How to look up a license in North Carolina

Official license searches in North Carolina

10 official searches from 8 boards cover the North Carolina licenses on this site. 7 of the rows also link a complaint page.

What each search covers

A board's search lists only its own licenses:

• NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners: the 3 credentials it issues for cosmetologists, including Cosmetologist, Apprentice (Cosmetologist) and Cosmetology Teacher.
• North Carolina Secretary of State: the 2 credentials it issues for notaries, including Notary Public and Electronic Notary Public (eNotary registration).
• North Carolina Department of Insurance: the 3 credentials it issues for insurance agents, including Insurance producer license (resident), Insurance producer license (nonresident) and Surplus lines licensee, individual.
• North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors: the 8 credentials it issues for plumbers, including Private Educational Institution Plumbing Technician, Plumbing Technician, Class I (PT-I), Plumbing Technician, Class II (PT-II), State & Local Government Plumbing Technician, Limited Plumbing Water Heater Replacement Contractor (LWH) and Plumbing Contractor, Class I (P-I) and others.
• North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry: the 2 credentials it issues for nursing assistants, including Nurse Aide I (listed on the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry; "CNA" is not the NC title) and Medication Aide - Nursing Home (North Carolina Medication Aide Registry for Nursing Homes).
• Private Protective Services Board: the 3 credentials it issues for security guards, including Unarmed Security Guard Registration, Armed Security Guard Firearm Registration Permit and Security Guard and Patrol License.
• NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy: the 2 credentials it issues for massage therapists, including Massage and Bodywork Therapy Establishment License and Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (LMBT).
• North Carolina Real Estate Commission: the 2 credentials it issues for real estate agents, including Provisional Broker (broker license on provisional status) and Broker (non-provisional or "full" broker status).
• North Carolina Real Estate Commission: the Limited Nonresident Commercial License (LNCL).
• North Carolina Real Estate Commission: the Firm License (for Entities).

Occupations without a state search here

• Registered nurses: the NC Board of Nursing (NCBON) pages we cite do not link a public search; ask the board to confirm a license.
• Electricians: the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) pages we cite do not link a public search; ask the board to confirm a license.
• General contractors: the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC) 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: cosmetologists, notaries, insurance agents, plumbers, nursing assistants, security guards, massage therapists, real estate agents.