How to look up a license in Kentucky
To confirm a Kentucky license, search the board that issued it: SOS, KBN, DOI and 3 more for the notaries, registered nurses, insurance agents and plumbers, among others, we cover.
On this page
Official license searches in Kentucky
6 official searches from 6 boards cover the Kentucky licenses on this site (some boards share one state search). One row also links a complaint page.
| Board | Licenses it covers | Search | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Secretary of State (SOS) | notaries | License search1 | – |
| Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) | registered nurses | License search2 | – |
| Kentucky Department of Insurance (DOI) | insurance agents | License search3 | – |
| Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) | plumbers and electricians | License search4 | – |
| Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) | nursing assistants | License search5 | – |
| Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy | massage therapists | License search6 | – |
| Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) | real estate agents | License search7 | File a complaint8 |
What each search covers
A board's search lists only its own licenses:
- Kentucky Secretary of State: the 2 credentials it issues for notaries, including Notary Public, State at Large and Registration to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records (Electronic In Person, or Remote/Online + Electronic In Person).
- Kentucky Board of Nursing: the 2 credentials it issues for registered nurses, including Registered Nurse – single-state license (valid only in Kentucky) and Registered Nurse – multistate (compact) license.
- Kentucky Department of Insurance: the 2 credentials it issues for insurance agents, including Insurance Agent (Producer) and Consultant.
- Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction: the 6 credentials it issues for plumbers and electricians, including Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber, Electrician, Provisional Electrician, Master Electrician and Electrical Contractor.
- Kentucky Board of Nursing: the 3 credentials it issues for nursing assistants, including State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA), Certified Medication Aide I (CMA I) and Certified Medication Aide II (CMA II).
- Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy: the Massage Therapist (Licensed Massage Therapist, L.M.T.).
- Kentucky Real Estate Commission: the 2 credentials it issues for real estate agents, including Sales Associate and Broker.
Occupations without a state search here
- Cosmetologists: the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology pages we cite do not link a public search; ask the board to confirm a license.
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: notaries, registered nurses, insurance agents, plumbers, electricians, nursing assistants, massage therapists, real estate agents.
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- KRS 423.400Kentucky Legislative Research CommissionDated January 1, 2020Checked November 6, 2026
- KBN rn-endorsement pageKentucky Board of NursingChecked November 7, 2026
- KY DOI Apply for LicenseKentucky Department of InsuranceChecked November 7, 2026
- License Search and VerificationKentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and ConstructionChecked November 7, 2026
- KBN SRNA verificationKentucky Board of NursingChecked November 7, 2026
- LicensingKentucky Board of Licensure for Massage TherapyChecked November 7, 2026
- LicensingKentucky Real Estate CommissionChecked November 5, 2026
- File a ComplaintKentucky Real Estate CommissionChecked November 5, 2026