1. Purpose

The Licensed Professional Registry Standards establish requirements for organizations operating registries that list licensed or credentialed professionals across regulated industries. These standards address data collection, verification procedures, display requirements, update frequency, and disclosure obligations.

Licensed professional registries serve important public functions by enabling consumers, businesses, and other professionals to verify credentials and licensing status. The integrity of this function depends on accurate data, transparent verification methods, and clear disclosure of limitations.

These standards apply specifically to registries, which are distinguished from directories by their focus on verification data rather than contact information or marketing content. Registries operating under these standards shall not display contact information, ensuring that the registry functions purely as a verification resource rather than a referral or solicitation tool.

This standard is designed to:

Establish consistent data field requirements across registry types
Define verification levels and procedures
Require transparent disclosure of verification methods and limitations
Establish reverification frequency standards
Address disciplinary record handling
Ensure registries function as neutral reference resources without solicitation

2. Scope

This standard applies to registries listing:

Legal professionals including attorneys, paralegals, and notaries public
Healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, dentists, and therapists
Financial professionals including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, and financial advisors
Licensed trades including electricians, plumbers, general contractors, and HVAC technicians
Real estate professionals including licensed agents, brokers, and appraisers
Other regulated professions requiring licensure or certification

This standard applies to:

Online registries and databases
Print registries published periodically
API services providing verification data
Any publication presenting itself as a professional verification resource

This standard supplements the Professional Directory Standards v2.0. Organizations operating both registries (without contact information) and directories (with contact information) should apply the appropriate standard to each publication.

3. What This Standard Is Not

This standard does not:

Certify professionals or verify competence beyond credential status
Evaluate the quality of services provided by listed professionals
Endorse or recommend any listed professional
Replace official licensing boards or regulatory authorities
Guarantee the accuracy of information provided by licensing authorities
Create any legal relationship between the registry and listed professionals
Establish legal obligations beyond voluntary adoption
Override jurisdiction specific regulatory requirements

Organizations adopting this standard remain fully responsible for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Listed professionals remain subject to regulation by their respective licensing authorities.

4. Definitions

Registry. A reference database focused on credential verification that does not display contact information or serve solicitation purposes. Distinguished from a directory, which includes contact information.

License. An authorization issued by a governmental authority permitting an individual to engage in a regulated profession or occupation.

Certification. A credential issued by a professional organization or certifying body indicating that an individual has met specified standards of competence.

Credential. Any license, certification, registration, or other qualification required or recognized for professional practice.

Licensing Authority. The governmental body responsible for issuing, regulating, and disciplining holders of a particular license type.

Verification. The process of confirming credential information against authoritative sources.

Authoritative Source. The licensing authority that issued a credential, or an official database maintained by such authority.

Reverification. The process of confirming that previously verified information remains current and accurate.

Disciplinary Action. Formal action taken by a licensing authority against a licensee, including but not limited to suspension, revocation, probation, fine, or public censure.

Listing. An individual entry in a registry representing one licensed professional.

Verification Level. A classification indicating the depth and method of verification performed for a listing.

5. Requirements

5.1 Data Field Requirements

5.1.1 Required Fields

All listings shall include the following minimum data fields:

Full legal name of the professional as it appears on the license
Primary license or credential type
License or credential number as assigned by the issuing authority
Name of the issuing authority
Jurisdiction of the license (state, territory, or other governmental unit)
Current status of the license (active, inactive, expired, suspended, revoked, or other status as reported by the licensing authority)
Date the license was originally issued or the professional was admitted to practice
Date of most recent verification by the registry
Verification level assigned to the listing

5.1.2 Recommended Additional Fields

Registries should include additional fields where available and verifiable:

License expiration date
Practice areas or specializations as recognized by the licensing authority
Professional designations or certifications beyond primary license
Educational background including degrees and institutions
Professional association memberships
Years in practice
Languages spoken (where relevant to professional practice)

5.1.3 Prohibited Fields

Registries operating under this standard shall not display:

Telephone numbers
Email addresses
Website URLs
Physical office addresses
Hours of operation
Fee or pricing information
Promotional content or marketing language
Client testimonials or reviews
Photographs (unless required for identification purposes by the licensing authority)

Registries shall include a notice directing users to appropriate sources for contact information, such as a companion directory operating under the Professional Directory Standards v2.0.

