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How to Check a Doctor's License
Free, official ways to verify any US doctor's license, board certification, and disciplinary history.
What 'licensed' actually means
Every practicing US physician holds a license issued by the state medical board where they practice. They can also be board certified — a voluntary, more rigorous credential issued by specialty boards (e.g., American Board of Internal Medicine).
Free sources to verify
- State medical board — search the board for the state where they practice; this shows active license status and any disciplinary action.
- ABMS / Certification Matters (certificationmatters.org) — confirms board certification.
- NPPES NPI Registry (npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov) — confirms the National Provider Identifier and primary taxonomy.
- DocInfo.org (Federation of State Medical Boards) — aggregated license and discipline data across states.
- DEA registration — for controlled-substance prescribing (less commonly checked by patients).
What to do if you find a problem
Disciplinary actions range from minor administrative violations to serious patient-care issues. Read the board's actual order — it explains exactly what happened. If you're concerned, choose a different provider.
Find A Doctor Hub verification
Every provider listed on Find A Doctor Hub is matched to the NPPES registry and (when applicable) Medicare enrollment data, so the NPI, credential, primary specialty, and practice address you see are pulled from official sources.