Occupational Licensing in Minnesota
Minnesota requires a licence for 126 of the 246 occupations the Archbridge Institute tracks, against a national median of 124. It ranks 26 of 51 on their index, where 1 is the most burdensome.
- Licensed occupations
- 126
- With any entry barrier
- 160
- National rank
- #26
- In the West North Central
- #3
Moving to Minnesota with a licence
Minnesota has no universal-recognition law, so an out-of-state licence generally has to be earned again. Universal recognition is the reform that lets someone already licensed elsewhere practise after moving, instead of repeating the training; 28 of the 51 jurisdictions have some version of it.
Licensed here, rarely elsewhere
These are the occupations Minnesota licenses that few other jurisdictions do — the clearest sign of where its rules go further than the national norm.
- Low Voltage Technicianlicensed in 1 of 51
- Eyelash Technicianlicensed in 2 of 51
- Orthotic Fitter Assistantlicensed in 4 of 51
- Orthotic Fitterlicensed in 5 of 51
- Prosthetic Assistantlicensed in 5 of 51
- Prosthetist-Orthotistlicensed in 5 of 51
- Abstractorlicensed in 7 of 51
- Maintenance Electricianlicensed in 7 of 51
Every licensed occupation in Minnesota
All 126, alphabetically. Archbridge tracks 246 occupations in total, so anything absent here is either unlicensed in Minnesota or outside their list.
- Abstractor
- Acupuncturist
- Addictions/Chemical Dependency Counselor
- Animal Breeder
- Architect
- Asbestos Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor
- Asbestos Inspector
- Asbestos Management Planner
- Asbestos Project Designer
- Athlete Agent/Manager
- Athletic Trainer/Sports Trainer
- Attorney
- Audiologist
- Backflow Prevention Tester
- Barber
- Barber Apprentice
- Body Piercing Artist
- Broker (Standard Real Estate)
- Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)
- Certified Nurse Aide/Assistant
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist
- Certified Prevention Specialist, CPP, or CPPA
- Certified Public Accountant
- Certified Sewage/Septic Inspector/Evaluator
- Chiropractor
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Cosmetologist
- Cosmetology Teacher
- Court Interpreter
- Crane Operator
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Radiographer
- Dental Therapist
- Dentist
- Dietitian
- EMT
- Esthetician
- Esthetician Instructor
- Eyelash Technician
- Family-Marriage Therapist/Counselor
- Funeral Director/Mortician
- Funeral Resident Intern
- General Insurance Agent Manager or Exclusive
- Genetic Counselor
- Geologist in Training
- Geologist/Geoscientist
- Hearing Aid Dealer/Hearing Aid Dispensers/Hearing Instrument Specialist
- Insurance Producer
- Investment Advisor
- Journeyman Electrician
- Journeyman Gas Fitter
- Journeyman Plumber
- Landscape Architect
- Lead Abatement Supervisor/Contractor
- Lead Inspector
- Lead Inspector Risk Assessor
- Lead Planner Project Designer
- Level Class II Wastewater Operator
- Level Class III Wastewater Operator
- Level Class IV Wastewater Operator
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Limited X-ray Machine Operator
- Lineman
- Low Voltage Technician
- Maintenance Electrician
- Manicurist
- Master Electrician
- Master Gas Fitter
- Master Plumber
- MD Physician/Surgeon
- Medical Health Physicist
- Medication Technician/Aide /Assistant
- Mortgage Loan Originator
- Nail Technician
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Nutritionist
- Occupational Therapist
- Occupational Therapist Assistant
- Optometrist
- Orthotic Assistant
- Orthotic Fitter
- Orthotic Fitter Assistant
- Orthotist
- Pedorthist
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy Technician
- Physical Therapist
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Physician Assistant
- Podiatrist
- Preschool Teacher, except Special Education
- Private Investigator
- Professional Counselor/Professional Clinical Counselor
- Professional Engineer
- Professional Land Surveyor
- Prosthetic Assistant
- Prosthetist
- Prosthetist-Orthotist
- Psychologist
- Public School Administrator
- Public School Principal
- Public School Teacher
- Pyrotechnic Operator
- Real Estate Appraiser
- Real Estate Instructor
- Real Estate Salesperson
- Registered Nurse
- Residential Wireman (Electrician)
- Respiratory Therapist/Respiratory Care Practitioner
- Sanitarian/Environmental Health Sanitarian
- Security Guard
- Septic System Servicer/Pumper/Cleaner
- Social Worker
- Soil Scientist
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Tattoo Artist
- Taxidermist
- Veterinarian
- Wastewater Operator
- Well Driller
- Wildlife Rehabilitator
Where this comes from
The Archbridge Institute's State Occupational Licensing Index 2026, retrieved 2026-09-16. The index records whether an occupation needs a licence — it does not record fees or training hours, so nothing here says what a licence costs or how long it takes. The rank is Archbridge's own and is not part of the FreedomRankings score. Check the relevant Minnesota board before acting on any of it.
More on Minnesota: its freedom score and rank · school choice · homeschool laws
