To check if a real estate agent is licensed, go to your state’s real estate licensing portal and search by the agent’s name or license number. The lookup is free, takes about two minutes, and will tell you whether the agent holds an active license and which brokerage currently supervises them. Anything other than an active, broker-affiliated license means that person cannot legally represent you in a transaction.
What to Gather Before You Search
You’ll get cleaner results if you start with the agent’s full legal name as it appears on official records. Nicknames rarely match: “Mike” may not pull up “Michael,” and common names return long lists you’ll have to sort through.
The license number is the most reliable search key because it returns an exact match. Most states require agents to display their license number on marketing and solicitation materials, so you can usually find it on a business card, email signature, website footer, yard sign, flyer, or electronic ad. If you can’t locate it, ask the agent. A legitimate professional will give it to you without hesitation.
Note the brokerage name too. A licensed salesperson who is not currently affiliated with a supervising broker cannot legally practice, even if their individual license is otherwise valid. Having the brokerage name on hand lets you cross-check that affiliation in the search result.
Searching Your State’s Licensing Portal
Every state runs a public licensing database, usually through a Real Estate Commission, Department of Licensing, or a broader agency such as a Department of Commerce or Consumer Affairs. The portal is free. You don’t need an account. Look for a link labeled “License Lookup,” “Verify a License,” or similar on the agency’s homepage.
Enter the name or license number. Results load immediately in most systems and show the license type (salesperson or broker), current status, expiration date, supervising brokerage, and often a history of past affiliations. Some states also display disciplinary actions.
If you’re not sure which agency handles real estate in your state, search for “[your state] real estate license lookup.” The correct result will be on a .gov domain. Skip any third-party site that asks for payment or personal information to run a license check.
Checking Across State Lines With ARELLO
The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials maintains a national database that pulls license data from regulatory agencies across the country into one search. It’s useful when an agent may hold licenses in more than one state, or when you’re unsure which state agency to query.
The database reports whether an individual holds an active, inactive, or expired license across participating jurisdictions and covers categories including salesperson, broker, associate broker, and associate salesperson.1Association of Real Estate License Law Officials. License Verification It does not report disciplinary history. ARELLO maintains a separate Disciplinary Action Database, but that tool is built for regulatory agencies evaluating applicants, not for public consumer searches.2Association of Real Estate License Law Officials. Disciplinary Action Database For complaints or discipline, go back to the agent’s home-state portal.
Reading the Status on Your Results
The search will show a status designation next to the agent’s name. Here’s what the common ones mean.
- Active. The agent has met all requirements, including continuing education, and is affiliated with a licensed broker. This is the only status that allows someone to represent you.
- Inactive. The person holds a valid license but is not authorized to practice. Agents sometimes go inactive voluntarily. They cannot represent clients, negotiate deals, or earn commissions until they reactivate.
- Expired. The agent failed to renew on time, typically by missing a fee payment or not completing required coursework. They have no authority to practice until they renew or reinstate.
- Suspended. A regulatory body has temporarily stripped the agent’s right to practice, usually because of a rule violation or pending investigation. Depending on the circumstances, working with a suspended agent could jeopardize your transaction.
- Revoked. The license has been permanently canceled due to serious misconduct. The person can no longer practice real estate in that state.
One distinction trips people up: a license can be “current” while still being “inactive.” Current means the renewal is up to date. Active means the person is authorized to work. You need both.
Confirm the Broker Affiliation
You also need a confirmed broker. A real estate salesperson must work under the supervision of a licensed broker, and even an active individual license is not enough on its own. If the result shows no current broker or firm listed next to the agent’s name, treat it the same as an inactive license and don’t move forward until the agent clarifies.
Verifying Agents Who Work in More Than One State
If you’re buying property in a different state from where your agent is based, don’t assume their home-state license covers the deal. Real estate licenses are state-specific. About 44 states offer some form of reciprocity or mutual recognition, but even in those states the agent still needs a separate license in the state where the property is located. Some agreements waive the licensing exam or education requirements; others only reduce them.
Check the licensing portal for the state where the property sits, not just the agent’s home state. The agent should be able to give you a license number for each state where they practice. If they can’t, pause and investigate before signing anything.
Realtor vs. Licensed Agent
People use “real estate agent” and “Realtor” interchangeably, but they’re not the same. Every Realtor is a licensed agent; not every licensed agent is a Realtor. The Realtor title belongs only to agents who join the National Association of Realtors, which requires agreeing to NAR’s Code of Ethics, completing an orientation course, and passing a background review.3National Association of REALTORS. Membership Qualification Criteria for REALTOR Applicants That Are Principals
Realtor status adds an association-level layer of accountability, but it is not a license and does not substitute for one. When you’re confirming that someone is legally authorized to represent you, the state portal is what matters.
If Something Looks Wrong
If the search turns up a problem, or if you’ve had a bad experience with a licensed agent, every state regulatory agency accepts written complaints from the public. Visit your state’s real estate commission website, find the complaint form (usually under “Enforcement” or “File a Complaint”), and submit it online or by mail.
A strong complaint includes the agent’s name and license number, your contact information, a detailed description of what happened, and any supporting documents such as contracts, emails, or billing statements. Most agencies send an acknowledgment after submission. Investigations are typically confidential, so the agency won’t share updates by phone.
If you discover someone practicing real estate without any license at all, report that too. State agencies have specific jurisdiction over unlicensed activity. In most states, practicing without a license is a criminal offense, typically a misdemeanor, and agencies can also issue administrative fines. During declared states of emergency, some jurisdictions elevate unlicensed practice to a felony.
If an agent doesn’t appear in any state database at all, walk away. No amount of market knowledge compensates for the legal and financial exposure of working with an unlicensed individual.