The board record is the starting point.
The state bodies that license doctors are medical boards. Their public records show whether a doctor is licensed and disclose any action made public against that doctor.
A state may have more than one medical board, so ask which board holds this doctor’s record.
When no action appears publicly, that record still gives no rating of care quality.
See what medical boards discloseHow to check a doctor’s public licence record
Get the name used for the licence.
Ask for the doctor’s full professional name and the state board that holds the record. Keep the licence number if it is provided.
Open the state board’s own search.
Follow the directory below to the medical board for the relevant state. Search there for the name you were given.
Match the person and read the status.
Compare the record with the person named for your visit. Read the licence status and any public action listed. Ask the board to explain unclear entries.
Keep a dated note of the result.
Save the board’s record link and the date you checked it. Bring any mismatch back to the service before marking the name check complete.
Match the place of care.
The federal health guidance checked on September 26, 2026 ties permission for phone or online care to the patient’s location during the visit. A doctor or other health professional needs permission to treat patients in that state.
Exceptions appear in the national medical-board policy, but the binding rules are set by each state.
Ask the person who would treat you to explain their permission to practise where you will be. If you will be travelling, include that in the question.
Doctor’s name, board, record link and date I checked:
