Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing


Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.


Contact Information

Physical address:
611 W. Ottawa
Lansing, MI 48906

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 30004
Lansing, MI 48909

Phone: (517) 241-0199
Fax: (517) 241-9416

Web: Home Name search
Email: BPLHelp@Michigan.gov

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other Compliance Core™ data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

A laptop placed on a desk with our License Manager software on display

Michigan Architecture, Engineering, or Surveying Firm Approval

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing
Law:

MCL 339.2010

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • At least 2/3 of the officers and directors must be Michigan-licensed design professionals.

Professional Corporations:

  • All shareholders and officers must be licensed design professionals.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • At least 2/3 of the members and managers must be Michigan-licensed design professionals.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • All members and managers must be Michigan-licensed design professionals.

Partnerships:

  • At least 2/3 of the partners must be licensed design professionals.
Notes:

Firm licenses are not issued at the state level, however, firms must receive approval from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs before offering services to the public. Firms must also employ an individual in responsible charge of the professional services performed by the firm.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • For each professional service offered by the firm, identify a full-time employee who is a Michigan licensed design professional to be in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in Michigan.
  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.

Foreign Applicants:

  • For each professional service offered by the firm, identify a full-time employee who is a Michigan licensed design professional to be in responsible charge of the firm's professional activities in Michigan.
  • Ensure that your Michigan entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 30 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Bureau of Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing - Corporations Division.
  2. Register online by providing the following information: Name of the firm seeking approval, Address of the firm, Name of the person submitting the request, and a certification stating that "2/3 of the principals of (Your Firm Name) are licensed in Michigan under Article 20 of the Occupational Code and the conduct of the firm and its principals complies with the law and rules promulgated by the Department".

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the Bureau of Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing - Corporations Division.
  2. Register online by providing the following information: Name of the firm seeking approval, Address of the firm, Name of the person submitting the request, and a certification stating that "2/3 of the principals of (Your Firm Name) are licensed in Michigan under Article 20 of the Occupational Code and the conduct of the firm and its principals complies with the law and rules promulgated by the Department".

Renewal Not Required

Not required



No renewal application is required, but upon request by the department, a firm shall report to the department the names and addresses of its principals, persons in responsible charge, unlicensed principals, and any other information the department considers necessary.

Michigan Collection Agency License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing
Law:

MCL § 339.904

Bond Requirements:

Between $5,000 and $50,000.

Notes:

Michigan does not issue branch office licenses, but agencies with multiple locations will each need an agency license.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$375

Due:

Triennially

Amendment

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Due:

Within 30 days of a change to agency name or address.

Amendment

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$10

Reinstatement

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$495

Supplemental Reporting
Annual Report of Business and Operations

Form:

Annual Report of Business and Operations

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by May 16.

Michigan Collection Agency Manager License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing

Initial Registration

Instructions:

Collection Agency Non-Owner Manager Licensing Guide

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$185

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Triennially

Reinstatement

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$205

Michigan Landscape Architect License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing

Initial Registration

Instructions:

Landscape Architect Licensing Guide

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$320

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Michigan Personnel Agency License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing

Initial Registration

This section applies to firms that are applying for a license in Michigan for the first time.

Instructions:

Personnel Agency Licensing Guide

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$600

Notes:

Michigan offers two types of agency licenses: Type A and Type B.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to firms that are already licensed in Michigan and need to renew their license.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$375

Due:

Triennially

Michigan Personnel Agent License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing
Requirement Notes:


  • Applicants must be of good moral character and be at least 18 years of age.
  • Pass the Personnel Agent examination administered through PSI Services, LLC (PSI). 

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$120

Due:

Triennially

Michigan Professional Engineer License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

"Electronic signature" means a signature created by electronic or optical means and affixed electronically to a document or electronic document with intent to sign the document.

MCL 339.2007

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

"Electronic seal" means a seal created by electronic or optical means and affixed electronically to a document or electronic document.

MCL 339.2007

Initial Registration

Instructions:

Professional Engineer Licensing Guide

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$115

Reciprocal Registration

Instructions:

Professional Engineer Licensing Guide

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$115

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$80

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Michigan Professional Surveyor License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing

Initial Registration

Instructions:

Professional Surveyor Licensing Guide

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$135

Reciprocal Registration

Instructions:

Professional Surveyor Licensing Guide

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$135

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Michigan Real Estate Associate Broker License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$143 application fee + $108 license fee

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$108

Due:

Triennially by the date of issuance.

