranks 13th nationally for licensure burden, report finds

Ohio is No. 1 — at least in the region! But that’s not necessarily the top ranking Ohioans might want to tout.

The Buckeye State was the top-ranked state regionally in terms of its licensure burden. Overall, the Heart of it All has 170 total barriers, ranked 13th, with first being the worst for burdens. The national average is 159.1 total barriers.

The finding is from the nonpartisan Archbridge Institute’s 2025 State Occupational Licensing Index, which it touted as the most comprehensive occupational licensing report. The report ranks the burden of licensure in all 50 U.S. states and across 254 common professions.

Ohio received some good news. The group awarded the state a gold medal for its universal licensing recognition, which it enacted in 2023. It also found that the state’s most uniquely licensed occupation was an ocularist.

“Ohio lawmakers should be applauded for passing a strong universal recognition law and licensing review process,” Ed Timmons, who co-authored the report, told Ohio.news via email.

“Recognition makes it easier for qualified and licensed workers to work in Ohio,” Timmons added. “Despite the progress, Ohio continues to lag behind nationally as the 13th most burdensome state. Indiana, by contrast, ranks as the 48th most burdensome state.”

Overall, Ohio received a score of 5.11 out of 10 for its licensure score.

“A licensing requirement is anything beyond a registration fee that is not voluntary for an occupational title,” according to the report. “Licensing requirements include required education or degrees, exams, apprenticeships, experience or on-the-job training, and continuing education.”

Additionally, Ohio had a barrier score of eight out of 10.

“A barrier exists when the tasks associated with an occupational title are restricted by an occupational license to perform those tasks,” according to the report. “The occupation itself may not have a specific license, but it is a crime to perform the associated tasks without meeting entry requirements.”

In the region, Wisconsin ranked 15th, Michigan ranked 30th, and Illinois ranked 42nd. Pennsylvania, which was classified in a different region for the report, ranked 45th.

Nationally, the five best states are Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Indiana, and New York, which Archbridge said have the fewest barriers to work. Conversely, the five states with the most restrictive occupational licensing laws are Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Kentucky, and Florida, which have the most barriers to work.

The rankings reveal that traditionally “blue” and “red” states face challenges with occupational licensing mandates.

“Occupational licensing affects millions of working Americans, not to mention millions of Americans who consider entering licensed professions,” Timmons said in a release. “With over 20 percent of workers directly affected by these rules, it is imperative that people understand where states and regions rank in terms of barriers to work, in addition to which professions are more burdensome or less.

“Public awareness is the key to change: By understanding what we get right and wrong about occupational licensing, we can strive for reforms that make it easier for people to work and flourish,” Timmons added. “SOLI 2025 is exactly the education we need for real, lasting change.”

The report was co-authored by Timmons, Noah Trudeau, an assistant professor of economics at Troy University and research fellow at Archbridge, and Benjamin Seevers, a PhD candidate at West Virginia University.

“Each year, we have worked to improve this resource, and this edition represents our strongest effort yet,” Trudeau said in a release.

“With occupational licensing becoming an increasingly central policy concern, we are excited to continue to provide a tool that supports meaningful research, informed debate, and thoughtful reforms,” Trudeau added. “It is my hope that the 2025 State Occupational Licensing Index can contribute to a more informed conversation about the role of licensing in shaping work, opportunity, and human flourishing.”