What Is A Professional License or Permit

States regulate many aspects of business by requiring you to obtain a professional license or special permit in specific areas before you can open a business.  For example, if you want to start a business that provides Child Care services, you will have to obtain a professional license from the respective state where you want to provide the service. If you want to open a bar or a restaurant that serves alcohol, you will first have to obtain a liquor license. 

 

Professional Licensing and permit requirements differ from state to state.  Some states require professional licensing in hundreds of areas while others only require it in a few areas. 

 

Starting a business without the proper professional licensing could result in heavy fines, imprisonment and being barred from doing business in the state.

 

Be sure you know what the licensing and permit requirements are in your state.

 

Click on a state below to see their professional licensing requirements.

Alabama (128) Hawaii (47) Massachusetts (193)  New Jersey (322)  South Dakota (31) 
Alaska (40) Idaho (60)  Michigan (60) New York (52) 

Tennessee (25) 

Arizona (52) Illinois (209)  Minnesota (30)  North Carolina (21) Texas (46) 
Arkansas (44) Indiana (43)  Missouri (54) North Dakota (2)  Utah (76)
California (47) Iowa (7)  Mississippi (41) Oregon (26) Vermont (54)
Colorado (25) Kansas (19) Montana (93) Oklahoma (78) Virginia (38)
Connecticut (344)  Kentucky (359) Nebraska (76) Ohio (128) Washington (418) 
Delaware (57) Louisiana (69) Nevada (6) Pennsylvania (29) West Virginia (442)
Florida (35) Maine (38)  New Hampshire (13)
medical (2)
 
Rhode Island (11)
medical (93)
Wisconsin (132) 
Georgia (42) Maryland (43) New Mexico (26) South Carolina (43) Wyoming (18)