Michigan Real Estate Broker License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$143 application fee + $108 license fee

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$108

Due:

Triennially by the date of issuance.

Michigan Real Estate Company / Branch Office License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing
Law:

Michigan Administrative Code - Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons - General Rules,  Michigan occupational Code (Act 299 of 1980) 

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations 
  • General Partnerships 
  • Limited Liability Companies 
  • Associations
  • Common Law Trust 
Ownership Requirements:
  •  Broker Companies, Individual Brokers and Branch offices must have a physical address in Michigan. 
Notes:
  • Michigan does not offer reciprocity with any other state.
  •  Before issuing a license, the department may require and procure satisfactory proof of the business experience, competence, and good moral character of an applicant for a license under this article if the applicant is an individual or of each principal if the applicant is a business entity.
  •  A broker's license issued to a partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, common law trust, or a combination of those entities is not transferable.
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • Business entities are required to designate individuals that are control persons of the entity and will be performing acts regulated by Act 299 of 1980. 
  • Each principal applicant for a business entity must have the equivalent of 3 years of full-time experience in the business of real estate. The following apply in this determination: 
    • If state law requires that a person hold a license to be licensed to perform an activity that is considered the business of real estate, an individual shall not receive credit for experience performing that activity without proper licensure.
    • For purposes of calculating whether an individual has the equivalent of 3 years of experience, the department shall grant the following credit or credits toward that 3-year requirement:
      • If the individual is a real estate salesperson, 1 year of credit for each 12-month period of licensure in which he or she closed 5 or more real estate transactions.
      • If the individual is a builder, 1 year of credit for each 12-month period in which he or she built and personally sold or leased at least 5 residential units, commercial units, or industrial units or a combination of those types of units.
      • If the individual is a real estate investor, 6 months of credit for each 5 real property transactions personally negotiated for a purchase or sale by the individual for his or her own account, with a maximum of 1 year of credit allowed. However, an individual shall not receive credit under this subdivision if he or she engaged in more than 5 sales in any 12-month period in violation of section 2502b.
      • If the individual is a land or condominium developer, 1 year of credit for each 2 developments or subdivisions that contain at least 10 units or parcels that he or she bought, subdivided, and improved for sale as lots or dwellings.
      • If the individual is an attorney, 1 year of credit for each year in which he or she acted as the attorney for at least 6 real estate transactions.
      • If the individual is a real estate appraiser who is licensed under article 26, 1 year of credit for each period equivalent to at least 40 hours per week, and at least 48 weeks per year, in which he or she acted as a real estate appraiser.
    • One year of credit for each period equivalent to at least 40 hours per week, and at least 48 weeks per year, in which the individual worked in a capacity directly related to the acquisition, financing, or conveyance of real estate, or in a position in which the individual was directly involved in a real estate business, including serving as the decision-making authority in any of the following positions:
      • A loan or trust officer of a federal or state-regulated depository institution.
      •  A loan or trust officer of a mortgage company.
      •  A real estate officer of a corporation, and who is not a licensed real estate broker.
      •  A title insurance company officer engaged in the closing of escrow accounts and real estate closings.
      • Credit for any other experience that is approved by the department by rule, in consultation with the board, as equivalent to the experience described in this subsection.
  • Each principal shall apply for and obtain, and any other individual may apply for and obtain, an associate real estate broker's license. An applicant for an associate real estate broker's license is subject to the same requirements as an applicant for a real estate broker's license. The

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for a Broker Company or Branch Office License

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on when you register: $71 minimum and $143 maximum.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on when you register: $91 minimum and $163 maximum.

Due:

Triennially

Michigan Real Estate Salesperson License

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$88 application fee + $78 license fee

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$78

Due:

Triennially by the date of issuance.

Michigan Vehicle Protection Product Warrantors Registration

Agency:Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Professional Licensing
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$250

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$250

Due:

Annually by June 30

Related Government Agencies

Explore other Michigan government agencies we can help you stay compliant with:


Order Registered Agent Service

In my opinion, their "Human Touch" element is what really makes this company stand out! I wouldn't go anywhere else!
JanaeLaw Offices of Donald W. Hudspeth, PC
It's awesome to know that Harbor Compliance is looking out for my customers' best interests and will only do what's right for them.
RyanFOUR16 CPA