5.2 Verification Levels

Registries shall classify each listing according to the verification level achieved and shall clearly display the verification level on each listing.

5.2.1 Level One: Self Reported

Information is provided by the professional without independent verification against authoritative sources.

Requirements for Level One:

Professional submits information directly to the registry
Registry performs no independent verification
Listing is clearly marked as containing self reported information
Professional provides attestation of accuracy

Disclosure language for Level One listings:
“This listing contains self reported information that has not been independently verified against licensing authority records.”

5.2.2 Level Two: License Validated

The primary license or credential has been verified against authoritative sources maintained by the licensing authority.

Requirements for Level Two:

License number confirmed against licensing authority database or records
Current status verified as reported by licensing authority
Issue date or admission date confirmed
Verification date recorded
Reverification performed according to schedule in Section 5.4

Disclosure language for Level Two listings:
“License verified against [Licensing Authority] records on [Date]. Status: [Status as reported].”

5.2.3 Level Three: Comprehensive Verification

License validation plus review of disciplinary history and verification of additional credentials.

Requirements for Level Three:

All Level Two requirements satisfied
Disciplinary records checked against licensing authority public records
Any disciplinary history noted in listing
Additional credentials and certifications verified against issuing organizations
Educational background verified where possible
Professional association memberships confirmed

Disclosure language for Level Three listings:
“Comprehensive verification completed [Date] including license status, disciplinary review, and credential confirmation. [Note any disciplinary history or state ‘No disciplinary history found in public records.’]”

5.3 Verification Procedures

5.3.1 Acceptable Verification Methods

Verification against authoritative sources may be accomplished through:

Direct query of licensing authority online database
Written confirmation from licensing authority
Automated API integration with licensing authority systems (where available)
Review of official licensing authority publications
Certificate or license document review combined with database confirmation

5.3.2 Documentation Requirements

Registries shall maintain documentation of verification activities including:

Date of verification
Method used
Source consulted
Result obtained
Name of person or system performing verification

Documentation shall be retained for the longer of seven years or the duration of the listing plus three years.

5.3.3 Multi Jurisdiction Handling

For professionals licensed in multiple jurisdictions:

Each license shall be verified separately
Verification level shall be assigned to each license independently
Listing shall clearly indicate which jurisdiction each license covers
Expiration dates shall be tracked for each license separately

5.4 Reverification Frequency

5.4.1 Standard Reverification Schedule

Registries shall reverify listings according to the following minimum schedule:

Level One listings: Annual attestation required from the professional confirming continued accuracy
Level Two listings: Reverification against licensing authority records every six months
Level Three listings: Reverification against licensing authority records every six months, with disciplinary record review annually

5.4.2 Event Triggered Reverification

Registries shall reverify listings upon:

Notification from any source of a status change
Expiration of a license according to recorded expiration date
Request from the listed professional
Discovery of discrepancy or potential inaccuracy

5.4.3 Reverification Documentation

Each reverification shall be documented with:

Date of reverification
Method used
Result obtained
Any changes made to the listing
Confirmation that listing remains accurate or description of updates made

5.5 Disciplinary Record Handling

5.5.1 Disciplinary Information Sources

For Level Three verification, registries shall check for disciplinary information in:

Licensing authority public disciplinary records
Court records where relevant to professional conduct
Any publicly available database maintained by the licensing authority

5.5.2 Disciplinary Information Display

When disciplinary information is found:

Information shall be reported accurately based on official records
Date and nature of disciplinary action shall be noted
Current status of any disciplinary matter shall be indicated
Professional shall be offered opportunity to provide context or documentation of resolution

5.5.3 Limitations on Disciplinary Reporting

Registries shall not:

Report allegations that have not resulted in formal disciplinary action
Report matters that have been expunged or sealed by order
Report disciplinary matters beyond the time period maintained in licensing authority public records
Characterize disciplinary matters beyond factual description of the record

5.6 Insurance Verification (Where Applicable)

5.6.1 Scope of Insurance Verification

For professions where insurance is required by law or standard practice, registries may verify:

Professional liability or malpractice insurance
General liability insurance
Workers compensation insurance (for professionals with employees)
Bonding (where required by licensing authority)

