Understanding License Verification

Quick Answer

Heritage Web verifies all professional licenses you add to your Profile listing. Our team checks your license against official state databases during the approval process, and we conduct annual re-verification to ensure your credentials remain current. Invalid or expired licenses are excluded from lead matching.

Overview

Unlike self-reported fields like Education or Associations, licenses are independently verified by our review team. This verification protects both you and potential clients—ensuring that only qualified professionals receive referral leads for licensed services. When you add a license, we check the license number, your name match, status (active/expired), and issuing authority.

Key Details

What We Verify

Verification Check	What We Look For
License Number	Exact match in state database
Name Match	Your name matches the license holder
Status	Active, not expired or suspended
Issuing Authority	Valid state board or agency
License Type	Matches a verifiable government license

Verification Sources

We use official state databases including:

State Bar Associations (attorneys)
State Medical Boards (physicians, nurses)
Real Estate Commissions (agents, brokers)
Boards of Accountancy (CPAs)
Other state licensing authorities

License Status Types

Status	Lead Matching	Display
Active	✓ Included	Shown on listing
Expired	✗ Excluded	Marked as expired
Suspended	✗ Excluded	May be removed
Invalid	✗ Excluded	Error indicator
Revoked	✗ Excluded	Removed from listing

Annual Re-Verification

We automatically re-verify licenses annually. Your listing remains published during this process—no action is needed unless we find an issue. If a license has expired or changed status, we'll notify you to update your information.

Important Notes

Only government-issued licenses are verified—certifications belong in Skills or Bio
Licenses directly affect lead matching—professionals with invalid licenses won't receive leads requiring that license
You must self-report disciplinary actions within 3 days per our terms of service
License changes trigger a re-review of your listing

FAQs

What's the difference between a license and a certification? Licenses are government-issued credentials required to practice (law license, medical license, real estate license). Certifications are voluntary credentials from professional organizations. Only licenses go in the Licenses section—add certifications to your Bio or Skills.

Why was my license rejected? Common reasons: invalid license number, name doesn't match exactly, license is expired, license type isn't verifiable (it may be a certification), or the issuing state couldn't be verified.

What happens if my license expires? Expired licenses are excluded from lead matching. You'll still appear on publications, but you won't receive referral leads for services requiring that license until you update it.

Do I need to notify Heritage Web if my license status changes? Yes. Per our terms of service, you must report any disciplinary actions, suspensions, or revocations within 3 days.

How long does license verification take? Initial verification happens during your listing review (typically 1-2 business days). If we can't verify a license, we'll reach out for clarification.