How to Search Virginia Professional Licenses (Start Here)

Professional and occupational licenses in Virginia 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 Virginia.

What this page covers: Virginia 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 Virginia. 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
License Lookup | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Medical board (MD)
Virginia Board of Medicine
Nursing board
Virginia Board of Nursing - License Verifications
Insurance licensing
Virginia SCC - Apply for a Agency Virginia Insurance License
Bar / attorney
Search for licensed attorneys in Virginia
Contractor licensing
Board for Contractors | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Population
8,811,195
Households
3,324,700
Median Income
$87,249
Median Home Value
$339,800
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Virginia professional & occupational licenses URL verified against the official state publisher at www.dpor.virginia.gov on the review date. 4 primary .gov sources cited below.

Virginia Professional & Occupational Licenses — Key Facts (2026)

Doctors, lawyers, contractors, nurses, real estate agents in Virginia — 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 ≠ clean record (verify both)
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 — Virginia Professional & Occupational Licenses

2026
Virginia professional & occupational licenses portal active
The official Virginia portal at www.dpor.virginia.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 Virginia state records.
2026
Virginia access in 2026
For 2026, Virginia continues to publish professional & occupational licenses information through state-authorized portals; check www.dpor.virginia.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 Virginia's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Virginia License Verification

1
Step 1 — Identify the profession
Each occupation has its own Virginia board (medical, bar, contractor, real-estate, cosmetology, etc.).
2
Step 2 — Confirm the state
Licenses are state-issued. A Virginia license is NOT automatically valid in other states (unless via compact).
3
Step 3 — Use the official board lookup
Every Virginia 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 Virginia board's disciplinary actions search.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Virginia Professional & Occupational Licenses

MYTH"License numbers are private."
FACTThey're the opposite — public identifiers designed for verification. A professional refusing to give one is the red flag.
MYTH"A clean lookup means no complaints ever."
FACTBoard lookups show public discipline — formal actions. Complaints that closed without action typically never appear.
MYTH"A web printout is official verification."
FACTEmployers and other boards often require primary-source verification — the board's own certified letter or direct feed — not a screenshot.
MYTH"Inactive means revoked."
FACTInactive usually means not currently practicing — retired, lapsed, or paused. Revoked is a discipline status, and boards label the difference.
MYTH"There's one national license database."
FACTLicensing is state-by-state, board-by-board. A nurse, a contractor, and a barber in Virginia are verified in three different systems.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Licenses Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Licenses
Sample Virginia counties: Accomack · Albemarle · Alleghany · Amelia · Amherst

Licenses Databases

19 official Virginia licenses sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Licenses

