How to look up a license in California

Official license searches in California

9 official searches from 10 boards cover the California licenses on this site (some boards share one state search). 6 of the rows also link a complaint page.

What each search covers

A board's search lists only its own licenses:

• Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: the 2 credentials it issues for cosmetologists, including Cosmetologist and Apprentice (cosmetology).
• California Secretary of State: the 2 credentials it issues for notaries, including Notary Public and Notary Public for military and naval reservations.
• Board of Registered Nursing: the Registered Nurse.
• California Department of Insurance: the 5 credentials it issues for insurance agents, including Life-Only Agent, Accident and Health Agent, Casualty Broker-Agent, Personal Lines Broker-Agent and Property Broker-Agent.
• Contractors State License Board: the 5 credentials it issues for plumbers, electricians and general contractors, including C-36 - Plumbing Contractor, C-10 - Electrical Contractor, B - General Building Contractor, A - General Engineering Contractor and B-2 – Residential Remodeling Contractor.
• California Department of Public Health: the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).
• Department of Industrial Relations: the 6 credentials it issues for electricians, including General Electrician, Electrician Trainee, Fire/Life Safety Technician, Nonresidential Lighting Technician, Residential Electrician and Voice Data Video Technician.
• Bureau of Security and Investigative Services: the 5 credentials it issues for security guards, including Security Guard Registration, Baton Permit, Firearms Permit (Firearms Qualification Card / Exposed Firearms Permit), Proprietary Private Security Officer (PSO) registration and Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license.
• California Massage Therapy Council: the 2 credentials it issues for massage therapists, including Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) and Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP).
• Department of Real Estate: the 2 credentials it issues for real estate agents, including Real Estate Salesperson and Real Estate Broker.

How to check a license

Search the board for the work you are hiring for, then check the status, the license type and the expiration date (what to check in the result).

The occupation pages explain what each license level allows: cosmetologists, notaries, registered nurses, insurance agents, plumbers, electricians, general contractors, nursing assistants, security guards, massage therapists, real estate agents.