How to verify a real estate license in Florida (5 professions)

The five professions and where to check them

Real estate agents and brokers (DBPR)

Under Florida Statutes § 475.42, no one may act as a broker or sales associate without “a valid and current active license”; doing so is a third-degree felony. Section 475.01 defines three roles: a broker works for others for a fee; a sales associate does the same work “under the direction, control, or management of another person”; a broker associate qualifies as a broker but works as a sales associate under someone else.

The DBPR License Search searches by name, license number, city or county, or license type. A check on October 13, 2026 showed, for each real estate record:

• name, main address and county;
• license type (“Real Estate Broker or Sales”), rank (for example “Sales Associate”) and license number (sales associate numbers begin with SL);
• status, such as “Current, Active” or “Current, Inactive”;
• original licensure date and expiration date;
• links to “View Related License Information” and “View License Complaint”.

A sales associate may not work for anyone other than the broker registered as their employer (§ 475.42(1)(b)), so ask which broker that is and look the broker up too. On fees, see our real estate commission guide.

Home inspectors (DBPR)

Since July 1, 2011, Florida Statutes § 468.8319 has barred anyone from offering home inspection services, or using titles such as “licensed home inspector” or “certified home inspector”, without a DBPR license. The law covers one- to four-family homes, condominium units and manufactured or modular homes (§ 468.8311). A licensed inspector must also carry commercial general liability insurance of at least $300,000 (§ 468.8322).

In the DBPR search, choose the category “Home Inspectors” and the type “Home Inspector”. For prices, see our home inspection cost guide.

Appraisers (DBPR board and the national registry)

Under § 475.612, only a certified or licensed appraiser may issue an appraisal report and be paid directly for it. Section 475.611 sets the credentials:

• Registered trainee appraiser: works only under the direct supervision of a certified appraiser;
• Licensed appraiser: one- to four-unit homes; DBPR has issued no new licenses in this category since July 1, 2003;
• Certified residential appraiser: one- to four-unit homes “without regard to transaction value or complexity”;
• Certified general appraiser: any type of property.

A broker or sales associate can give you a price opinion, but the law says it may never be called an appraisal (§ 475.612(3)).

In the DBPR search, use the category “Real Estate Appraisers”. The federal Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) also keeps a national Appraiser Registry, searchable by state, certificate type and name. Its type filter lists only certified general, certified residential and licensed appraisers, so trainees do not appear there. See our appraisal cost guide.

Mortgage loan originators (OFR and NMLS)

Florida Statutes § 494.00312 requires anyone acting as a loan originator to hold an OFR license, and § 494.0025 makes it unlawful to work without a “current, active” one. The license must be renewed every year by December 31; if the originator renews late, before March 1, the status shows “failed to renew”, and after that the license expires (§ 494.00313). Loan officers who work only as federally registered originators under the SAFE Act, typically bank and credit union staff, are exempt from the state license (§ 494.00115).

OFR has no lookup of its own for these professionals: its Verify a License page sends you to NMLS Consumer Access to search a mortgage broker, lender or loan originator. Ask for the person’s NMLS ID and search it there.

Land surveyors (FDACS)

Surveyors are not on the DBPR site. Florida Statutes § 472.005 places the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and § 472.006 sets a two-year renewal cycle. FDACS issues two license types: LS for an individual professional surveyor and mapper, and LB for a surveying business.

The FDACS Business License Lookup searches by name, license number (format “LS9999”), phone, city or county; pick the program “LS-Surveyor and Mapper” or “LB-Surveyor Business”. The board also publishes recent disciplinary actions and revoked licenses on its website. Prices are covered in our land survey cost guide.

If the license is expired, inactive or missing

Do not sign or pay until the status is current and active. If the work is already done, you can complain.

• DBPR (agents, brokers, inspectors, appraisers): the complaint must be in writing, signed and “legally sufficient”, meaning it states facts showing a violation (§ 455.225). DBPR may also investigate an anonymous written complaint if the violation is substantial. The complaint stays confidential until 10 days after probable cause is found, which is why a clean record does not prove that no complaint exists.
• Real Estate Recovery Fund: if a court awards you damages against a licensed agent or broker for a violation in a Florida real estate transaction, the fund can pay the unpaid part, up to $50,000 per transaction and $150,000 for all claims against one licensee (§ 475.484).
• OFR (loan originators): complain online through its Online Services or on a paper form. OFR says it cannot arbitrate individual disputes or act as your lawyer.
• FDACS (surveyors): the board disciplines licensees who break Chapter 472; complaints go through the FDACS “File a Complaint” page.

For a dispute over money or a contract, see a Florida real estate attorney. Keep a dated screenshot of the record you checked.