Professional License Search

How Are Professional Licensure Regulated?

The licensing and regulation of professionals in the United States is generally handled at the state and local government level by relevant authorities - usually the licensing boards. These licensing boards are authorized to set the standards of practice for admission into specified professions. These standards include the minimum qualifications for practicing a profession and the requirements that must be met by individuals that wish to obtain and maintain licenses for these professions. Note that certain industries, such as alcoholic beverage, aviation, fish and wildlife, and agriculture-related industries are regulated at the federal level, and professionals in these industries are required to obtain licenses from relevant federal agencies in addition to any required state or locally-issued licenses.

The level of regulation and the specific requirements for obtaining a professional license is primarily dependent on the profession in question and the location of the applicant. For example, professionals like accountants and lawyers, as well as health and lifestyle-related professionals like physical therapists, psychologists, and automobile repair and maintenance professionals, are typically regulated at the state level across the United States. These professionals are typically required to have a minimum number of years of education and pass requisite examinations before obtaining licenses. For instance, lawyers are required to have a combined total of no less than seven years of education and pass a state-administered bar examination before being issued licenses. Similarly, clinical psychologists are required to have a minimum education qualification of a doctoral degree and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards before they can obtain licenses.

On the other hand, the regulation of professionals in the construction industry is a bit trickier. In some states, such as Illinois, Missouri, and New York, construction-related professionals are regulated at the local level, while states like California, Florida, and Michigan have state-level licensing boards that regulate the activities of these professionals. Likewise, some states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Iowa have multiple licensing boards for different categories of construction professionals, while others like Tennessee, North Dakota, and Mississippi only require the licensing of construction professionals that handle jobs worth a particular amount of money.

Some licensing boards also issue different categories of licenses to professionals within the same occupational group. This is usually evident in the construction industry, where licensing boards typically issue licenses based on the type of work to be done. The categories of professional licenses issued by construction-related licensing boards can be grouped into the following broad classifications:

• General Contractor License: This type of license is typically issued to construction professionals that are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of construction projects and the management of other subcontractors. In many cases, individuals that wish to obtain this classification of license are not required to sit for technical examinations.
• Subcontractor License: This type of license is typically issued to construction professionals that are hired to perform a specific job. This includes carpenters, painters, solar panel installers, masons, and concrete contractors.
• Specialty License: While this license category is sometimes used interchangeably with subcontractor licenses, specialty licenses are usually issued for construction-related professions that require specialized knowledge and skills. Specialty license issuance requirements are usually more stringent than those of general contractor or subcontractor licenses. Examples of construction professionals that usually require specialty licenses include electricians, HVACR contractors, and plumbers.

Because professional licensing is usually the purview of state and local governments, professionals that are licensed in one jurisdiction will typically have to undergo separate licensing if they wish to practice in a different jurisdiction. However, some jurisdictions have reciprocity agreements that allow professionals licensed in a particular area to practice in certain specified areas without having to obtain a separate license from the relevant licensing board of that jurisdiction. Note that the requirements for these licensing reciprocity arrangements vary widely and are determined by the licensing boards and professions involved. For example, the New York State Board of Law Examiners has a reciprocity arrangement that allows for the admission of lawyers from over 30 states into the New York State Bar without requiring them to pass its state-administered bar exam. Likewise, the California Contractors State Licensing Board has a reciprocity program that allows certain types of construction professionals with valid licenses obtained in the States of Arizona, Louisiana, or Nevada to apply for professional licenses in California without writing the trade portion of the state’s licensing exam.

Finally, it should be noted that professional licenses typically have expiration dates, after which they must be renewed to remain valid. The validity of a professional license generally depends on the profession in question and the licensing authority that issued the license, and it can range from one year to three years or more. Also, some professionals will be required to complete mandatory continuing education related to their fields and show proof of this completion before their licenses can be renewed. This is typically done to ensure that professionals remain up to date with the latest developments in their respective fields, thereby ensuring that consumers continue to receive optimal service delivery. You can contact your local consumer protection agency to get information on license reciprocity, license renewals, and other licensing-related matters concerning professionals in your area. Queries can also be directed to the licensing board that oversees the activities of the professional of interest.

How to Check a Professional License?

It is always in your best interest to verify the licensing status of any professional that you intend to hire before concluding any payment agreements with this individual. Licensed professionals are better trained and skilled than their unlicensed counterparts, and are also typically bonded and insured. All these increase the chances of a successful outcome to your project while also ensuring that you are financially protected in the event of unforeseen occurrences during the course of said project.

Professionals are typically licensed at either the state or municipal level, depending on your location and the type of professional. Regardless of this, licensing boards at both levels generally provide various options through which interested members of the public can verify the licenses of the professionals regulated by them. These options include, but are not limited to, phone numbers and emails that verification requests can be directed to, and online search tools that can be utilized to confirm the licensing status of these professionals. For example, members of the public that wish to retain the services of lawyers can confirm that their intended lawyers have been duly licensed to practice in their state of residence by contacting the appropriate state bar association. Similarly, residents of California can verify the licenses of professionals in the state by utilizing the DCA online license search tool provided by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, while interested parties in New York State can confirm professional licenses via the state’s Office of the Professions’ online verification search portal.

If you are unsure about the licensing board responsible for regulating the activities of your intended professional, you should consider contacting your state or local consumer protection agency to provide you with information on this board. These agencies can also direct you to available online resources that you can utilize to confirm the licensing status of professionals in your area of residence.