Professional License
How to Verify a Real Estate License
Real estate licenses are issued by state real estate commissions, and every state makes license status publicly searchable at no cost. Here is how to verify an agent or broker license in under five minutes.
Quick answer
Go to the state real estate commission where the agent or broker claims licensure and use the public license lookup. The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) also provides a License Verification Service covering 40+ states in one search. Both are free and require no registration.
Why real estate license verification matters
Practicing real estate — listing properties, representing buyers or sellers, collecting commissions — without a valid state license is illegal in all 50 states. Brokerages that allow unlicensed agents to practice face significant regulatory and legal exposure.
Real estate licenses can be suspended or revoked for fraud, misrepresentation, failure to disclose, mishandling of escrow funds, and other violations. Verification surfaces these actions that a basic background check typically will not.
For brokerages hiring agents, real estate staffing firms, and property management companies, license verification is a standard pre-hire due diligence step — and often a requirement under state brokerage licensing rules.
License types: Agent vs. Broker vs. Broker-Associate
| License Type | What it allows | Can they operate independently? |
|---|---|---|
| Salesperson / Agent | Represent buyers and sellers under broker supervision | No — must be sponsored by an active broker |
| Broker | Operate independently, own a brokerage, supervise agents | Yes |
| Broker-Associate | Holds broker-level license but works under another broker | Only if activating as supervising broker |
When verifying an agent's license, confirm that the license shows an active sponsoring broker. An agent whose license is not under active sponsorship cannot legally practice, even if the license itself is technically current.
Step 1: Use the ARELLO License Verification Service
ARELLO's License Verification Service at arello.com lets you search across 40+ participating states with one search. Results include license type, status, expiration, and sponsoring broker where applicable.
Not all states participate. For states not in ARELLO, go directly to the state real estate commission.
Step 2: State real estate commission lookup
Every state real estate commission maintains a public license search. These are the authoritative sources — always use the state commission for the most current status.
Key state real estate commission portals
- California: California DRE — dre.ca.gov/Licensees/LicenseeSearch.html
- Texas: Texas Real Estate Commission — license.trec.texas.gov
- New York: NY DOS License Search — appext20.dos.ny.gov/nydos_broker
- Florida: Florida DBPR — myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
- Illinois: Illinois IDFPR — idfpr.illinois.gov/LicenseLookup
- Arizona: Arizona Department of Real Estate — azre.gov
Understanding license statuses
| Status | Meaning | Can they practice? |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Current, renewal up to date; agent has active broker sponsorship | Yes |
| Inactive | License current but no active broker sponsorship; cannot transact real estate | No (until re-activated under a broker) |
| Expired | Renewal deadline missed; not a valid license | No |
| Suspended | Disciplinary restriction; temporarily prohibited from practice | No |
| Revoked | License permanently removed by state commission | No |
NAR membership vs. real estate license
"Realtor" is a trademarked designation belonging to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) — it refers to NAR members, not to all real estate licensees. An agent can hold a valid real estate license without being a Realtor, and vice versa.
NAR membership can be verified through NRDS (National Realtor Database System) at realtor.com or via the local Association of Realtors, but NAR membership verification is separate from license verification. For employment screening purposes, the state real estate commission lookup is what matters.
NAR does have its own Code of Ethics and disciplinary process through local associations, but these records are generally not publicly searchable at the national level.
Multi-state license holders
Real estate agents working in markets that span state lines (DC/Maryland/Virginia, Kansas City, parts of the South) often hold licenses in two or more states. Each state license is independent — verify the license in each state separately.
Reciprocal licensing agreements exist between some states, allowing agents to obtain a license in a second state by endorsement rather than full examination. The reciprocal license is still a separate state license and must be verified through the second state's commission.
Verification checklist
- 1. Collect license number, type (agent/broker), and state(s) of licensure at intake
- 2. Search ARELLO License Verification Service for a fast multi-state check
- 3. Confirm status is Active — not Inactive or Expired
- 4. For salesperson/agents, confirm a sponsoring broker is listed and Active
- 5. Review the state commission's disciplinary database for any suspensions or revocations
- 6. For multi-state agents, run verification for each state independently
Verify pre-licensing education alongside the license
Real estate licensure requires completion of state-approved pre-licensing education from an accredited provider. Use VerifyED to confirm that the educational institution a candidate completed their pre-licensing coursework through is legitimate and appropriately accredited.
Search Schools and Accreditation →