Individual CPA Search
Official Free
CPA Firm Search The online database for CPA firms can be found at Firm Search · For information on VBOA disciplinary actions, please contact the Enforcement Division at enforcement@boa.virginia.gov. Online complaint forms can be submitted on licensed or non-licensed individuals and firms
🌐 cpaportal.boa.virginia.gov
Virginia Board of Medicine - Licensed Acupuncturist
Official Free
An applicant must meet the education and examination requirements to become licensed. 5. My school is no longer in existence. How do I provide documentation of education? You must provide a notarized copy of your school’s diploma and transcript and a statement that your school is no longer in existence. 6. Is there a waiver for the English proficiency test? Yes. An applicant whose native language is not English and whose acupuncture education was also not in English may be exempt from the requirement for the Test of Spoken English or Test of English as a Foreign Language, if the majority…
🌐 dhp.virginia.gov
Virginia ABC
Official Free
Be a responsible party host and make sure to serve some non-alcoholic beverages like alcohol-free cocktails at your event. As always please Sip Responsibly!. Explore our selection of over 4,000 products. Find your favorite spirit or discover something new. Our store search gives you option to find the spirit you want at the store closest to you.
🌐 abc.virginia.gov
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA BOARD FOR ARCHITECTS, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, LAND
Official Free
Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. As a · regulant of the Board, you are responsible for following all regulations and therefore you should read and · become familiar with all regulations printed in this booklet. This document is a complete, edited (unofficial) copy of the December 1, 2021 Regulations · (18VAC10-20).
🌐 dpor.virginia.gov
Virginia State Bar
Official Free
Virginia State Bar homepage features the latest issue of Virginia Lawyer, disciplinary actions, and news items. It also has quick links and a keyword search to navigate the site.
🌐 vsb.org
License Lookup | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Official Free
Organizational Chart · Questions or Comments about this Website Contact WebCoordinator@dpor.virginia.gov
🌐 dpor.virginia.gov
Bail Bondsmen | Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Official Free
Virginia runs this system centrally, so Virginia records appear alongside the rest of the state. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 dcjs.virginia.gov
Virginia
Official Free
This site provides a list Virginia Chartered Banks. The banks are listed alphabetically by name. Included with each bank is its mailing address, chief executive officer, and authorized banking office(s).
🌐 scc.virginia.gov
Child Day Centers (CDC)
Official Free
Effective July 1, 2021, the Virginia Department of Education will be responsible for overseeing child care and early education programs, including licensing, the Child Care Subsidy Program, and resources for educators. More information about the transition is available here. Child day centers are child day programs offered to (i) two or more children under the age of 13 years in a facility that is not the residence of the provider or of any of the children in care or (ii) 13 or more children at any location.
🌐 dss.virginia.gov
Virginia SCC - Insurance Companies
Official Free
License and permit records for Virginia — issued credentials and active-status checks. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 scc.virginia.gov
Virginia State Corporation Commission
Official Free
Licensing activity for Virginia is tracked through this source. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 scc.virginia.gov
Virginia SCC - For Companies
Official Free
Permit and license lookups for Virginia run through here. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 scc.virginia.gov
Virginia
Official Free
Licensing activity for Virginia is tracked through this source. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official license and permit office.
🌐 sircon.com
NMLS Consumer Access
Official Free
This system is for authorized use only. The system usage may be monitored, recorded, read, captured, or subject to audit in any manner by authorized personnel. Accessing and using this system constitutes consent to having system use monitored and recorded. Unauthorized use is prohibited and.
🌐 nmlsconsumeraccess.org
NMLS Consumer Access
Official Free
NMLS was created by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR) and is owned and operated by the State Regulatory Registry LLC (SRR), a wholly owned subsidiary of CSBS. For more information about the System, please visit the NMLS Resource Center or the NMLS Federal Registry Resource Center websites.
🌐 nmlsconsumeraccess.org
What are considered to be Private Security Services in the Commonwealth of Virginia? | Virginia Department of…
Official Free
"Private security services business" means any person engaged in the business of providing, or who undertakes to provide, armored car personnel, security officers, personal protection specialists, private investigators, couriers, security canine handlers, security canine teams, detector canine handlers, detector canine teams, alarm respondents, locksmiths, central station dispatchers, electronic security employees, electronic security sales representatives or electronic security technicians and their assistants to another person under contract, express or implied.
🌐 dcjs.virginia.gov
Appraiser Registry | ASC gov
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering Virginia are published through this system. Confirm details with the official license and permit office before relying on them.
🌐 asc.gov
Get a Virginia ABC Banquet License
Official Free
For step-by-step assistance in determining the license or permit that you need, see our Licensing Wizard. Banquet Banquet Mixed Beverage Special Event Banquet Special Event Banquet Tasting Manufacturer's Beer and Wine Event Manufacturer's Distilled Spirits Event Mixed Beverage Club Event Mixed Beverage Special Event
🌐 abc.virginia.gov

Virginia Counties

95 Virginia 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.

Fairfax Prince William Loudoun Chesterfield Henrico Arlington Stafford Spotsylvania Accomack Albemarle Alleghany Amelia Amherst Appomattox

Which Virginia counties publish local licensing online

11 of Virginia's 98 counties run their own online source for local licensing, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most Virginia professional and occupational licenses (medical, legal, contracting, real estate, cosmetology, etc.) can be verified through the Official Virginia Professional & Occupational Licenses at www.dpor.virginia.gov. Look for the 'License Lookup' or 'Verify a Licensee' tool — searches are typically by name or license number and return active/inactive status.

Virginia business licensing combines state, county, and city permits depending on activity. The Official Virginia Professional & Occupational Licenses at www.dpor.virginia.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.

That depends on the profession. Virginia, like most states, licenses regulated occupations such as healthcare, legal, construction, real estate, cosmetology, security, and many trades. The Official Virginia Professional & Occupational Licenses publishes the full list and exemption criteria at www.dpor.virginia.gov.

Complaints against licensed professionals in Virginia are filed with the issuing board or division under the Official Virginia Professional & Occupational Licenses. Most boards accept online complaint submissions at www.dpor.virginia.gov, plus mail-in forms. Each board reviews complaints under the standards in Virginia's occupational code.

Many Virginia boards offer license-by-reciprocity, license-by-endorsement, or expedited pathways for applicants already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction. The Official Virginia Professional & Occupational Licenses at www.dpor.virginia.gov publishes the reciprocity rules per profession; some require additional Virginia-specific exams or jurisprudence tests.