How to Search Iowa Professional Licenses (Start Here)
Professional and occupational licenses in Iowa are issued by state licensing boards — each profession has its own board with its own search tool. There is no single database of all licenses in Iowa.
What this page covers: Iowa professional license verification databases — medical, legal, real estate, contractor, financial, and other regulated professions. What it does not cover: Business entity filings (those are with the Secretary of State) or association memberships (those are private organizations).
Where to start: Identify the profession, then go to the specific licensing board for Iowa. For attorneys, go to the state bar. For doctors, the medical board. For contractors, the contractor licensing authority. The databases below are organized by profession.
Common mistake: A professional license and a business registration are different. A license authorizes a person to practice a profession. A business registration authorizes a company to operate. They are filed with different agencies.
Central licensing portal
Medical board (MD)
Insurance licensing
Bar / attorney
Contractor licensing
Population
3,241,488
Households
1,310,300
Median Income
$71,433
Median Home Value
$181,600
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Iowa professional & occupational licenses URL verified against the official state publisher at plb.iowa.gov on the review date. 4 primary .gov sources cited below.
Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses — Key Facts (2026)
Doctors, lawyers, contractors, nurses, real estate agents in Iowa — who's licensed and how to verify in 2026.
State-only
License jurisdiction
Not federal
~22%
U.S. workforce licensed
Up from 5% in 1950
1,100+
Licensed occupations
NCSL national database
Free
Official verification
Never pay 3rd parties
Compacts
Cross-state reciprocity
Nursing/medical/PT
Active license
100%
Continuing-ed current
70%
No disciplinary actions
30%
No complaint history
20%
Criminal background
10%
Unit: % verified by 'active license' alone.
What Changed in 2026 — Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses
2026
Iowa professional & occupational licenses portal active
The official Iowa portal at plb.iowa.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for professional & occupational licenses in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for professional & occupational licenses
The NCSL National Occupational Licensing Database at www.ncsl.org provides federal-level context that complements Iowa state records.
2026
Iowa access in 2026
For 2026, Iowa continues to publish professional & occupational licenses information through state-authorized portals; check plb.iowa.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Iowa's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.
The 4-Step Iowa License Verification
1
Step 1 — Identify the profession
Each occupation has its own Iowa board (medical, bar, contractor, real-estate, cosmetology, etc.).
2
Step 2 — Confirm the state
Licenses are state-issued. A Iowa license is NOT automatically valid in other states (unless via compact).
3
Step 3 — Use the official board lookup
Every Iowa board has a free verification tool. Never pay a third party for verification.
4
Step 4 — Check disciplinary history
Active license ≠ clean record. Always check the Iowa board's disciplinary actions search.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses
❌ Myth: "There's a national license database."
✓ Truth: False. There is no federal occupational license registry. Each state licenses separately.
❌ Myth: "My Iowa license works in all 50 states."
✓ Truth: False. Most licenses are state-only. Compacts (nursing, medical, PT) cover some — not all.
❌ Myth: "License status equals reputation."
✓ Truth: False. Active license only means fees paid and CEs current. Check disciplinary actions separately.
❌ Myth: "All licensed pros pass background checks."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Background checks vary by state and profession. Some Iowa boards self-report only.
❌ Myth: "Expired = revoked."
✓ Truth: False. Expired means not renewed. Revoked means stripped for cause. Very different.
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- plb.iowa.gov — Official Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses — State portal for Iowa professional & occupational licenses
- NCSL National Occupational Licensing Database — All-state licensing database
- USA.gov — Licenses & Permits — Federal licensing portal
- DOL Occupational Licensing — Dept of Labor licensing resources
- FTC Licensing Reports — FTC licensing economic analysis
- Minneapolis Fed — Licensure Data — Workforce licensure trends
- CLEAR Licensing Dashboard — Licensure regulation dashboard
Related Licenses Resources
📍 Other Iowa records:
- Iowa Court Records →
- Iowa Criminal Records →
- Iowa Property Records →
- Iowa Vital Records →
- Iowa Voter Records →
- Iowa Wants & Warrants →
- Iowa Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 Licenses in other states:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
National: U.S. Licenses hub →
Related Public Records
More Iowa records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Recorded docs
National view of this topic: All states: Licenses
Licenses Databases
19 official Iowa licenses sources.
Licenses
Iowa Board
Official Free
Welcome to the Iowa license portal. This page contains links to sites and pages which have a connection with licensing, certification, or registration of.
About the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC)
Official Free
Our goal is to maintain public trust in the appraisal profession by ensuring that appraisers are effectively regulated. The ASC has seven members, each designated by the head of their agency. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve). U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Title XI also requires the FFIEC to appoint a Chair from the member representatives to serve a two-year term.
🌐 asc.gov
Iowa Board - Bureau of Professional Licensure
Official Free
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Attorney Disciplinary Board | Iowa Judicial Branch
Official Free
Each complaint opened pursuant to Iowa Court Rule 35.4 is investigated, and the Board then dismisses the complaint, privately admonishes the attorney, or seeks formal discipline (a public reprimand, a term of suspension, or license revocation). All public discipline is imposed by the Supreme Court in the form of a publicly-accessible court order. Interested persons may search for the disciplinary.
Attorney Admissions | Iowa Judicial Branch
Official Free
The admission process covers those that are required to take an examination to gain admission as well as attorneys licensed from other jurisdictions who wish to practice in Iowa. Find out more about the bar examination in Iowa. If you are already licensed in another jurisdiction, learn how to become licensed in Iowa. Contact Bar.Admissions@iowacourts.gov if you have any other questions.
