Ohio law states that anyone who performs the function of an auctioneer or conducts an auction must be licensed under by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Additionally, in order to become licensed in Ohio, an auctioneer must first attend an approved auction school before applying for an auctioneer license. The applicant must then take and pass a written examination prior to receiving a license.

Required Forms to Apply

Below is a listing of the information to be uploaded into the eLicense portal: https://eLicense.ohio.gov for application. 

1. Home (ohio.gov)

2. Bond form

A bond form or an irrevocable letter of credit are required. Must be bonded in the favor of the State of Ohio (not required if eligible for the Auction Recovery Fund)

3. Police Waiver form

If applying via reciprocity, a letter of good standing from the reciprocal state licensing board.

Checklist 

You must have the following on file prior to being scheduled for examination:

1. For initial or new applicants, a surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit is required as a part of licensure. The bond or irrevocable letter of credit must be written in the exact name that is stated on line numbers 1 and 2 of AUCTIONEER APPLICATION. BONDS MUST HAVE A BOND NUMBER AND BE SIGNED. Auctioneer Bond amount must be in the amount of $25,000.00. A ONE TIME Auctioneers Bond must be in the amount of $50,000.
2. Appropriate license fee and exam fee.  A check or money order needs to be made payable to Treasurer, State of Ohio.  Ohio licenses are issued biennially.  IF your last name or the first letter of the corporation, partnership or association’s name begins with the letters “A” through “J” and “X” through “Z” your license will expire on odd numbered years.  If your last name or first letter of the corporation, partnership or association begins with “K” through “W”, your license will expire on even numbered years.  If you are applying at the beginning of the biennium, the auctioneer license fee is $200.00 plus a $3.50 processing fee.  If you are applying halfway through the biennium the license fee is $100.00 plus a $3.50 processing fee.  The examination fee is $25.00.  You will need to either submit a check or money order in the amount of $228.50 or $128.50 depending on where you fall within the biennium.  If you are not required to take the examination (see No. 4 above), enclose only the appropriate license fee and the $3.50 processing fee.  The one-time license fee is $500.00 plus a $3.50 processing fee.
3. Original letter on the school’s stationary verifying your attendance at and graduation from the school. Auctioneer school must be a school approved by the Ohio Auctioneers Commission.
4. Current Original Certification Letter from out-of-state licensing board. One time license applicants must provide proof of twelve auctions in the last two years. After all forms and proofs have been filed and if you meet the requirements, you will be notified, by email, of the date, time and place of examination, if applicable. The examination is given four times a year, quarterly. Your license will be issued if you meet all the requirements and pass both parts (written and oral) of the examination. Do not submit your application earlier than 30 days and no later than 14 days prior to the examination.

After all forms and proofs have been filed and if you meet the requirements, you will be notified, by email, of the date, time and place of examination, if applicable. The examination is given monthly at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Your license will be issued if you meet all the requirements and pass the examination. Do not submit your application earlier than 30 days and no later than 14 days prior to the examination. The most current Book of Auctioneer Laws and Rules is available here.

Licensing Period

July 1 to June 30

Annual Fee

The biennial license fee is $200.00 with a $3.50 processing fee plus a $25.00 exam fee. Biennial renewal fee is $200.00 with a $3.50 processing fee.

Additional Information

For initial or new applicants, a surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit is required as a part of licensure. The bond or irrevocable letter of credit must be written in the exact name that is stated on line numbers 1 and 2 of AUCTIONEER APPLICATION. BONDS MUST HAVE A BOND NUMBER AND BE SIGNED. Bond amount must be in the amount of $25,000.00 if applying for an auctioneer license. A One Time License Bond must be in the amount of $50,000.

Documentation of legal existence must accompany applications. (Partnerships and associations must be filed with the County Recorder). Out of State Corporations must apply with the Ohio Secretary of State as a foreign corporation. Documentation of authorization required. Police Record Check on board of directors, partners, members of the company: No police record check is required if the record check on file is less than six months.

For applicants requiring examination, the application must be on file with the department 14 days in advance of the exam. You will be notified by email on the date, time and place to appear. 

ALL INCOMPLETE/INCORRECT APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED, UNPROCESSED.
NO AUCTION ACTIVITIES ARE PERMITTED UNTIL A LICENSE IS IN HAND.