In the United States, all sorts of professions require licensing. Whether it is your hairdresser, doctor, dentist, plumber, electrician, bartender or pawn broker, licensing standards can differ widely from state to state, and the fields and occupations which states require to be licensed may differ widely. An auction license, auction firm license and/or auctioneer license is no different. About half the states in the US require comprehensive auction licensing. Those that do can also vary their licensure by county, region or product segment. Some license in a comprehensive manner and others require a simple permit or other formality. Likewise, some states require schooling, testing, apprenticeship, bonds, continuing education and fees, while others require some or none of these.