Before you sign with a real estate agent, hand a deposit to a contractor or book a therapist, it takes about two minutes to confirm that the person holds a current Utah license. Most people never check, and the state's search tools are scattered across several agencies with different names.
This guide gathers them in one place: where to look up each kind of license, what the results tell you, Utah's handyman exemption, and a warning about the fund that was supposed to protect homeowners from contractor liens. It is drawn from the Utah Division of Real Estate, the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), the Utah Insurance Department, the Utah State Bar and the Utah Code, checked on November 13, 2026.
The lookup tools at a glance
| You are hiring | Who licenses them | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate agent or broker, appraiser | Division of Real Estate | secure.utah.gov/rer/relv/search.html |
| Mortgage loan officer, mortgage company | Division of Real Estate | The national NMLS Consumer Access database (nmlsconsumeraccess.org) |
| Contractor, electrician, plumber | DOPL | secure.utah.gov/llv |
| Therapist, counselor, psychologist, doctor, dentist | DOPL | secure.utah.gov/llv |
| Cosmetologist, barber, massage therapist | DOPL | secure.utah.gov/llv |
| Insurance agent | Utah Insurance Department | Licensee Search at insurance.utah.gov |
| Lawyer or licensed paralegal practitioner | Utah State Bar | Attorney and LPP Directory |
| A business entity (LLC, corporation) | Division of Corporations | Business registration search at corporations.utah.gov |
| A child care provider | DHHS child care licensing | Care About Childcare search |
Real estate agents, brokers and appraisers
The Utah Division of Real Estate licenses real estate agents and brokers, appraisers, and mortgage professionals, along with property management, timeshare and land sales in some cases. Its mission statement describes "education, licensure, and regulation of real estate, mortgage, and appraisal professionals."
How to search:
- Go to the Division's Real Estate and Appraisal License Search (secure.utah.gov/rer/relv/search.html), linked as "Verify a License" on realestate.utah.gov.
- Choose search by name and profession or search by license number.
- Enter a full name or a company name. The search offers results that begin with your entry (partial entry) or that contain it (wild card).
- Narrow by profession: Real Estate or Appraiser.
The search page also offers downloadable license lists and purchased address lists, which are aimed at businesses rather than consumers.
What to check: that the name matches the person you are dealing with, that the license is active, and which brokerage the agent is affiliated with. In Utah, an agent works under a principal broker, so the brokerage name on the license should match the one on your paperwork.
If something is wrong: the Department of Commerce has a "Submit a Complaint" page for real estate, mortgage and appraisal licensees.
Contractors, electricians and plumbers
The Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) licenses contractors and the construction trades, along with health professions and many others. Its Licensee Lookup and Verification System is at secure.utah.gov/llv. The search page shows the date its information is current as of; when we checked, it read November 12, 2026.
How to search:
- By name and profession, with "begins with" or "contains" options, or
- By license number.
The profession list runs from accountancy to architecture and includes contractor, electrician, building inspector, burglar alarm, cosmetology, dental, engineer/land surveyor, factory built housing, funeral service and many more.
Then check discipline. DOPL publishes a separate Disciplinary Actions and Citations search and disciplinary newsletters. A license can be active and still carry a citation, a probation or a stipulated order, which tells you more than the license alone.
The handyman exemption: $7,000
Utah does not require a contractor license for every job. Utah Code 58-55-305 exempts a person doing alteration, repair, remodeling, addition or improvement work on a building with a contracted or agreed value of less than $7,000, counting both labor and materials and all changes or additions to the work.
That exemption comes with conditions that matter to a homeowner:
- Plumbing and electrical systems. On those small jobs, work on an electrical or plumbing system must be done by a licensed electrical or plumbing contractor. A licensed journeyman may handle a component, such as a faucet, toilet, fixture, outlet or switch.
- Gas appliances and combustion systems must be installed, repaired or replaced by someone with the required certification.
- Fire sprinklers must be done by a licensed fire suppression contractor or journeyman plumber.
- Alarm systems must be done by a licensed alarm company or agent.
- HVAC work must be done by a licensed HVAC contractor.
