LicenseCompass

Our Methodology

We take data accuracy seriously. Here's how we collect, process, and present professional licensing information.

Data Source

Our primary data source is the CareerOneStop Licensed Occupations database, maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOLETA) and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). This is the same data source used by the official CareerOneStop License Finder .

Data Pipeline

  1. API Fetch: We query the CareerOneStop API for licensing requirements across all states for each profession. Salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics via the same API.
  2. Structured Extraction: The API provides structured fields (education, exam, background check, agency info) which we display directly. These fields have high confidence.
  3. Estimated Extraction: Costs, timelines, and other numeric values are extracted from descriptive text fields. These are clearly marked with "Est." badges and should be treated as approximate.
  4. Validation: Every data record passes through schema validation with bounds checking (e.g., fees under $10,000, hours under 10,000) to catch anomalies.

Data Quality Tiers

Each profession's data is classified into quality tiers:

Gold
Complete structured data from API + high-confidence extracted estimates + salary data available.
Silver
Good structured data + some extracted estimates available.
Bronze
Basic structured data only. Limited or no extracted estimates.

Limitations

  • Licensing requirements change frequently. Our data reflects the most recent API update and may lag behind actual changes.
  • Cost estimates are extracted from descriptive text and may not capture all fees or recent price changes.
  • Timeline estimates are approximate and depend on individual circumstances.
  • Reciprocity information is complex and state-specific. Always verify with the receiving state's board.

Updates

We refresh our data periodically from the CareerOneStop API. Each data page shows a "Last updated" date so you can see how recent the information is.

Corrections

If you find incorrect information, please use the "Report incorrect information" link on any data page. We review all submissions and update data as needed.