California Employment Agency
Licensing requirements for California employment, staffing and talent agencies.
This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in California for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.
Companies that provide employment services in California must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.
Company Licenses
California Employment Services Company Licenses
Companies acting as employment agencies in California must obtain the following licenses before offering employment services. Applications usually require proof of incorporation or a certificate of authority.
California Employment Agency License
Not required
Employment Agency licensure is not required on the State level in California.
California Professional Employer Organization License
Not required
Professional Employer Organization licensure is not required on the State level in California.
California Talent Agency License
| Agency: | California Department of Industrial Relations - Division of Labor Standards Enforcement |
Initial Registration
| Form: | http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Talent%20Agency_License_and_Fee-Related_Talent_Services.htm |
| Agency Fee: | $250 for mail and $225 for online. |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Talent%20Agency_License_and_Fee-Related_Talent_Services.htm |
| Agency Fee: | $250 for mail and $225 for online. |
| Due: | Annually |
Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.
Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.
Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)
American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.
National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
(NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment
industry.
