How to Become a License Clerk
License clerks keep licensing records and may also issue vehicle titles, licenses, and permits. While there is no particular formal education to become a license clerk, certain educational activities and work experience may help in finding a job.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 123,000 court, municipal, and license clerks, as of May 2010. While not all of those are license clerks, there will be a similar process in getting a job for these career categories. This is a virtually unlimited field in terms of the types of permits and licenses that state, federal, and local governments issue to individuals and businesses. As such, it is difficult to say exactly what it takes to become a license clerk.
In some cases, it will help to have an educational degree or formal training in the type of work associated with the license or permit being issued. For example, those who issue building permits may have experience and training in the construction industry. However, this is not always the case. For example, the person who issues parade permits is obviously not going to be a professional parade organizer.
One thing to consider is that license clerks are generally working for the government as a civil servant. Getting a degree in public administration is one route to increase your chances of getting any kind of employment with the government. This kind of degree is going to look good on a resume because it shows that you are interested in and have a passion for government work, while others may just be looking for a job. Just about anyone could be trained for most license-clerk jobs. But that does not mean you are going to get hired. At a minimum, some college degree is going to be necessary in many cases to be considered for the job.
The Department of Motor Vehicles is one of the main employers of license clerks, but other agencies also hire workers for these tasks. For example, the county clerks in Texas issue vehicle titles. Any title-issuing agency needs license clerks.
There are hundreds of licensing boards across the United States. Contact these government agencies to try to find job openings, as well. Examples are medical boards, mental health licensing boards, and local building departments. These departments often issue local licenses to electricians and other skilled workers.
As of May 2010, the median salary for all court, municipal, and license clerks was $34,390.
Resources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Information on Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
