How to look up a license in Minnesota

Official license searches in Minnesota

6 official searches from 5 boards cover the Minnesota licenses on this site. 4 of the rows also link a complaint page.

What each search covers

A board's search lists only its own licenses:

• Minnesota Board of Cosmetology: the 3 credentials it issues for cosmetologists, including Cosmetologist (operator) license, Instructor license (cosmetology) and Salon manager license (cosmetology).
• Minnesota Board of Nursing: the Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Minnesota Department of Commerce: the Insurance Producer (resident individual; major lines Life, Accident and Health or Sickness, Property, Casualty, Variable Life and Variable Annuity, Personal Lines; limited lines Credit, Farm Property and Liability, Title, Travel, Bail Bonds).
• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry: the 17 credentials it issues for plumbers and electricians, including Journeyworker plumber, Registered unlicensed plumber (unlicensed individual - plumbing), Restricted journeyworker plumber, Master plumber, Restricted master plumber and Plumbing contractor and others.
• Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry: the Certified Nurse Aide (listed on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry; "nursing assistant" in statute).
• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry: the 3 credentials it issues for general contractors, including Residential building contractor, Residential remodeler and Residential roofer.

Occupations without a state search here

• Notaries: the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State (SOS) pages we cite do not link a public search; ask the board to confirm a license.
• Security guards: the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) pages we cite do not link a public search; ask the board to confirm a license.
• Massage therapists: Minnesota issues no state license, so there is no state search. The page lists what Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Rochester require; check with that city or county.

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, registered nurses, insurance agents, plumbers, electricians, nursing assistants, general contractors.