How to Check a Doctor's License in Your State
Check with the medical board in the state where the doctor practices. Licenses are issued by states, and a listing here or an NPI number doesn't show that a doctor holds one. Most boards offer a free online lookup. Use the doctor's full name, and match the city and specialty.
Why a Listing Isn't a License Check
Our pages come from the CMS file and the NPI Registry. An NPI is an ID number used in health care billing, and the data we use doesn't confirm a license. That is why we never call a doctor "licensed" or "verified".
This guide explains how to find and check care. It can't tell you which doctor or treatment is right for you. Your doctor or plan can.
How to Look Up a Doctor
- Find the state's medical board. The Federation of State Medical Boards keeps a list of them.
- Check whether the state has a separate board for doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO). Some do.
- Search the board's license lookup by full name. Common names may show several people.
- Match the city and specialty. Our doctor pages show the NPI, which can help you tell people apart in the NPI Registry.
What You May See
Boards differ, but a lookup usually shows the license status and may show public actions. The words a board uses have specific meanings, so read its own explanation or call the board. DocInfo, from the Federation of State Medical Boards, is another place to look across states.
If you have a concern about a doctor, the state board is the place to raise it. See where to complain for other kinds of problem. We don't judge doctors, and we can't take complaints about care.
Common Questions
Does this site check licenses?
No. We show public CMS and NPI records, and those don't confirm a license.
Does being in the Medicare file mean a doctor is licensed?
We don't make that claim. Check with the state board.
A listing here looks wrong. What should I do?
Use the corrections page, or the report buttons on the doctor's page.