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Licensing officer

Also called patents officer, license inspector, licensing examiner

Licensing officers process licence applications and provide advice on licensing legislation. They also perform investigative duties to ensure the applicant is eligible for the requested licence, ensure licence fees are paid in a timely manner, and ensure compliance with legislation.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects25 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree5 in 10 have a degree.Business and administration associate professionalsWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Government licensing officials · ILO

What you'd do

Government licensing officials · ILO
  • Advising individuals on government laws and regulations concerning the type of licence required and the conditions attached to such licences, and on the public's rights and obligations
  • Examining applications and relevant documents and determining whether a licence can be granted and the conditions which should be attached
  • Examining applications and approving the issue of passports
  • Performing related administrative tasks to process applications, document activities, evaluations and determinations, and to prepare correspondence to inform applicants of licensing decisions
  • Administering and scoring tests required to license applicants
Advise on licencing proceduresAssess licence applicationsCorrespond with licence applicantsManage import export licensesAssess breaches of licence agreements+ 5 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Compliance Officers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration associate professionals in the EU
13.29m14.1m14.28m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
55,000 new jobs 3,460,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration associate professionals25
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of government licensing officials, 2 a surplus.
Government licensing officials · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 51%Vocational 31%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 6%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.43 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Performing related administrative tasks to process applications, document activities, evaluations and determinations, and to prepare correspondence to inform applicants of licensing decisions0.50
Examining applications and approving the issue of passports0.49
Examining applications and relevant documents and determining whether a licence can be granted and the conditions which should be attached0.46
Advising individuals on government laws and regulations concerning the type of licence required and the conditions attached to such licences, and on the public's rights and obligations0.36
Administering and scoring tests required to license applicants0.34

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for government licensing officials. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).