Obtaining an Agency License

Each agency must have a qualified licensee representative. The licensee is any individual affiliated with the business in Iowa and is the designated representative of the agency. The licensee is responsible for maintaining the agency license and licensing requirements.

Limited Liability Company (Form PD5): Iowa limited liability companies must submit a copy of the Certificate of Existence issued by the Iowa Secretary of State. Non-Iowa limited liability companies must submit a copy of the Foreign Registration document issued by the Iowa Secretary of State.

Corporation Information (Form PD7): Iowa corporations must submit a copy of the Certificate of Existence issued by the Iowa Secretary of State. Non-Iowa corporations must submit a copy of the Foreign Registration document issued by the Iowa Secretary of State.

Without having a registered business structure with the Iowa Secretary of State, the agency does not have the authority to business as an LLC or Corporation in the state of Iowa.

A person shall not engage in or conduct a business under a trade name, or an assumed name of a character other than the true surname of each person owning or having an interest in the business, unless the person first records with the county recorder of the county in which the business is to be conducted a verified statement showing the name, post office address, and residence address of each person owning or having an interest in the business, and the address where the business is to be conducted. This does not apply to any corporation or limited liability company incorporated or organized in this state or any foreign corporation, foreign limited liability company or limited partnership authorized to do business in this state.

Each applicant shall provide “proof of financial responsibility” (liability insurance) as provided in Iowa Administrative Rule 661-121.4(6). The applicant will be prompted to upload documentation into the license application. The agency name on the “proof of financial responsibility” (liability insurance) must be the same as the agency name indicated on the license application.

Proof of financial responsibility is given by filing a Certificate of Liability Insurance from a licensed insurance company demonstrating coverage for professional liability or general liability including completed operations and personal injury. 

A completed PD6 Surety Bond Form (319.39 KB) .pdf must be submitted with each initial license application. A surety company authorized to do business in Iowa must issue this form.

If the applicant is applying for one license type, the surety bond amount must be $5,000. 

If the applicant is applying for more than one license type, the surety bond amount must be $10,000.

The agency name on the bond must be the same agency name indicated on the license application. The applicant will be prompted to upload documentation into the application. The surety bond and the PD6 Surety Bond Form must be submitted together on the application.

All applicants must create an account on the Licensing Portal to access the applications.

This application is to provide a brief description of the type of business being operated, so the department can create the agency profile on the licensing portal.

Once approved, an email will be sent to the applicant with step-by-step instructions on submitting the full agency license application (Form PD1).

The PD1 application is the full license application. This application will require liability insurance, surety bond, headshot photo, company information, criminal history questions etc. Depending on the company’s business structure, additional forms will be generated and need completed.

Fees for obtaining an agency license are as follows:

• $100 for each license type
• $10 for each ID card affiliation

• $30 for fingerprint processing

  Number of licenses

  	1 Licensees	2 Licensees	3 Licensees
  1 License Type	$140	$180	$220
  2 License Types	$250	$300	$350
  3 License Types	$360	$420	$480

  ⤢

Fingerprints must be submitted in one of the following ways.

Physical Fingerprint Cards: 2 fingerprint cards are required for each application. Fingerprints can be taken anywhere but must be on the official FD-258 form. Fingerprint cards may be requested from the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Fingerprint cards must be mailed or hand delivered in a sealed envelope to the address at the bottom of this page. If fingerprint cards are being hand delivered, the envelope must be labeled “Program Services Bureau.” 

DPS approved fingerprint vendor: Scheduling instructions and vendor locations nationwide will be provided after payment.

Once the application and appropriate fees have been submitted, the department will review the application. 

Once the department has received the criminal history results from the fingerprints, and there are no disqualifications, a licensing requirements overview will be sent to the licensee.

Once the licensing requirements overview has been completed and proper notification has been received by the department, the agency license certificate and licensee ID card will be issued via email to the licensee.