A Ballotpedia survey of all 50 state constitutions and administrative procedure acts (APAs) revealed that 25 state APAs and constitutions specify qualifications for administrative agency leaders and the other half of the states do not specify any required qualifications as of November 2020. 

Administrative agency leaders are those who direct the activities of state agencies. State requirements for agency leaders vary but some require leaders to be over a certain age, be U.S. citizens, have relevant professional experience, or have special certifications.

To learn more about Ballotpedia’s study, see here: 

Agency dynamics: States that specify qualifications for administrative agency leaders

Want to go further? Learn more about the five pillars of the administrative state here:

Administrative state

Additional reading:

• Five pillars of the administrative state
• Administrative law judge
• Five pillars of the administrative state: a 50-state survey
• State administrative procedure acts
• State constitutions