In its role as regulator of horseracing in Great Britain, the British Horseracing Authority is responsible for issuing jockeys' and trainers' licences.

The Licensing department administers the annual licensing process for full jockeys, apprentices, conditionals and amateur riders. It also licenses jockeys’ valets and agents, as well as registering members of stable staff and issuing their racecourse stable passes.

Figures for the number of jockeys and trainers can be found on their individual pages in this section. Stable staff figures are as follows:

As of end 2007

Strict criteria have to be fulfilled before licence applications are considered by the Licensing Committee. The Committee is chaired by Michael Henriques and has Charles Lloyd-Baker, Mike Felton, Caroline Robinson and Anthony Webber.