Licenses

Rules for licenses are set by the state, and they are different in each state.

Examples of fields that often require licenses are:

• Health care careers, such as dental assistants and emergency medical technicians (EMT)
• Jobs in the trades, such as plumbers and building contractors
• Jobs that provide personal care such as barbers and cosmetologists

It can be hard to qualify for a license when you have a criminal record. But in many cases, it is possible. The best plan is to learn about license requirements before you begin a training program or invest time or energy into starting a career.

To learn about licenses in your state, visit CareerOneStop’s Licensed Occupations tool. The link is in the Resources box below. You can enter a keyword for the career field you are interested in. For example, you can enter “health care.” Next you will be asked to select your state. You will get a list, with phone numbers and websites, of the agencies that license health care jobs in your state.