How to verify a real estate license in Nevada

Real estate agents and brokers

The Nevada Real Estate Division says its License Lookup “allows you to verify the credentials of real estate professionals.” You can search by name or license number, and “you do not need to login.” The Division’s FAQ says the lookup “gives you the ability to determine the license status of anyone.”

The Division lists these license categories: real estate salesperson, broker-salesperson, broker, and property manager. Check three things in the result: the license type, the status, and the brokerage the person works under.

To see whether a licensee has been disciplined, submit Form 638 (Request for Records of Complaints) by hand, mail, fax or email to RecordRequests@red.nv.gov. The Division says it may take up to 5 working days. The Division also publishes Active Licensee lists, updated monthly.

Mortgage loan originators (NMLS)

Nevada’s Division of Mortgage Lending (MLD) gives consumers two search options:

1. NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org) for mortgage companies, mortgage loan originators, servicers and supplemental servicers.
2. Nevada’s SRS portal for the license types MLD keeps outside NMLS: commercial-only mortgage companies and originators, escrow agencies and escrow agents, and credit service organizations.

Search by name and confirm that the Nevada license is active. For help, call MLD at 702-486-0782. We could not open the NMLS Consumer Access site itself during this review, so the description of what it covers comes from MLD’s page.

Escrow agencies are on the second list. See do you need a real estate attorney for why that matters at closing.

Home inspectors

Nevada calls them inspectors of structures, and they fall under NRS chapter 645D, administered by the Real Estate Division. To be certified, an applicant must show, per the Division:

• a course certificate of at least 40 hours for residential, with 50 hours for general and 60 hours for master inspectors;
• a passing inspector exam result from the past year;
• $100,000 in errors-and-omissions coverage and $100,000 in general liability, in the inspector’s personal name;
• a fingerprint background check.

A certificate is issued for two years, and the inspector must give the Division proof of insurance every year. The Division’s complaint page covers inspectors (Form 514, and Form 514d for inspectors of structures). The pages we read did not say outright that the License Lookup lists inspectors, so if a name does not appear, ask the Division before you rely on it. For prices, see home inspection cost.

Appraisers (state board and national registry)

The Real Estate Division licenses appraisers. The Division describes four levels:

For a second check, search the Appraiser Registry run by the federal Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC). You can filter by state, certificate type (Certified General, Certified Residential or Licensed) and name. The ASC directs people to the state agency for details about a credential. Your lender usually orders the appraisal; see home appraisal cost.

Land surveyors

The Nevada Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors licenses surveyors under NRS chapter 625. Its site links to a license lookup at nvbpels.org/find-engineers-land-surveyors. The board’s contact is (775) 688-1231 or board@nvbpels.nv.gov. See also what a land survey costs.

Five professions at a glance

What to do if a license is expired or suspended

Do not sign a contract with the person until the status is clear. If a licensee is practicing without an active license, or you have a complaint, the Real Estate Division takes a sworn Statement of Fact, Form 514 (real estate licensees, inspectors and others), Form 514c (appraisers) or Form 514d (inspectors of structures). Send it to the Compliance Section at RealEstateCompliance@red.nv.gov. The page lists no filing deadline. For mortgage originators or escrow agents, the Division of Mortgage Lending has a “Submit a complaint” page at mld.nv.gov/consumer-info/submit-a-complaint.