Independent reporting on skilled-trade careers, training, licensing systems, wages, and automation.
TradeCert is a free independent publication covering skilled-trade careers, apprenticeships, licensing systems, wages, and the changing impact of automation.
The site originally launched with a 400-page generated state licensing archive. In June 2026, that archive was removed from search after an internal review found overgeneralized structures and unsupported freshness signals. It remains quarantined while pages are checked individually against primary government sources.
Licensed trades are structurally protected from automation in a way most jobs aren't. You can't get an electrical permit signed by software. A state board won't issue a master plumber license to an algorithm. The physical presence requirement, the personal liability requirement, and the statutory licensing requirement all combine to create a moat around these careers that technology can't cross — not today, not in the foreseeable future.
That's a big deal. We built TradeCert because we think more people should know it, and because the barrier to finding clear, accurate licensing information is higher than it should be. State licensing board websites are inconsistent, hard to navigate, and often out of date. We read them so you don't have to start from scratch.
Start with a trade or a state — your choice. If you know what you want to do, pick a trade from the homepage and then select your state. If you're still deciding, browse by state to see all the options available where you live.
Use the reporting to understand the questions worth asking, then confirm any decision-specific requirement with the responsible board, agency, apprenticeship program, or school.
TradeCert is researched and maintained by Damon Leslie, who works directly from official state licensing board websites, state statutes, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Read more about how the guides are researched on his author page.
Publication dates change only after the underlying content is reviewed. Read the editorial policy and corrections log for the current archive status.
If you find something outdated or incorrect, contact us at support@tradecertinfo.com.
Questions, corrections, or advertising inquiries: support@tradecertinfo.com
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