How to look up a license in Pennsylvania

Official license searches in Pennsylvania

6 official searches from 8 boards cover the Pennsylvania 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:

• State Board of Cosmetology: the 2 credentials it issues for cosmetologists, including Cosmetologist and Cosmetology Teacher.
• Pennsylvania Department of State, Office of Notaries, Commissions & Legislation: the 2 credentials it issues for notaries, including Notary Public and Electronic notary public / remote notary public (notification to the Department).
• State Board of Nursing: the 2 credentials it issues for registered nurses, including Registered Nurse – single state license and Registered Nurse – multistate license.
• Pennsylvania Insurance Department: the 4 credentials it issues for insurance agents, including Insurance Producer Resident - Individual, Temporary insurance producer license, Insurance Producer Non-Resident - Individual and Insurance Producer Resident – Business Entity / Insurance Producer Non-Resident - Business Entity.
• Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry: the Nurse Aide (enrolled on the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry); Pennsylvania does not use the title "certified nursing assistant" on its official pages.
• State Police: the Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification (Lethal Weapons Training Act).
• State Board of Massage Therapy: the 2 credentials it issues for massage therapists, including Licensed Massage Therapist (L.M.T.) and Massage Therapist Temporary Practice Permit.
• State Real Estate Commission: the 3 credentials it issues for real estate agents, including Real Estate Salesperson, Associate Broker and Broker (Broker Sole Proprietor / Broker of Record).

Occupations without a state search here

• Plumbers: Pennsylvania issues no state license, so there is no state search. The page lists what Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Master Plumber's License, Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Journeyman Plumber License and Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Plumber Apprentice License and others require; check with that city or county.
• Electricians: Pennsylvania issues no state license, so there is no state search. The page lists what Philadelphia (Department of Licenses and Inspections): Electrical Contractor License and Pittsburgh (Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections): Electrical Trade License require; check with that city or county.
• General contractors: the Office of Attorney General 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, registered nurses, insurance agents, nursing assistants, security guards, massage therapists, real estate agents.