- Radon mitigation must be done by a licensed contractor.
- Above $3,000, the unlicensed person must file a one-time affirmation with DOPL that they carry public liability insurance, and workers' compensation if they have employees.
So a handyman can hang drywall or replace trim on a $2,500 job without a license, but the water heater, the furnace and the new circuit belong to licensed trades regardless of the job's size.
The law also exempts owners doing work on their own property, and people employed by the owner to maintain it.
The lien fund warning
Utah's Residence Lien Recovery Fund, created in 1994, was designed to solve a specific problem: contractors who took a homeowner's money and did not pay their subcontractors and suppliers, who then put liens on the house. A homeowner who qualifies under the residence lien law can have those liens voided, and the fund pays the unpaid subcontractors or suppliers instead.
DOPL's page now carries a prominent warning that available funds are "extremely limited or may be unavailable," that it is highly unlikely resources will be available to satisfy new claims, and that people should contact the Division before submitting a claim, at (801) 530-6719 or constructionprograms@utah.gov. It also notes that condominium units are typically not eligible if the structure contains more than a two-unit multifamily dwelling.
The practical lesson: do not rely on a state fund as your backstop. Verify the license, get lien waivers from subcontractors and suppliers before final payment, and pay in stages tied to completed work.
Why a license and a written contract protect your house
The fund's troubles do not erase the more important protection in the same law. Under Utah Code 38-11-107, a subcontractor or supplier who worked under an agreement with someone other than the homeowner is barred from keeping a lien on an owner-occupied residence, or winning a judgment against the owner, if the owner meets two conditions in Section 38-11-204(4)(a) and (b):
- The owner, or the owner's agent, entered into a written contract with an original contractor who was licensed or exempt from licensure under the construction trades licensing act (or with a real estate developer or factory-built housing retailer for the purchase of the home); and
- The owner paid that contractor in full under the written contract and any amendments.
In other words, the homeowner's shield comes from hiring a licensed or legally exempt contractor, putting the job in writing and paying according to that contract. The fund is what the unpaid subcontractor would have looked to for payment after the lien was voided; it is not the homeowner's protection.
That is the strongest practical reason to run the license lookup before the first payment. If the contractor you hired was neither licensed nor exempt, you may not have the protection.
The State Construction Registry
DOPL also runs the State Construction Registry (SCR), a central online database that identifies and tracks anyone providing services or materials on construction projects in Utah. Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers file notices there, and homeowners can create a free account to track filings on their project. For filing or technical help, DOPL lists (801) 983-0275, option 6. Checking the SCR during a remodel tells you who has a claim to payment on your job, which in turn tells you whose lien waivers to collect.
What a lookup does not tell you
An active license is a floor, not a recommendation. It confirms that the person met the state's requirements and has not lost the license. It does not tell you whether their work is good, whether they show up on time or whether their price is fair. Pair the lookup with references, a written scope and a payment schedule tied to finished work.
It also matters whose license it is. A business can be licensed through a qualifying individual, and a crew on your site may include people who are not individually licensed. Make sure the license that appears in the search belongs to the company or person on your contract.
Therapists, doctors and other health professionals
Health and mental health professionals are licensed by DOPL, so the same Licensee Lookup system covers them. The profession list includes behavioral health, clinical mental health, dental, dietitian, genetic counselor and others. If you are choosing a therapist, check both the license and the license type, since titles like "life coach" or "counselor" are not the same as a state-licensed clinical credential.
Our guide to finding a therapist in Utah Valley explains the license types and the low-cost options.
Insurance agents
The Utah Insurance Department has a Licensee Search on its website and publishes administrative actions against licensees. It also has a consumer page on finding an agent. Check the license before you buy a policy, especially from someone who contacted you first.
Lawyers
The Utah State Bar maintains an Attorney and LPP Directory of its members, which covers both attorneys and licensed paralegal practitioners, and links to its Licensed Lawyer site for people looking to hire. If you cannot afford a lawyer, our free legal help guide lists the hotline and clinics in Utah County.
