How to look up a license in Virginia

Official license searches in Virginia

5 official searches from 7 boards cover the Virginia licenses on this site (some boards share one state search). 5 of the rows also link a complaint page.

What each search covers

A board's search lists only its own licenses:

• Board for Barbers and Cosmetology: the 2 credentials it issues for cosmetologists, including Cosmetologist and Cosmetology Instructor Certificate.
• Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth: the 2 credentials it issues for notaries, including Notary Public (traditional notary public commission) and Electronic Notary Public.
• Virginia Board of Nursing: the 8 credentials it issues for registered nurses, nursing assistants and massage therapists, including Registered Nurse – single-state license (practice in Virginia only), Registered Nurse Provisional License, Registered Nurse – license with multistate licensure privilege (Nurse Licensure Compact), Certified Nurse Aide (C.N.A.), Registered Medication Aide (RMA) and Advanced Certified Nurse Aide and others.
• State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance: the 3 credentials it issues for insurance agents, including Resident insurance agent (producer) license: Life and Annuities, Health, Property and Casualty, Personal Lines, Title or Variable Contracts qualification, Nonresident insurance agent license and Business entity (agency) insurance producer license.
• Board for Contractors: the 11 credentials it issues for plumbers, electricians and general contractors, including Journeyman Plumbing (PLB), Backflow Prevention Device Worker Certification, Residential Plumber Tradesman (PLB), Master Plumbing (PLB), Plumbing contractors (PLB) classification on a Class A, B or C contractor license and Journeyman Electrical (ELE) and others.
• Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, Division of Licensure and Regulatory Services: the 4 credentials it issues for security guards, including Unarmed Security Officer/Courier, Security Canine Handler, Armed Security Officer (registration with firearms endorsement) and Private Security Services Business License.
• Real Estate Board: 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, nursing assistants, massage therapists, insurance agents, plumbers, electricians, general contractors, security guards, real estate agents.