Profession & Licensing Sites

(This page was last updated on the 01/02/2024)

Many occupations or activities have governing bodies, who oversee their members qualifications & activities. As such many have searchable membership directories / databases which can often be freely accessed to locate information about the members, their qualifications and their disciplinary history.

Accountants & Financial Sector         Actors & Their Agents         Architects & Surveyors         Bailiffs

Canadian Related Sites         Child Care         Educational         Engineers         Gangmasters         Immigration

Journalists         Legal Profession         Medical         Music Related         Police         Security Staff

Sexual Services         Social Care         Sports Related         Teachers         Tradesmen         Transport         Vets

Accountants & Financial Sector
UK
www.icaew.com - locate an accountancy firm in the UK
www.aat.org.uk - members' directory for the professional body for accounting technicians
www.icas.org.uk - members' directory for ICAS, the world's oldest professional body for accountants
www.icas.org.uk - published discipline tribunal notices for ICAS
www.ifa.org.uk - search for an accountant with the IFA, which is an internationally recognised professional accountancy membership body, whose members work for small & medium-sized businesses or accounting practices
www.cipfa.org - directory for CIPFA Members in Practice
www.bookkeepers.org.uk - searchable members' database by area for the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers
www.insolvency-practitioners.org.uk - membership register for the Insolvency Practitioners Association
www.fca.org.uk - register of individuals who are approved to carry out certain activities in firm regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
www.financialplanning.org.uk - register of members of the Institute of Financial Planning
www.accaglobal.com - register of members of the ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), a global body for professional accountants

Ireland
www.charteredaccountants.ie - members' directory for the Chartered Accountants of Ireland
www.cro.ie - members' directory for Ireland's register of auditors (accountants)

Worldwide
www.cpaverify.org - searchable register of licensed CPA's & public accounting firms maintained by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) in the USA

Actors & Their Agents
www.imdb.com - search via someone's name to see if they have been credited on any film or television work, not just for actors/performers
www.spotlight.com - search for an actor/performer to locate their agents contact details etc
www.whorepresents.com - paid for database of talent representatives

Architects & Surveyors
www.architecture.com - members' directory for the Royal Institute of British Architects
www.architects-register.org.uk - the UK Register of Architects, with only people on the Register legally entitled to use the term "architect" in business or practice
www.rias.org.uk - members directory for the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
www.rics.org - members directory for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Bailiffs
www.justice.gov.uk - directory for UK register of certificated bailiffs

Canadian Related Sites
www.securities-administrators.ca - searchable public register of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization
www.skilledtradesontario.ca - searchable public register of skilled workers in Ontario

Child Care
UK
www.childcare.co.uk - the easy way to locate those who offer childcare services
www.greataupair.com - searchable employment site for Child Care, Au Pair's & Nanny's

Ireland
www.childminding.ie - registered childminder directory for Ireland

Educational & Teachers
UK
www.ratemyteachers.com - a site where people can rate teachers at UK schools, not brilliant but does give you some information about schools and teachers
www.ratemyprofessors.com - a site where people can rate professors at university's around the world, including the UK, very much like rate my teacher
www.gov.uk - searchable database for forthcoming professional conduct panel hearings and meetings held by the Teaching Regulation Agency
www.gov.uk - searchable database of hearing outcomes of the professional conduct panel hearings held by the Teaching Regulation Agency and the National College for Teaching and Leadership
www.ukrlp.co.uk - UK register of learning providers
www.tutorhunt.com - searchable database of over 100,000 qualified tutors across the UK
Scotland
www.gtcs.org.uk - the General Teaching Council for Scotland is the professional body for teaching in Scotland and they have an online database to allow checks on a teacher's qualifications and disciplinary history
Wales
www.myewc.wales - the Education Workforce Council was previously the General Teaching Council for Wales, the professional body for teaching in Wales and this is their online database to allow checks that a teacher is registered
www.myewc.wales - the Education Workforce Council was previously the General Teaching Council for Wales, the professional body for teaching in Wales and this is their Live Disciplinary Orders and Restrictions on Employment database
Northern Ireland
www.gtcni.org.uk - the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland is the professional body for teaching in Northern Ireland and they accept email requests to check on a teacher's qualifications and disciplinary history

Ireland
www.teachingcouncil.ie - the Teaching Council for Ireland is the professional body for teaching in Ireland and they have an online database to allow checks on a teacher's qualifications and current school
www.ratemyteachers.com - a site where people can rate teachers at Irish schools, not brilliant but does give you some information about schools and teachers

Engineers
www.iaea-online.org - searchable UK & Irish database for the Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors

Gangmasters
www.gla.gov.uk - the searchable register of the UK Gangmasters Licensing Authority

Immigration
www.gov.uk - the searchable register of the UK regulated immigration advisers

Journalists
www.responsesource.com - database of freelance journalists
www.thebppa.com - top right is a search box to find members of the British Press Photographers' Association

Legal
www.lawsociety.org.uk - the members' directory of the Law Society, the representative body for solicitors in England & Wales
www.sra.org.uk - check a solicitor's disciplinary record via the Solicitors Regulation Authority
www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk - details of solicitor's disciplinary hearings held by the SRA
www.lawscot.org.uk - Law Society of Scotland database of qualified solicitors
www.lawsoc-ni.org - Law Society of Northern Ireland database of qualified solicitors
www.directaccessportal.co.uk - details of those registered with the Bar Council
www.citma.org.uk - membership directory of the Institute of Trademark Attorneys
www.cilexgroup.org.uk - database to locate details of all Chartered Legal Executive lawyers (practising & retired) in England & Wales

