How to verify a Florida license

Three state agencies license most professions in Florida. Our search covers all three, and each license page links to the agency's own lookup so you can confirm it.

Which agency licenses whom

• DBPR (myfloridalicense.com): real estate agents and brokers, appraisers, contractors and electricians, cosmetologists and barbers, community association managers, architects, veterinarians, home inspectors, auctioneers and more.
• Department of Financial Services (licenseesearch.fldfs.com): insurance agents, adjusters, customer representatives and agencies.
• Department of Health (MQA Search Services): doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, therapists, counselors, EMTs, massage therapists and every other health profession.

Some professions are licensed elsewhere: lawyers by The Florida Bar, engineers by the Florida Board of Professional Engineers, and accountants by DBPR's Board of Accountancy (not yet included here).

What to check

1. The name and the license number. Ask for the number and make sure the name matches the person you're dealing with.
2. The license type. A residential contractor can't take on a commercial job; a nail specialist isn't licensed to cut hair. The type tells you what they may do.
3. The status. Only "active", "clear" or "valid" (and probation, with conditions) means they can work. See the status guide.
4. The expiration date. Florida licenses renew every one or two years.
5. Discipline. Look for probation, suspensions or a board action, and read the details on the agency's site.

Red flags

• They won't give you a license number, or the number belongs to someone else.
• The license is inactive, delinquent, null and void or suspended, but they're offering to do the work anyway.
• They ask you to pull the permit yourself (common with unlicensed contractors).

You can report unlicensed activity to DBPR at 1-866-532-1440 or online, and to the Department of Health through its complaint portal.