Licence status

Licence status terms explained: active, conditions, suspended, disbarred and more

Last checked 6 November 2026 · 10 sources

Short answer

A register's status field says whether a person may practise now. In California only active licensees may practise law, and people listed as not eligible, disbarred or resigned may not ¹. Ahpra says practitioners with conditions face limits on what they can do, and those who agreed not to practise or were cancelled may not provide any services ². The SRA marks people prohibited from practising as a solicitor ³. Each regulator uses its own words, so read its definitions.

Active (State Bar of California): Only active licensees may practise law in California ¹
Inactive (State Bar of California): Chosen voluntarily, can return to active after fees ¹
Conditions (Ahpra): Limit what a practitioner can do ²
Prohibited (SRA): May not practise as a solicitor or work in an SRA-regulated firm ³
Provisional registration (GMC): Approved UK Foundation Year 1 post only ⁶

Why the status matters more than the name

Many registers keep people on the list after their right to practise ends. The CPSO register offers an option to include inactive physicians ⁹. The Bar Standards Board shows disbarred barristers with a current finding under a separate sanctioned non-practising tab ¹⁰. The SRA register shows people it has prohibited from practising as a solicitor ⁴. Finding a name is the start of the check, not the end.

Status terms and what they mean

Term	Meaning in the source	Used by
Active ¹	May practise law in California ¹	State Bar of California ¹
Inactive ¹	Status chosen voluntarily, the licensee can return to active after paying fees and any required fingerprinting ¹	State Bar of California ¹
Not eligible to practise ¹	May not practise. Reasons include suspension, involuntary inactive enrolment and unpaid fees ¹	State Bar of California ¹
Disbarred ¹	Prohibited from practising by order of the California Supreme Court ¹	State Bar of California ¹
Resigned ¹	Resignation accepted by the court, with or without disciplinary charges pending, and may not practise ¹	State Bar of California ¹
Conditions ²	Limits on what a practitioner can do ²	Ahpra ², Medical Council of Ireland ⁵
Undertaking not to practise ²	The practitioner agreed not to practise and may not provide any services ²	Ahpra ², Medical Council of Ireland ⁵
Cancelled ²	Registration cancelled and no services allowed ²	Ahpra ²
Conditions apply (firm) ³	The SRA restricts what the firm can do ³	SRA ³
Prohibited ³	May not practise as a solicitor or work in an SRA-regulated firm ³	SRA ³

Restrictions short of removal

Conditions and undertakings allow some practice but not all. Ahpra says some practitioners hold a type of registration or conditions that limit what they can do ². The Medical Council of Ireland says restrictions may include undertakings not to practise medicine, conditions on registration or suspension from the register ⁵. It says details of a suspension may take different forms, and advises opening the full record ⁵.

Some limits come from the type of registration, not discipline. The GMC says provisional registration allows work in an approved Foundation Year 1 post and cannot be used for any other purpose ⁶. A doctor with an approved practice setting restriction must only practise in the UK with a connection to a designated body ⁶.

Suspension, probation and removal

The Medical Board of California runs a License Alert service that notifies users when a doctor is suspended, revoked or placed on probation ⁷. Disbarment in California and cancellation in Australia both end the right to practise ^1,2. The terms used, and any route back, differ by regulator, so read the definitions the register publishes.

A firm can be removed as well as a person. The SRA register shows firms it has closed down ⁴, and its glossary says this means it has removed permission for the firm to provide legal services ³.

Non-practising and lapsed licences

Some statuses have nothing to do with misconduct. New Zealand's register shows practising, not practising or inactive, with a certificate expiry date ⁸. In California an attorney who does not pay required fees is listed as not eligible to practise ¹. A licence that has expired for unpaid fees is not proof of a disciplinary finding, and a clean record is not proof of a current licence. Read both fields.

Common questions

What is the difference between inactive and not eligible?

In California, inactive is a voluntary status. Not eligible covers people who may not practise, for reasons such as suspension or unpaid fees ¹.

Does conditions on a register mean the person cannot work?

No. Ahpra says conditions limit what a practitioner can do, not whether they are registered ².

What does prohibited mean on the SRA register?

The person may not practise as a solicitor or work in an SRA-regulated law firm ³.

Can a disbarred barrister still appear on the register?

Yes. The BSB lists disbarred barristers with a current finding under a sanctioned non-practising tab ¹⁰.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@thecredentialregistry.com.

Sources

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