How to Check if Your Professional License Is Valid (State-by-State)
March 23, 2026 · HowToGetLicensed Team
Whether you are hiring a contractor, verifying your own license status, or checking a professional's credentials before doing business with them, knowing how to look up a professional license is an essential skill. Every state maintains public databases where you can verify license status, check expiration dates, and see any disciplinary actions.
This guide covers the verification process for 12 popular professions and shows you exactly where to look in every state.
How License Verification Works
Every state licensing board maintains a public database of licensed professionals. These databases typically show:
- License status — Active, inactive, expired, suspended, or revoked
- License number — The unique identifier for the license holder
- Issue and expiration dates — When the license was granted and when it needs to be renewed
- Disciplinary history — Any complaints, investigations, or actions taken against the license holder
- Contact information — The professional's business address (in most states)
Most lookups are free and can be done online in under a minute. You typically need the professional's name or license number.
Verification by Profession
Real Estate Agent
Real estate agent licenses are verified through each state's real estate commission or department. Here are the lookup tools for major states:
| State | Licensing Body | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| California | California Department of Real Estate (DRE) | Name or license number |
| Texas | Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) | Name or license number |
| Florida | Florida DBPR | Name or license number |
| New York | NY Department of State | Name or license number |
Real estate licenses renew every 2–4 years depending on the state. California agents renew every 4 years with 45 CE hours. Florida agents renew every 2 years with 14 CE hours. An agent with an expired license cannot legally represent you in a transaction.
Contractor
Contractor verification is critical before hiring anyone for construction work. Licensing bodies vary by state:
| State | Licensing Body | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| California | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | Name, license number, or business name |
| Florida | Florida DBPR / Construction Industry Licensing Board | Name or license number |
| Texas | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | Name or license number |
When verifying a contractor, also check for:
- Insurance status — Active liability insurance and workers' compensation
- Bond status — Whether their surety bond is current
- Complaint history — Past complaints or disciplinary actions filed against them
- License classification — Make sure their license covers the type of work you need done
Nursing
Registered nurse verification is available through Nursys, a national nurse license verification system operated by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Nursys provides verification for nurses licensed in participating states.
| State | Licensing Body | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| California | California Board of Registered Nursing | Name or license number |
| Texas | Texas Board of Nursing | Name or license number |
| Florida | Florida Board of Nursing | Name or license number |
Nurses in Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) states hold multistate licenses that can be verified through Nursys for all compact states simultaneously.
CPA
CPA license verification can be done through each state's Board of Accountancy. The AICPA also maintains a national directory. Since CPAs have full reciprocity across all 50 states through CPA Mobility, verifying the home state license confirms validity nationwide.
| State | Licensing Body | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| California | California Board of Accountancy (CBA) | Name or license number |
| Texas | Texas State Board of Public Accountancy | Name or license number |
| New York | New York State Education Department | Name or license number |
Insurance Agent
Insurance agent licenses can be verified through NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry) for most states. NIPR provides a national lookup tool that checks across all participating states. Individual state departments of insurance also maintain their own databases.
| State | Licensing Body | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| California | California Department of Insurance (CDI) | Name or license number |
| Texas | Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) | Name or license number |
| Florida | Florida Office of Insurance Regulation | Name or license number |
Insurance agents often hold licenses in multiple states (resident + non-resident). Verify both the resident state license and the non-resident license for the state where they are selling to you.
Electrician and Plumber
Electrician and plumber licenses are verified through state contractor boards or departments of labor. Verification is especially important for these trades because of safety implications.
| Profession | California | Texas | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | CSLB (for contractors) / DIR ECU (for certified electricians) | TDLR | ECLB / DBPR |
| Plumber | CSLB | TSBPE | DBPR |
For both trades, verify:
- The specific license classification (journeyman vs. master vs. contractor)
- Whether the license covers the type of work needed (residential vs. commercial)
- Insurance and bond status
Notary Public
Notary public commissions are verified through the Secretary of State (in most states) or the equivalent office. This is important for anyone accepting notarized documents, especially in real estate transactions.
| State | Licensing Body | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| California | California Secretary of State | Name or commission number |
| Texas | Texas Secretary of State | Name or commission number |
| Florida | Florida Department of State | Name or commission number |
Notary commissions typically last 4 years. An expired commission means any documents notarized after the expiration date may be invalid.
Home Inspector
Home inspector licensing is verified through state real estate commissions or consumer protection offices. Not all states regulate home inspectors, but most now do.
| State | Licensing Body | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| California | BPPE / CalBRE | Name or license number |
| Texas | TREC | Name or license number |
| Florida | Florida DBPR | Name or license number |
When hiring a home inspector, also verify their professional association memberships (ASHI, InterNACHI) and any additional certifications (radon, mold, termite).
How to Verify Your Own License
If you are a licensed professional, regularly checking your own license status is good practice:
- Search yourself — Use your state board's online lookup to confirm your license shows as active with the correct expiration date
- Verify your CE credits — Make sure all continuing education credits have been properly reported to the board
- Check for errors — Incorrect names, addresses, or license classifications should be corrected immediately
- Monitor for unauthorized use — Periodically search to make sure no one is using your license number fraudulently
- Set renewal reminders — Mark your calendar 90 days before expiration. See our license renewal guide for detailed renewal requirements by profession
Red Flags When Verifying a Professional's License
- No record found — The person may not be licensed at all, or may be using a fake license number
- Expired license — The professional cannot legally perform licensed work
- Suspended or revoked — There has been a serious disciplinary action. Do not hire this person for licensed work
- Wrong license type — Make sure the license covers the specific work you need. A residential electrician license may not cover commercial work
- Different state — A license from another state may not be valid in your state. Check reciprocity rules for the profession
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to look up a professional license?
Yes. Almost every state licensing board offers free online license verification. You do not need to pay for any third-party service to verify a license. Go directly to the state licensing board's website.
What information do I need to verify a license?
In most cases, either the professional's full name or their license number is sufficient. Some states also allow searching by business name or city. The more specific your search, the faster you will find the right record.
How often should I verify a contractor or professional I am hiring?
Verify before every major engagement. Licenses can expire, be suspended, or be revoked between projects. It takes less than a minute to check and can save you from significant problems. For ongoing relationships (like a CPA or insurance agent), an annual verification is reasonable.