5.6.2 Insurance Verification Methods

Insurance status may be verified through:

Certificate of insurance provided by the professional
Direct confirmation with the insurance carrier (with professional’s authorization)
Licensing authority records (where insurance is required for licensure)

5.6.3 Insurance Information Display

When insurance verification is performed:

Types of insurance verified shall be disclosed
Date of most recent verification shall be displayed
Limitations of insurance verification shall be noted
Registries shall not guarantee coverage amounts or policy terms

5.7 Disclosure Requirements

5.7.1 Methodology Disclosure

Registries shall publicly disclose:

Verification methods used for each verification level
Data sources consulted for verification
Frequency of reverification
Limitations of verification process
Date registry methodology was last updated

5.7.2 Listing Level Disclosure

Each listing shall display:

Verification level (Level One, Two, or Three)
Date of most recent verification
Any limitations or caveats specific to that listing
Source of verification data

5.7.3 Registry Level Disclosure

Registries shall prominently disclose:

That listing does not constitute endorsement or recommendation
That users should independently verify suitability for their needs
That registry does not certify competence or quality
Any fees paid by listed professionals (or statement that no fees are charged)
That registry does not provide contact information and where such information may be found

5.8 Non Solicitation Requirements

5.8.1 Prohibition on Contact Information

Registries operating under this standard shall not display any information that would enable direct contact with listed professionals, including:

Telephone numbers (office, mobile, or fax)
Email addresses
Website URLs or social media profiles
Physical addresses
Contact forms or inquiry submission features

5.8.2 Referral to Contact Sources

Registries shall include clear notice directing users to appropriate sources for contact information:

“This registry does not display contact information. For contact details, please visit [companion directory name] or contact the licensing authority directly.”

5.8.3 No Solicitation Features

Registries shall not include:

Request for quote or consultation features
Lead generation or referral services
Advertising or sponsored listings
Premium placement based on payment
Any feature that would constitute solicitation of professional services

6. Compliance Checklist

Organizations adopting this standard shall verify:

All required data fields are present for each listing
Verification level is assigned and displayed for each listing
Verification procedures are documented and followed
Verification documentation is maintained for required retention period
Reverification schedule is established and followed
Disciplinary record review is performed for Level Three listings
Multi jurisdiction licenses are handled separately
Methodology disclosure is publicly available
Listing level disclosures are present on each listing
Registry level disclosures are prominently displayed
No contact information is displayed on any listing
No solicitation features are present
Referral notice to contact sources is included
Insurance verification procedures are followed (where applicable)
All verification dates are current according to reverification schedule

7. How to Cite This Standard

Standard citation:
Licensed Professional Registry Standards v1.0, Jimmy Wagner, JimmyWagner.com (2026)

Citation with URL:
Licensed Professional Registry Standards v1.0, Jimmy Wagner, JimmyWagner.com (2026), available at https://jimmywagner.com/standards/licensed-professional-registry-standards-v1

Website attribution:
“This registry follows the Licensed Professional Registry Standards v1.0 published by JimmyWagner.com.”

8. Version History

v1.0 (January 18, 2026): Initial publication establishing licensed professional registry standards, including verification levels, reverification frequency requirements, disciplinary record handling, and non solicitation requirements.

9. Current Adopters

US Attorney Registry
usattorneyregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Licensed Attorney Registry
licensedattorneyregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Arbitrator Registry
arbitratorregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Mediator Registry
mediatorregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Guardianship Accounting Registry
guardianshipaccountingregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Electrician Registry
electricianregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Licensed Electrician Registry
licensedelectricianregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Plumber Registry
plumberregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Licensed Plumber Registry
licensedplumberregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

General Contractor Registry
generalcontractorregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Roofing Contractor Registry
roofingcontractorregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Home Inspector Registry
homeinspectorregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

HVAC Technician Registry
hvactechnicianregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Licensed Dentist Registry
licenseddentistregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Space Law Registry
spacelawregistry.com
Adopted: January 2026

Notary Public Directory (operating as registry)
notarypublicdirectory.com
Adopted: January 2026

For complete adopter list, see the Adopters page.

10. Machine Readable Citation

Implement the following JSON-LD schema in the page header:

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