Kentucky· State Reference
Kentucky Auctioneer
License Requirements
To get a full auctioneer license in Kentucky, you must be at least 18 years old and complete a combination of approved pre-license auction education and one-year hands on apprenticeship.
- Minimum age: 18 years old
- Apprenticeship period: one year serving under a licensed principal auctioneer, with active and material participation in at least 10 auctions
- Pre-licensing education: pre-license auction education from a Board approved auction school.
- Exam requirement: pass the written examination.
- Background check: a national FBI background check completed within the 60 days before you submit your application
- Application fee: $125
- Renewal cycle: licenses expire June 30 each year plus six hours of continuing education.
Step by Step Process
- Complete a Board approved auction school.
- Serve at least one year as an apprentice under a licensed Kentucky auctioneer. There is an apprentice exam to begin the apprenticeship and a principal auctioneer exam to receive the full auctioneer license after the apprenticeship.
- Act as principal auctioneer in at least five auctions during the apprenticeship.
- Pass the auction examination.
- Renew your license annually, by June 30.
Costs
| Step | Cost |
|---|---|
| Apprenticeship, minimum 10 auctions | $125 plus recovery fund fee of $30 |
| Written examination | $125 |
| Full auctioneer license application | $125 initial license fee |
| Annual recovery fund fee | $30 per year |
| License renewal | $125 renewal fee, by June 30 |
Fees are set by the Kentucky Board of Auctioneers and are subject to change.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Kentucky auctioneer licenses expire on June 30 each year. A $125 late fee is added if renewal is not completed by the deadline.
There are six hours of continuing auction education each year.
Reciprocity
Kentucky has reciprocal agreements with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, meaning Kentucky licensees can use their Kentucky license as the basis for licensing in those states.
Source: National Auctioneer License Law Officials Association
Ready to meet Kentucky's education requirement? Missouri Auction School's Kentucky Auctioneer License Course is a Kentucky approved pre-license education course.
See our Kentucky course →- Kentucky Board of Auctioneers, auctioneers.ky.gov
- Kentucky Revised Statutes 330.070, apprentice auctioneer requirements, license fees, and continuing education
- 831 KAR 1:010, Licensing Fees and Applications, Kentucky Board of Auctioneers
- Kentucky Board of Auctioneers renewal notice, auctioneers.ky.gov
- National Auctioneer License Law Officials Association, reciprocity listing
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get an auctioneer license in Kentucky?
One year. Kentucky requires you to complete pre-license education and to hold an apprentice auctioneer license and serve at least one year as an apprentice, actively participating in at least ten auctions and pass the Kentucky state auction exam, before you can receive a full auctioneer license.
Do I need to take an exam to become a licensed auctioneer in Kentucky?
Yes. There is an apprentice exam to begin the apprenticeship and a principal auctioneer exam to receive the full auctioneer license after the apprenticeship.
How often do I need to renew my Kentucky auctioneer license?
Kentucky auctioneer licenses expire on June 30. There are six hours of continuing auction education required each year.