Medical
UK
www.gmc-uk.org - General Medical Council, where you can find a range of details about registered Doctors in the UK
www.gdc-uk.org - General Dental Council, with a searchable database for members
www.optical.org - General Optical Council, with a searchable database for members
www.nmc-uk.org - Nursing & Midwifery Council, with a searchable database for members
www.hcpc-uk.org - the Health & Care Professions Council, database of other qualified people working in medical services
www.bps.org.uk - the Directory of Chartered Psychologists, searchable via location and surname
www.pharmacyregulation.org - the General Pharmaceutical Council have taken over from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, with a searchable database for members
www.mpts-uk.org - searchable hearings and decisions database of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service
www.mpts-uk.org - searchable interim orders database of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service

Ireland
www.medicalcouncil.ie - the register of registered doctors with the Medical Council in Ireland
www.dentist.ie - the register of registered dentists with the Irish Dental Association
www.nmbi.ie - searchable database of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
www.irelandnursing.com - searchable database of over 125,000 nurses licensed in Ireland
www.coru.ie - searchable database for Health and Social Care Professionals in Ireland

International
www.docinfo.org - search the register for doctors details in the USA (needs a USA IP Address)

Music Related
www.nadj.org.uk - searchable database of the National Association of Disc Jockeys
www.musicteachers.co.uk - searchable database of music teachers
www.bmi.com - searchable databases for, song, songwriters & singers
www.ascap.com - searchable databases for songwriters & singers
www.sesac.com - searchable databases for songwriters & singers
www.setlist.fm - searchable databases via artist or venue to tour & set details

Police
www.college.police.uk - the Police Barred List is a searchable database of all officers, special constables and staff members who have been dismissed from the UK policing through the Police Conduct and Performance Regulations

Security Staff
UK
www.gov.uk - the Security Industry Authority license the UK security industry, including; doormen, security guards, wheel clampers and investigators

Ireland
www.psa-gov.ie - the Private Security Authority license the Irish security & private investigation industry

Sexual Services
www.bgafd.co.uk - the British Girls Adult Film Database, much like IMDB but for the over 18's only, so if you are at work and have your web use monitored you better have a good excuse for looking at this site
www.punternet.com - reviews & listings for adult service providers in the UK, unbelievable but true
www.adultwork.com - advertises people involved in the sex industry throughout the UK
www.uglymugs.org - National Ugly Mugs is a campaign to end violence against sex workers and this site allows them to share reports about violent or suspicious clients

Social Care
www.socialworkengland.org.uk - the register of Social Work England
www.sssc.uk.com - the register of Social Care Workers in Scotland
www.scwonline.wales - the Care Council for Wales Register of Social Care Workers
www.niscc.org - the register of Social Care Workers in Northern Ireland

Sports Related
Athletics
www.iaaf.org - search for international athletes details
www.olympic.org - Olympic sportspeople & medallists
Boxing & Martial Arts
www.boxrec.com - searchable database for boxers from around the world
www.bbbofc.com - the site for the British Boxing Board of Control, with a database of boxers & referees etc
www.mixedmartialarts.com - the official international database of Mixed Martial Arts
www.dojos.co.uk - register of Martial Arts Schools & Dojo's in the UK
Cricket
www.cricketarchive.com - search for details of cricket teams & players
Gymnastics
www.british-gymnastics.org - database of those banned or expelled from British Gymnastics
Horse Racing & Show Jumping
www.britisheventing.com - searchable database of people & horses involved in British Eventing
www.britishhorseracing.com - website of the British Horseracing Authority, with details of horses, trainers & jockeys etc
www.bhs.org.uk - the British Horse Society register of trainers & grooms
Swimming
www.swimrankings.net - search for international swimmers details
www.swimmingresults.org - search for British swimmers details

Tradesmen
www.gassaferegister.co.uk - if you know if someone works as a gas engineer, you can obtain a copy of their photo from their licence
www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk - search the database of Registered Electrical Competent Person's
www.trustmark.org.uk - tradesmen operating to Government endorsed standards, searchable by post code & trade
www.checkatrade.com - search for various tradesmen in an area, which often supplies photographs of their work
www.napit.org.uk - has a member search facility to find registered NAPIT trades people
www.eca.co.uk - membership search for the Electrical Contractors' Association
www.traderregister.org.uk - UK local authority trader scheme
www.competentperson.co.uk - check the Competent Person Scheme database to see if a tradesman has registered that their work complies with building regulations

Transport Related
www.tfl.gov.uk - search for licensed London private hire drivers by name
www.gov.uk - DVLA site allowing you to check your driving licence details, by supplying your driving licence number, national insurance number and post code
www.direct.gov.uk - approved driving instructors in the UK, searchable by postcode
www.nidirect.gov.uk - links to various things linked to the Driver & Vehicle Agency of Northern Ireland
www.imiregister.org.uk - the Institute of the Motor Industry, has a database of skilled, knowledgeable & competent automotive professionals

Vets
www.rcvs.org.uk - the RCVS is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons (vets) in the UK and you can check the register of vets, nurses and practices