Occupational Licensing in New Hampshire
New Hampshire requires a licence for 124 of the 246 occupations the Archbridge Institute tracks, against a national median of 124. It ranks 22 of 51 on their index, where 1 is the most burdensome.
- Licensed occupations
- 124
- With any entry barrier
- 162
- National rank
- #22
- In the New England
- #4
Moving to New Hampshire with a licence
New Hampshire recognises out-of-state licences narrowly — graded bronze. 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 New Hampshire licenses that few other jurisdictions do — the clearest sign of where its rules go further than the national norm.
- Apprentice Gas Fitterlicensed in 3 of 51
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographerlicensed in 4 of 51
- Gas Fitterlicensed in 5 of 51
- Mold Assessor Inspectorlicensed in 5 of 51
- Recreational Therapistlicensed in 5 of 51
- Gas Fitter Trainee /Apprenticelicensed in 8 of 51
Every licensed occupation in New Hampshire
All 124, alphabetically. Archbridge tracks 246 occupations in total, so anything absent here is either unlicensed in New Hampshire or outside their list.
- Acupuncturist
- Addictions/Chemical Dependency Counselor
- Apprentice Gas Fitter
- Architect
- Asbestos Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor
- Asbestos Inspector
- Asbestos Management Planner
- Asbestos Project Designer
- Athlete Agent/Manager
- Athletic Trainer/Sports Trainer
- Attorney
- Auctioneer
- Auctioneer Apprentice
- Audiologist
- 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 Public Accountant
- Certified Sewage/Septic Inspector/Evaluator
- Chiropractor
- Clinical Mental Health Counselor/Mental Health Counselor
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Cosmetologist
- Cosmetologist Apprentice
- Cosmetology Teacher
- Court Interpreter
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Radiographer
- Dentist
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Dietitian
- Electrologist
- Embalmer
- Emergency Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator
- EMT
- Esthetician
- Esthetician Instructor
- Family-Marriage Therapist/Counselor
- Forester
- Fuel Piping Contractor
- Funeral Director/Mortician
- Gas Fitter
- Gas Fitter Trainee /Apprentice
- Genetic Counselor
- Geologist/Geoscientist
- Hearing Aid Dealer/Hearing Aid Dispensers/Hearing Instrument Specialist
- Home Inspector
- Insurance Producer
- Investment Advisor
- Journeyman Electrician
- 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
- Manicurist
- Massage Therapist
- Master Electrician
- Master Plumber
- MD Physician/Surgeon
- Medical Health Physicist
- Medication Technician/Aide /Assistant
- Mold Assessor Inspector
- Mortgage Loan Originator
- Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraiser
- Nail Technician
- Nuclear Medicine Technicican
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Occupational Therapist
- Occupational Therapist Assistant
- Optician
- Optometrist
- Parole /Probation Officer
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy Technician
- Physical Therapist
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Physician Assistant
- Podiatrist
- Private Investigator
- Professional Counselor/Professional Clinical Counselor
- Professional Engineer
- Professional Land Surveyor
- Psychologist
- Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner
- Public School Administrator
- Public School Principal
- Public School Teacher
- Pyrotechnic Operator
- Radiologic Technologist
- Radiologist Assistant
- Real Estate Appraiser
- Real Estate Instructor
- Real Estate Salesperson
- Recreational Therapist
- Registered Nurse
- Respiratory Therapist/Respiratory Care Practitioner
- Septic Tank Installer
- Shampoo Assistant
- Sign Language Interpreter/Translator
- Social Worker
- Soil Scientist
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Speech Language Pathologist Assistant
- 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 New Hampshire board before acting on any of it.
More on New Hampshire: its freedom score and rank · school choice · homeschool laws