Iowa State Bar Association
Official Free
Iowa State Bar Foundation · Lawyers Assistance Program · Career Center · Reserve Space · Contact Us · MEMBERSHIP · Column1 · Links · Overview · Join · Renew · MyISBA · Member Benefits · Board of Governors · Committees · Sections · Young Lawyers Division ·
State of Iowa DHS - Child Care Provider Portal Announcement
Official Free
The KinderTrack on-line portals, including I-PoWeR, are requiring maintenance to be performed between 12 pm and 1 pm on 9/18/2020 · We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause
Contractor License | Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing
Official Free
If the applicant operates the contractor business as an employee or owner of a legal entity, the applicant must provide the board with evidence that the surety bond was obtained by the entity and that the surety bond covers all plumbing or mechanical work performed by the entity. “Master of record” means an individual possessing an active master license under Iowa Code chapter 105 who shall be responsible for the proper designing, installing, and repairing of plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic systems and who is actively in charge of the plumbing,…
Iowa Division of Credit Unions | Iowa Division of Credit Unions
Official Free
Iowa Division of Credit Unions · Search · Menu · 200 E Grand Ave Suite 370 Des Moines, IA 50309 · Closed · Sunday: Closed · Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm · Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm · Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm · Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm · Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm ·
Insurance Producers & Related Professionals | Iowa Insurance Division
Official Free
Individuals operating as insurance producers, appraisers, adjusters, navigators, umpires, or viatical settlement brokers must be licensed. The Iowa Insurance Commissioner is authorized to require certain applicants to provide state and federal.
Iowa Insurance Division | Iowa Insurance Division
Official Free
The Iowa Insurance Division regulates businesses related to insurance, securities and more in Iowa.
Alcohol - Iowa Department of Revenue
Official Free
Register self-service machines and kegs · Submit Third-Party Delivery forms · Update ownership records and report criminal history changes · Update filing frequency for reporting · Cancel a license · Update account information, including names and addresses · File alcohol related reports · In order to access these actions, you must create a GovConnectIowa account and be connected to your alcohol license. To get started: Create an account at govconnect.iowa.gov ·
Submission of CLE Programs by CLE Sponsors | Iowa Judicial Branch
Official Free
In addition, the Commission has adopted policies regarding accreditation of CLE events (PDF), based on Iowa Court Rule 42.3 and its experience. Online filing of your continuing legal education (CLE) applications for accreditation is available over at the professional regulation website. Sponsors.
Information for Current Shorthand Reporters | Iowa Judicial Branch
Official Free
Rules pertaining to certified shorthand reporters now appear at chapter 46 of the Iowa Court Rules. Fees payable with respect to reports and several kinds of applications were changed in 2008. You can view the complete chapter 46. All certified shorthand reporters licensed in Iowa need to be mindful of Iowa Code section 602.3204, which states that:
About Notaries | Iowa Secretary of State - Paul D. Pate
Official Free
The responsibilities of an Iowa Notary Public are critical to the legal, business, financial, and real estate communities in this state. A Notary Public is a person commissioned by the Secretary of State to serve the public as an impartial and unbiased witness by identifying persons who come.
Iowa Board
Official Free
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Edge Realty Group Referral Company
Official Free
License City, State, Zip · Iowa City, Iowa 52246 · Firm Name · Real Estate Professionals Referral Company · Number · F05221000 · License Type · Real Estate Firm · License Status · Active · Expiration Date · 12/31/2027 · Original Created Date · 10/05/2007 ·
Search Help Frequently Asked Questions - ARELLO
Official Free
Real Estate Licensee Verification Database · ARELLO.ORG · Home · Search · API · Learn more about what the services does. See which plan works best for your company. Find documentation and login credentials to test service. Find some introductory answers to frequently asked questions about the ARELLO Licensee Verification Database System.
Iowa Counties
99 Iowa counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I verify an Iowa professional license?▼
Most Iowa professional and occupational licenses (medical, legal, contracting, real estate, cosmetology, etc.) can be verified through the Official Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses at plb.iowa.gov. Look for the 'License Lookup' or 'Verify a Licensee' tool — searches are typically by name or license number and return active/inactive status.
How do I apply for an Iowa business license?▼
Iowa business licensing combines state, county, and city permits depending on activity. The Official Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses at plb.iowa.gov is the primary state portal; local business-tax certificates are issued by the city or county where you operate. The federal usa.gov permits guide is a helpful starting overview.
Is an Iowa license required to work in my profession?▼
That depends on the profession. Iowa, like most states, licenses regulated occupations such as healthcare, legal, construction, real estate, cosmetology, security, and many trades. The Official Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses publishes the full list and exemption criteria at plb.iowa.gov.
How do I report a complaint against an Iowa licensee?▼
Complaints against licensed professionals in Iowa are filed with the issuing board or division under the Official Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses. Most boards accept online complaint submissions at plb.iowa.gov, plus mail-in forms. Each board reviews complaints under the standards in Iowa's occupational code.
Does Iowa recognize licenses from other states?▼
Many Iowa boards offer license-by-reciprocity, license-by-endorsement, or expedited pathways for applicants already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction. The Official Iowa Professional & Occupational Licenses at plb.iowa.gov publishes the reciprocity rules per profession; some require additional Iowa-specific exams or jurisprudence tests.