A "notario" or immigration consultant who is not a lawyer or an accredited representative cannot give legal advice in Utah, whatever the title means in another country.
Businesses and child care
- Businesses: the Division of Corporations offers a business registration search for LLCs, corporations and assumed names (DBAs). It shows whether an entity is registered and active, not whether it is licensed for a particular trade.
- Child care: licensed providers are searchable on Care About Childcare, the state's search tool. Our child care guide (in Spanish) walks through it.
Watch for license scams
DOPL keeps a running list of scams aimed at licensees, including callers threatening legal action over false accusations, spoofed phone numbers with authentic-looking letters, and a suspended-license scam. It posted an alert on September 23, 2026 about a possible scam targeting licensed professionals. If you hold a Utah license and get a call demanding payment to avoid suspension, hang up and call DOPL directly at (801) 530-6628.
The same caution runs the other way. A contractor who will not give you a license number, or whose name does not match the license, is a reason to stop.
Which lookups fit which moment
Buying a home. Look up your agent and the seller's agent with the Division of Real Estate, and the loan officer in NMLS Consumer Access. If you hire an inspector, ask what credentials they hold. Our first-time homebuyer guide covers the rest of the transaction.
Renting. Individual landlords do not appear in these state lookups (some cities, including Provo, require a rental dwelling license instead), but a property management company that manages rentals for others falls under the Division of Real Estate's oversight of property management. If a "landlord" asks for a deposit before you have seen the unit, our rental scams guide explains the warning signs.
A remodel, roof or furnace. Look up the contractor with DOPL, check the discipline search, confirm a trade license for any plumbing, electrical, gas, HVAC, alarm or radon work, sign a written contract and keep the State Construction Registry filings in view.
Therapy or a medical procedure. Look up the clinician's license type with DOPL. A spa offering an injectable or a "clinic" offering therapy should be able to name the licensed professional responsible.
Insurance. Look up the agent with the Insurance Department before buying a policy from anyone who contacted you first.
A legal problem. Look up the attorney in the Utah State Bar directory, and be wary of anyone offering legal or immigration help who does not appear there.
A two-minute checklist before you hire
- Get the full legal name and license number in writing.
- Search the right agency from the table above.
- Confirm the license is active and the name and business match.
- Check discipline (DOPL's disciplinary search, the Insurance Department's actions page).
- For contracting work over $7,000, confirm a contractor license. For any plumbing, electrical, gas, HVAC, alarm or radon work, confirm the trade license regardless of price.
- Get it in writing: scope, price, payment schedule and lien waivers.
Related Guides
- Finding an electrician in Provo
- Fences, sheds and setbacks in Utah Valley
- Neighbor disputes in Utah
- Homeowners insurance in Utah Valley
- Free and low-cost legal help in Utah County
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up a real estate agent's license in Utah?
How do I check a contractor's or electrician's license in Utah?
Does a handyman need a license in Utah?
How do I verify a therapist or counselor in Utah?
How do I check an insurance agent's license in Utah?
How do I check whether a lawyer is licensed in Utah?
What is the Residence Lien Recovery Fund, and can I count on it?
How do I report an unlicensed contractor or a problem with a licensee?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Division of Real Estate home (verify a license, industries), Utah Division of Real Estate. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Real Estate and Appraisal License Search, Utah Division of Real Estate. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Licensee Lookup & Verification System, Utah Division of Professional Licensing. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Division of Professional Licensing home, Utah Division of Professional Licensing. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Residence Lien Recovery Fund, Utah Division of Professional Licensing. Checked November 13, 2026.
- State Construction Registry, Utah Division of Professional Licensing. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Scammers announcements, Utah Division of Professional Licensing. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Licensee Search, Utah Insurance Department. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Attorney and LPP Directory, Utah State Bar. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Utah Code 58-55-305, Exemptions from licensure ($7,000 handyman exemption), Utah Legislature. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Utah Code 38-11-204, Claims against the fund; owner qualifications, Utah Legislature. Checked November 13, 2026.
- Utah Code 38-11-107, Restrictions upon maintaining a lien against residence, Utah Legislature. Checked November 13, 2026.
