How to Find Out If a Doctor Is Licensed in a State

A medical doctor must be licensed by a state medical board in order to practice within the state. If you have concerns that your doctor may not be properly licensed, you can check with the medical board to confirm a doctor's license status. Most state medical boards provide online access to information on a doctor's license status, and several also provide online searches of any disciplinary actions taken or malpractice awards made against the doctor.

Instructions

• 1

  Visit a website providing links to state medical boards, such as the American Medical Association or the Federation of State Medical Boards.

• 2

  Click the link for the state in which you want to check a doctor's license.

  Note that a few states have more than one medical board. For instance, California has a separate medical board for osteopaths. Choose the board that covers your doctor's area of practice.

• 3

  Use the medical board's license verification tool to find information on a doctor's license.

  Most boards have online verification tools where you can enter the doctor's name to find her license status. In a few states, you need to call the board directly to ask to verify a license.