Debt collector licensing by state
Whether a debt collector needs a state license to collect from you, who issues it and where to look a license up.
No federal license exists for debt collectors. A collector that needs a state license and doesn't have one may be breaking state law; you can ask for its license number in your dispute letter.
| State | License required | Who licenses | Check a license |
|---|---|---|---|
No statewide license | No state agency licenses or regulates collection agencies. | ||
Yes | Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (collection agency and operator licenses under AS 08.24.090) | ||
Yes | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) | ||
Yes | Arkansas State Board of Collection Agencies (Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing) | ||
Yes | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), under the Debt Collection Licensing Act (Cal. Fin. Code § 100001) | ||
Yes | Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Credit Unit (Collection Agency Program), acting as Administrator of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code. Creditors collecting their own debts in their own name do not need a license. | ||
Yes | Connecticut Department of Banking (licenses through NMLS; debt buyers need a license too) (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 36a-800, 36a-801) | ||
No statewide license | No Delaware collection agency license was found. | ||
Not confirmed | Not confirmed | ||
Yes | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (registration of consumer collection agencies) | ||
No statewide license | No state license. | ||
Yes | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Collection Agency Program (registration) | ||
Yes | Idaho Department of Finance, Consumer Finance Bureau. | ||
Yes | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions, Consumer Credit Section. | ||
Yes | Indiana Secretary of State, Securities Division (applications through NMLS) | ||
No statewide license | No collection license. | ||
Not confirmed | No general collection agency license found. | ||
Not confirmed | Not confirmed | ||
Yes | Louisiana Secretary of State, (225) 925-4704 (registration, not a license; La. R.S. 9:3534.1). | ||
Yes | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection) | ||
Yes | Maryland State Collection Agency Licensing Board / Commissioner of Financial Regulation (Office of Financial Regulation), applications through NMLS. | ||
Yes | Massachusetts Division of Banks (debt collector license; licensing is done through NMLS). | ||
Yes | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Professional Licensing, Board of Collection Agencies (MCL 339.904) | ||
Yes | Minnesota Department of Commerce (collection agencies and debt buyers must be licensed; individual collectors must register) | ||
Mississippi CFPB debt collection help | Not covered yet | ||
No statewide license | No state license for collection agencies was found. | ||
No statewide license | No Montana license for collection agencies was found in the Montana Code. | ||
Yes | Nebraska Collection Agency Licensing Board (Nebraska Secretary of State); licensing through NMLS. | ||
Yes | Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Financial Institutions Division (FID), through NMLS (NRS 649.075) | ||
New Hampshire CFPB debt collection help | Not covered yet | ||
No statewide license | No license, but a collection agency bond must be on file with the state, handled by the NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (N.J.S.A. 45:18-1). | ||
Yes | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division (FID). | ||
No statewide license | No statewide license. | ||
Yes | North Carolina Department of Insurance (collection agency permit) | ||
Yes | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (commissioner of financial institutions) | ||
Not confirmed | Not confirmed | ||
Not confirmed | Not confirmed | ||
Yes | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (Department of Consumer and Business Services). | ||
No statewide license | Not confirmed | ||
Yes | Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Division of Banking (debt collector registration) | ||
Not confirmed | Not confirmed | ||
Not confirmed | Not confirmed | ||
Tennessee CFPB debt collection help | Not covered yet | ||
No statewide license | Texas has no license for debt collectors. | ||
No statewide license | No Utah license or registration for collection agencies was found; Title 12 now contains only § 12-1-11. | ||
No statewide license | No general collection agency license found. | ||
Not confirmed | Not confirmed | ||
Yes | Washington State Department of Licensing (collection agencies, including debt buyers and out-of-state collection agencies) | ||
Yes | West Virginia State Tax Commissioner (business registration certificate as license, plus a $5,000 bond and an office in West Virginia) | ||
Yes | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking, Licensed Financial Services (Wis. Stat. § 218.04) | ||
Yes | Wyoming Collection Agency Board (Department of Audit, Division of Banking); licenses are handled through NMLS since Aug. 1, 2018. |
Dispute a debt and ask the collector for proof.
Dispute letter