Where is the public record?
To check a doctor’s licence, start with their full name and the state where they work.
Find the right board
The Federation of State Medical Boards has a directory linking to medical board websites for the states and territories.
In some states, doctors using MD and doctors using DO after their names have licence records held separately.
Both are doctors. Use the letters after the name to choose the right office in the directory. If a name is missing, check which office you searched.
Read the record, then read its limits
Boards publish whether a doctor is licensed, any public record of penalties, and any formal charges still awaiting a decision.
The details a board makes public differ from state to state.
Read any linked record rather than guessing from a short status label. If a term is unclear, use the board’s explanation of that term.
A clear record is not a care review
A record showing no penalties leaves the quality of the doctor’s care unanswered.
You still get to ask about the visit, the treatment, the costs, and the plan for hearing back.
For an online visit, check your location too
As of September 2026, HHS guidance says clinicians need a licence or other lawful permission where the patient is during telehealth care.
HHS stands for Department of Health and Human Services, a US department. Telehealth means a visit by screen, phone, or online exchange. Ask how the service meets your state’s rules.