Occupation Licenses

• Occupational licenses are those issued to individuals working for themselves or through a company. The list of occupational licenses is lengthy in New Jersey, and includes individuals who are practicing in a professional or other specialized capacity. Professional licenses include those for doctors, attorneys, accountants, real estate brokers, investment advisers and contractors.
  
  

Business Licenses

• Business licenses are those issued to businesses engaged in regulated industries or those involved in the sales or procurement of regulated products or services. Some examples include the sale of firearms, tobacco and alcohol and the procurement of services such as day care, education and certain repair or installation businesses. Depending on the product or service, the business itself may not require licensing (real estate brokers for example), but the business must employ a licensed professional for it to operate legally. In other cases, both the business and one or more employees or owners must have licenses, as in the case of a hospital or educational facility for instance.
  
  

License Requirements

• License requirements vary according to the type of license. For some licenses, such as those issued for the sale of regulated goods, you simply apply for and get if the business meets the license requirements. Occupational or operational licenses such as those issued to real estate brokers, doctors and contractors require applicants to take exams in order to qualify for the license. In addition to testing, many occupational licenses require educational degrees, training certificates or other documentation.
  
  

Where to Get Licenses

• A number of local and state agencies issue business licenses in New Jersey. For example, the Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Commission handles truck, cab and other commercial motor vehicle licenses, while the United States Coast Guard licenses the captain of a chartered fishing boat. The New Jersey Commerce Commission has an informative guide on its website that lists all available licenses, general requirements and the issuing entity. The State of New Jersey website also provides links, resources and other helpful information regarding licensing.