About Professional and Occupational Licensing
Professional and occupational licensing protects the health and safety of the public from fraudulent and unethical practitioners.
In Pennsylvania, 29 boards and commissions ensure that applicants meet the standards of their profession or occupation before they are licensed to work in their field. Those boards and commissions are:
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Osteopathic Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Podiatry
- Psychology
- Real Estate Commission
- Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, Professional Counselors
- Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
- Vehicle Manufacturers, Dealers & Salespersons
- Veterinary Medicine
How to Verify a Professional or Occupational License
You can search for a professional or occupational licensee's license number and status at any time through our Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) database.
PALS also allows you to determine whether a professional or occupational licensee has ever faced disciplinary action by their licensing board, including license suspension, fines, or other penalties.