Licensing and certifications vary tremendously by occupation group

Certification and licensing status of the employed by occupation, 2025 annual averages (Numbers in thousands)

Notes: Certifications are issued by a non-governmental certification body and convey that an individual has the knowledge or skill to perform a specific job. A license is awarded by a government agency and conveys a legal authority to work in an occupation. Estimates for 2025 are 11-month averages that exclude October because data was not collected due to the federal government shutdown. As a result, 2025 annual estimates are not strictly comparable with annual averages for other years.
Chart: Monday Morning EconomistSource: Bureau of Labor StatisticsGet the data