The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) announced Tuesday that the status of new and existing vocational licenses is now searchable online.

“This welcomed feature will allow us to better serve the nearly 150,000 licensees in the state,” said Celia Suzuki, professional and vocational licensing admini­strator, in a news release. “The online feature was highly requested by the public and now individuals and businesses can monitor the status of their applications in real-time.”

The new function — intended for applicants’ use only — is accessible by selecting the “Pending Application” tab via the Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Search website.

PVL Search is a licensee search service that allows the public to validate professional licensees’ licensing information and confirm whether an individual or business is licensed to operate within the state. PVL Search complements the division’s “MyPVL” online service, which allows licensees to access their PVL licensing and online renewal information via a single online user account 24/7, 365 days a year.

The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division issues licenses for 49 different professions and vocations encompassing approximately 150,000 licensees within the state. The division also provides staff support to the licensing regulatory boards, commissions and programs, handles applications and licenses, reviews and processes renewals, and maintains license records.