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FREE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING Resource Center

Spontaneous Insight is not affiliated with these organizations, nor does it endorse them. We are simply providing the following free listings of certification resources to help site visitors better understand the vast amount of free background check resources available through the internet and related organizations.

This free & informative section will help you check your subject's claim to being a member in good standing of a profession or occupation, to verify his/her license or certificate date, or to locate him/her.

There are many thousands of licensing and certification agencies in the U.S. As we continue to research this category we will add many more agencies which have Internet sites.

To research this subject on your own (assuming you don't find what you need below), start by accessing CareerInfoNet. This site provides a great deal of occupational licensing info by state. It also supplies phone numbers of many state occupational licensing boards.

CareerInfoNet doesn't have what you need? Then try calling your local librarian. Two annually-updated print-based publications which may help you are The Professional & Occupational Licensing Directory, and The Directory of Associations, both published by Gale Research Inc., Detroit, MI.

Another good source of this type of free background check info is your Secretary of State's Office, located in your state capitol.

Finally, note that, while most licensing authorities and professional associations have web pages, it's often much easier just to call them than to try to find and navigate their sites.

To get you started, here are some basic sources of licensing, registration, and certification information for a variety of common professions. (State-by-state listings with URLs follow, below.)

Accounting: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York, NY

Banking: The American Bankers Association, New York, NY

Economists: American Economic Association, Nashville, TN Tel. (615) 322-2595

Electricians, plumbers and contractors: Local unions and professional associations

Engineers: State licensing associations

Funeral Home Directors: Funeralnet

Law: The American Bar Association, Chicago, IL (but note that not all lawyers are members of the ABA); try State Bar Associations; or Attorney Profiles.

Nurses: State licensing associations

Physicians: American Medical Association, Chicago, IL.
Or: Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors

Police: State certification boards

Private investigators: State licensing associations

Real estate agents: State real estate associations

Stockbrokers and investment bankers: National Association of Securities Dealers,New York, NY

Teachers: National Education Association, Washington, DC and state licensing boards

Travel agents: Airline Reporting Corporation, Washington, DC and the American Society of Travel Agents, New York, NY

STATE-BY-STATE LISTING OF LICENSING AUTHORITIES

Occupation/Profession (Telephone Contact)

ALABAMA
Architect
Attorney(334-269-1515)
Home Builder
Home Inspector
Insurance Agent
Mental Health Center
Nursing Home
Physician
Public Accountant, CPA
Real Estate Broker
Real Estate Agent/Salesperson