To run a license lookup in Washington State, go to the agency that issues the credential you want to verify: the Department of Licensing for most professions and trades, the Department of Revenue for businesses, the Department of Labor and Industries for contractors, and the Department of Health for medical providers. All four databases are public, free, and searchable by name or license number. Which one you need depends entirely on what the person or business is licensed to do.
Professional and Occupational Licenses
The Department of Licensing covers dozens of professions, including real estate brokers, cosmetologists, auctioneers, private investigators, and notaries public.1Washington State Department of Licensing. Professional Licenses Search at professions.dol.wa.gov/s/license-lookup using a license number, an individual or business name, a license type, a county, or a Unified Business Identifier (UBI).2Washington State Department of Licensing. License Lookup
A license number gets you the fastest match. For name searches, use the person’s full legal name rather than a nickname, and narrow by profession from the dropdown if the name is common. Results show current status, and clicking an entry opens the full credential history.
Business Licenses
To check whether a business is properly registered, use the Department of Revenue’s Business Lookup, reachable through dor.wa.gov by clicking “Look up a business.”3Washington Department of Revenue. Business Licensing and Renewals FAQs The tool offers three search types:
- Tax account, which shows information tied to a business’s registered tax account. The registered name may differ from the trade name the business operates under.
- Reseller permit, which confirms whether a reseller permit is active and shows its effective dates.
- General business license, which pulls up the DOR business license along with all endorsements tied to that location.
Every registered Washington business has a nine-digit UBI that works across state agencies, so if you have that number, use it. Results list both active and closed endorsements, which lets you see specialty authorizations like liquor sales or lottery retail.
The Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board does not run a separate public lookup. LCB license numbers and statuses appear as endorsements inside the DOR results.4Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Licensee List Click each endorsement to see the license type and what it authorizes.
Contractors and Tradespeople
Before hiring anyone for construction, remodeling, or repair work on your home, check the contractor through the Department of Labor and Industries at secure.lni.wa.gov/verify.5Washington Department of Labor and Industries. Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business You can search by contractor name, L&I contractor license number, UBI, or employer account ID.
Washington requires all contractors to register with L&I, and registration means an active surety bond and general liability insurance. If either lapses, L&I suspends the registration, and the suspension shows in the search results. Verifying registration confirms two things at once: that the contractor is legally authorized to work, and that there is a bond and insurance policy behind the job if something goes wrong. Hiring an unregistered contractor removes both.
Healthcare Providers
The Department of Health credentials doctors, nurses, therapists, dentists, pharmacists, and dozens of other healthcare occupations. The credential search now lives on the WA HELMS platform at wahelms.my.site.com/s/license-search, and you can search by first name, last name, credential type, credential number, or credential status.6WA HELMS. Provider Credential Search
Results include an “Enforcement Action” column. If it reads “No,” the provider has a clean Washington disciplinary history. Downloadable copies of legal disciplinary actions are available for actions taken since July 1998.7Washington State Department of Health. Provider Credential or Facility Search
One boundary to be aware of: the DOH database verifies Washington-issued credentials only. It does not show a provider’s history in other states. If you want a provider’s national identifier and confirmed specialty, the NPPES NPI Registry at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov lets you search by name or NPI number, though that registry does not confirm an active state license.8NPPES NPI Registry. Search NPI Records
What the Status Words Mean
Terminology varies slightly by agency, but a handful of designations appear across most Washington databases. Under WAC 308-09-010, the Department of Licensing defines its statuses this way:9Washington State Legislature. Washington Administrative Code 308-09-010 – License Status Definitions
- Active. The licensee is authorized to work in the regulated profession.
- Inactive. The licensee has met qualifications but is not currently authorized to practice, for nondisciplinary reasons. This commonly applies when a licensee’s spouse or partner is deployed or stationed outside Washington.
- Military status. The licensee is serving in the military, and the license is treated as active.
- Expired. The license lapsed, usually because the holder did not renew on time.
- Suspended. The license has been temporarily revoked, often for a disciplinary action or a failure to meet ongoing requirements like insurance or bonding.
The Department of Health uses “Active” in the same way — a current credential to practice.10Washington State Department of Health. Glossary of Terms On the DOR business side, you will also see “Closed,” meaning the business is no longer operational or has voluntarily ended its registration. If you’re about to hire someone or schedule a service, the status should read “Active.” Anything else is worth a conversation before you commit.
If You Find Someone Operating Without a License
Unlicensed practice carries real penalties in Washington. Under RCW 18.130.190, the state can impose civil fines of up to $1,000 per day for unlicensed practice of a health profession, rising to as much as $5,000 per day if the person continues after a cease and desist order.11Washington State Legislature. Washington Code RCW 18.130.190 – Practice Without License, Investigation of Complaints, Cease and Desist Orders, Injunctions, Penalties
File a complaint with the agency that issues the credential in question. The Department of Licensing accepts complaints at professions.dol.wa.gov/s/file-complaint, either with your name or anonymously.12Washington State Department of Licensing. File Complaint Select the profession, describe the issue with a timeline, and attach any supporting documents or photos. Healthcare complaints go to the Department of Health; contractor complaints go to L&I. Keep copies of everything you submit, and hold onto any evidence even after filing.