Google Screened
Google Screened is the verification badge shown on Local Services Ads for licensed professionals — lawyers, financial advisors, and real estate agents. It confirms Google has verified the professional licenses of everyone serving clients through the ad and completed background checks. Unlike Google Guaranteed, it carries no money-back guarantee; the badge is purely a license-verified trust signal.
In depth
License verification applies to every professional who takes clients through the ad, checked against the relevant licensing authority — a higher bar than standard Google Ads, which anyone can buy.
The badge is free; leads are billed per lead through Local Services Ads (legal leads typically $50-150+, financial services and real estate generally less).
Which badge a business gets is decided by category: service trades get Google Guaranteed, licensed professionals get Google Screened. It is not a choice.
Ranking among Screened advertisers is driven by review volume and rating, response rate and speed, and proximity — not bids, keywords, or ad copy.
Common misconception
Google Screened does not mean Google endorses the quality of the professional's work or guarantees outcomes. It verifies licenses and background only — the reimbursement guarantee people associate with the badge belongs to Google Guaranteed, the home-services variant.
Source: Google Help — Badges for Local Services Ads
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