Tags
absolute, apprenticeship, auction, Auction Law, auctioneer, auctioneers, bond, CE, licensing, recovery fund, test
Those acting as auctioneers, or otherwise engaged in the auction business, are required to be licensed in some states in the United States.
Generally speaking, states in the eastern-half of the United States require licensing, where the states in the western-half of the United States do not.
However, each state has their own licensing requirements (or lack thereof) and across the United States, this requirement varies substantially.
Some states require schooling, testing, apprenticeship, a bond, continuing education and associated fees; other states require nothing of the kind.
We’ve previously written numerous articles about auctioneer licensing and one such article regarded if auctioneer licensing was good or bad:
As well, we wrote about when an auctioneer license may not be needed, even in a state where such licensing is otherwise required:
Our list below (as of September 2, 2017) gives a summary of each state’s (and the District of Columbia’s) requirements, as well as a link to each state’s related website.
- Alabama http://www.auctioneer.state.al.us
Statewide (live only) licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship, Test, Bond & CE - Alaska http://www.law.state.ak.us/
Some local licensing/permits - Arizona http://www.revenue.state.az.us
Some local licensing/permits - Arkansas http://www.aralb.com/index.html
Statewide (live only) licensing, Bond/Recovery fund & CE - California http://www.ss.ca.gov
Some local licensing/permits, Bond - Colorado http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate
Some local licensing/permits - Connecticut http://www.ct.gov/dcp
Some local and/or property specific licensing/permits - Delaware http://www.state.de.us/revenue
State business license and some local licensing/permits - District of Columbia https://dcra.dc.gov/service/get-auction-sales-license
State Auction Sales license - Florida http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/pro/auct/auc_index.shtml
Statewide (live and online) licensing, Auction school or Apprenticeship, Test & Bond/Recovery fund - Georgia http://www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/auctioneer/
Statewide (live and online) licensing, Auction school, Test, Bond/Recovery fund & CE - Hawaii http://hawaii.gov/dcca
Some local and/or property specific licensing/permits - Idaho http://www.sos.idaho.gov
Some local licensing/permits - Illinois http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/re/auctioneers.asp
Statewide (live and some online) licensing, Test, CE - Indiana http://www.in.gov/pla/auction.htm
Statewide (live only) licensing, Auction school, Test, CE
- Iowa https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers
Some local and/or property specific licensing/permits - Kansas http://ag.ks.gov/in-your-corner-kansas
Some local and/or property specific licensing/permits - Kentucky http://auctioneers.ky.gov
Statewide (live and online) licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship, Test, Recovery fund & CE - Louisiana http://www.lalb.org/licensing.php
Statewide (live and some online) licensing, Auction school or Apprenticeship, Test & Bond - Maine http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/auctioneers/index.htm
Statewide (live only) licensing, Test & Bond - Maryland http://www.dat.state.md.us/
Some local licensing/permits - Massachusetts http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca-agencies/dos-lp/dos-licensing/dos-auctioneers/
Statewide (live and most online) licensing, Auction school, Test & Bond - Michigan http://www.michigan.gov/ag
Some local licensing/permits - Minnesota http://www.sos.state.mn.us
Local licensing/permits & Bond - Mississippi http://www.auctioneers.ms.gov
Statewide (live only) licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship, Test & Bond - Missouri http://sos.mo.gov/
Local licensing/permits & Bond - Montana http://www.doj.mt.gov/
Local licensing/permits & Bond - Nebraska http://www.sos.ne.gov
Some local and property specific licensing/permits - Nevada http://www.nvsos.gov
Some local licensing/permits - New Hampshire http://www.sos.nh.gov/auctioneers.aspx
Statewide (live and online) licensing, Auction school or apprenticeship, Test & Bond - New Jersey http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/
Some local licensing/permits - New Mexico http://www.sos.state.nm.us
Some local licensing/permits - New York http://www.dos.ny.gov
Some local and/or property specific licensing/permits - North Carolina http://www.ncalb.org
Statewide (live and online) licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship, Test, Recovery fund & CE - North Dakota http://www.psc.nd.gov/jurisdiction/auctions/index.php
Statewide (live only) licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship & Bond - Ohio http://www.agri.ohio.gov/auction/
Statewide licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship, Test & Bond/Recovery fund - Oklahoma http://www.sos.ok.gov
Some local licensing/permits - Oregon http://www.sos.state.or.us
Some local and/or property specific licensing/permits - Pennsylvania http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/AuctioneerExaminers/Pages/default.aspx
Statewide (live and online) licensing, Auction school and/or Apprenticeship, Test & Bond - Rhode Island http://www.riag.ri.gov/
Some local licensing/permits - South Carolina http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Auctioneers
Statewide (live and online) licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship, Test, Bond & CE - South Dakota http://www.sdsos.gov
Some local licensing/permits - Tennessee http://www.tn.gov/commerce/section/auctioneers
Statewide (live and online) licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship, Test, Recovery fund & CE - Texas https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/auc/auction.htm
Statewide (live only) licensing, Auction school, Test, Recovery fund & CE - Utah http://www.utah.gov/
Some local licensing/permits - Vermont https://www.sec.state.vt.us/professional-regulation/list-of-professions/auctioneers.aspx
Statewide (live only) licensing, Auction school, Apprenticeship & Test - Virginia http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Auctioneers/
Statewide (live only) licensing, Auction school, Test, Bond & CE - Washington http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/auctioneers/
Statewide (live only) licensing & Bond - West Virginia http://www.agriculture.wv.gov/divisions/executive/Pages/Auctioneers.aspx
Statewide (live only) licensing, Auction school and/or Apprenticeship, Test, Bond & CE - Wisconsin http://dsps.wi.gov//licenses-permits/auctioneer
Statewide (live and online) licensing & CE - Wyoming http://www.wyo.gov/
Some local licensing/permits
It is important to note that auctioneer licensing laws change periodically. As well, links to such state agencies change as well.
If auctioneer licensing interests you, please use this guide, but was well talk with others already in the auction business in the state or area of interest; they often know the most current status of licensing laws.
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, RES Auction Services and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College of Business, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School, an Instructor at the National Auctioneers Association’s Designation Academy and Faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University.
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer Blog 
One of the best posts I have ever come across. Not only did I learn a lot of hidden things, but I also got to know so many new things as well. Keep uploading and encouraging us.