In California, real estate agents, mortgage loan officers, real estate attorneys and appraisers need a state license. No state license is required for home inspectors. Ask any professional for their license number and check it yourself at the official lookup listed below.
Five trades, five regulators
Do real estate agents need a license in California?
Yes: in California, real estate agents need a state license issued by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). You can check a name yourself on DRE Public License Lookup.
- License required · California Department of Real Estate (DRE)
- Titles you will see: Salesperson, Broker
- Check a name yourself: DRE Public License Lookup
Do mortgage loan officers need a license in California?
Yes: in California, mortgage loan officers need a state license issued by the DRE (MLO endorsement for real estate licensees) or Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), through NMLS. You can check a name yourself on NMLS Consumer Access.
- License required · DRE (MLO endorsement for real estate licensees) or Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), through NMLS
- Titles you will see: Mortgage loan originator (DRE endorsement), Mortgage loan originator (DFPI license)
- Check a name yourself: NMLS Consumer Access (we could not open this search page ourselves)
Do home inspectors need a license in California?
We found no state license requirement for home inspectors in California; ask for proof of training, insurance and association membership instead.
- No state license found · None (Business and Professions Code sections 7195-7199 set duties, not a license)
- Titles you will see: Home inspector (unlicensed title)
- We found no state license for this work in California. Ask for proof of training, insurance and any association membership, and remember that an association is not a regulator.
Do real estate attorneys need a license in California?
Yes: in California, real estate attorneys need a state license issued by the State Bar of California. You can check a name yourself on State Bar of California Attorney Search.
- License required · State Bar of California
- Titles you will see: Attorney (licensed member of the State Bar)
- Check a name yourself: State Bar of California Attorney Search
Do appraisers need a license in California?
Yes: in California, appraisers need a state license issued by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA). You can check a name yourself on BREA Search for an Appraiser.
- License required · Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA)
- Titles you will see: Trainee, Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, Certified General
- Check a name yourself: BREA Search for an Appraiser
More on each license: How to check a license in California.
Sectors of Los Angeles
Area Planning Commissions (7), as published by Area Planning Commissions layer, NavigateLA (City of Los Angeles).
- West Los Angeles
- Central
- North Valley
- South Valley
- South Los Angeles
- Harbor
- East Los Angeles