Methodology

LicenseReq shows what it takes to get licensed in a given profession and U.S. state. This page explains exactly how we source and verify that information, and what the numbers do and don't mean.

Data sources

Every figure on this site - education hours, exam names, fees, experience requirements, reciprocity rules, renewal cycles - comes directly from the official public website of the state licensing authority for that profession (state real estate commissions, boards of nursing, departments of education, secretary of state offices, etc.). We do not use third-party aggregator sites, and we never invent or smooth numbers.

• Authoritative, primary sources only - state statutes, board rules and official board pages.
• Each record stores the URL it was based on and the date it was last updated, shown as "Last updated" on the page.

What each page includes

• Pre-licensing education - required hours or coursework.
• Exam requirements - state and national exam portions, and who administers them.
• Experience requirements - where a state requires documented work or apprentice hours.
• Fees - application, exam and license fees as published by the board.
• Reciprocity - how the state treats out-of-state licenses.
• Renewal - renewal frequency and continuing education.
• Official board - name, link and update date.

Where a state does not publish a given figure (or delegates licensing to counties or cities), we say so and point to the authority that does publish it, rather than filling in a guess.

Verification

The "Last updated" date you see on a page is the most recent date any fact on it was reviewed against the official board site. Because state fees, hour requirements and exams change - sometimes each year - treat every page as a snapshot, not a guarantee. Our content points to the authoritative source precisely so you can check the current rule yourself in minutes.

Limitations

• Rules change. An update date is not a warranty that the current rule still matches today.
• Some states delegate authority to counties, cities or third parties we link to.
• Fees are often updated mid-year by boards; the amount we show is what the board published at last check.
• License types vary (salesperson vs. broker, journeyman vs. master). Each page names the license it describes.
• This site is informational and is not legal advice, financial advice, or an official determination. Always confirm with the official board - the page links it.

Affiliations

Some exam-prep links are affiliate links tagged rel="sponsored nofollow". If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate relationships never change the data we publish.

Reporting errors

Spot a stale figure? We update data regularly, but errors happen. Email data@licensereqs.com with the page URL and what you found. For a binding answer on your situation, contact the official board directly.