Methodology
LicenseFig builds its state-by-state license data exclusively from official sources — state licensing boards, exam vendors (PSI, Pearson VUE, Credentia), CMS (NATCEP), FSMTB and state Secretary of State offices. Data is retrieved, cross-checked and versioned; anything an official source does not publish is marked pending or omitted rather than estimated. Current dataset version: 2026.1 (retrieved 2026-08-20).
Data sources
State licensing boards
Primary source for licensure rules, education requirements, fees, reciprocity and retake rules for all 15 careers.
PSI
Licensing exam vendor; exam structure, scoring and scheduling details for real estate and trade licenses.
Pearson VUE
Exam vendor; exam format, delivery and score report details for insurance and professional licenses.
Credentia
Nurse aide (CNA) competency exam vendor; test structure and retake rules.
CMS (NATCEP)
Federal Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program registry rules and state approval data.
FSMTB
Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards; MBLEx structure and state adoption status.
State Secretary of State offices
Notary public commissions, appointment fees, bond requirements and renewal rules.
Retrieval date for the current cycle: 2026-08-20. Per-page retrieval dates appear on every occupation and licensing-guide page.
How data is verified
- Official source first. Every figure traces to a state board, vendor or federal registry page — never to third-party summary sites.
- Cross-check across sources. High-stakes fields (fees, education hours, retake rules) are confirmed against at least two independent official sources where available.
- Omit rather than invent. When an official source does not publish a value, the field is left null or marked pending. We never estimate, interpolate or fabricate figures.
- Change log. Every dataset update is recorded in the open changelog with the version number and date.
Update cycle
Datasets are refreshed on an annual cycle and versioned by year (current: 2026.1). Between cycles, corrections are applied when a state board changes a rule and the change is verified. Full history is in the dataset changelog — always fetch the latest dataset version rather than caching an old one.
Field coverage
Coverage varies by field and state:
- Usually complete: exam vendor, education hours, exam fee, application fee, retake wait periods and reciprocity rules.
- Sometimes missing: first-attempt pass rates (only a minority of states publish official figures), license renewal fees and CE hours.
- Never fabricated: any unpublished figure is null or pending, never estimated.
Principle: verify with your state board before enrolling, paying or scheduling an exam. Requirements change more often than annual data cycles can capture.
Disclaimer
LicenseFig is informational only and is not legal, financial, medical or professional advice. Figures, fees, pass rates and rules change frequently; we list only what state boards and official sources publish, with retrieval dates, and mark anything unverified as pending. Always confirm the current rules with your state board, exam vendor or a qualified professional before enrolling, paying or acting.
FAQ
Where does LicenseFig license data come from?
Official state licensing boards, exam vendors (PSI, Pearson VUE, Credentia), CMS (NATCEP), FSMTB and state Secretary of State offices — with a retrieval date of 2026-08-20 (version 2026.1).
How often is the data updated?
Annually, on a versioned cycle. Current version is 2026.1; changes are logged in the dataset changelog.
Are all fields present for every state?
No — fields are filled only when an official source publishes the value; otherwise they are null or marked pending, never estimated.
Is LicenseFig legal or professional advice?
No. It is informational only. Verify current rules with your state board before acting.