Find a physician’s U.S. license history, confirm current authority in each state, review public board actions, understand medical-license status terms, verify telehealth authority, and separate licensure from an NPI, specialty certification, NPDB report, or federal exclusion check.
Quick answer: the safest nationwide medical-license check
Start with FSMB’s free DocInfo service when you need a physician’s nationwide license history, degree type, medical school information, specialty information, or publicly reported state-board actions.
Then open the official licensing-board profile for every state where the physician currently treats patients, provides telehealth, holds hospital privileges, or claims an active license.
The issuing state board is the final public source for the exact current status, expiration date, restrictions, probation, formal charges, and complete disciplinary orders.
I want to… choose the correct official route
Find physician licenses and board actions
Use DocInfo to begin a national MD or DO license-history search.
Open DocInfoCheck whether a license is active now
Find the issuing medical or osteopathic board and open the complete public profile.
Find a state boardVerify physician board certification
Check specialty certification separately from state medical licensure.
Verify ABMS certificationMatch an NPI record
Use NPPES for provider identity, taxonomy, and listed address information.
Open NPI RegistryFind the correct medical board
File with the board that has jurisdiction over the physician and the care provided.
Find complaint boardCheck OIG exclusions
Use the LEIE as a separate federal health care program compliance check.
Search OIG exclusionsMedical License Verification Route Finder
Choose the question you need answered. This tool does not collect names, license numbers, NPIs, dates of birth, complaint details, payment information, or credentialing documents.
Which official source should you use?
Use DocInfo to identify physician license history and public board actions, then verify each relevant current license on the issuing state board’s website.
Open DocInfoFind the exact help you need
Information to collect before searching a physician
Best identifiers
- Full legal first and last name.
- Middle name or initial.
- MD or DO degree.
- State license number.
- Practice city and clinic name.
- State where the patient receives care.
- Former surname or alternate spelling.
Why the care location matters
For in-person care, verify the license in the state where treatment occurs.
For telehealth, verify the physician’s authority for the state where the patient is physically located during the appointment.
How to verify a physician’s medical license nationwide
Match the physician’s identity
Confirm the legal name, MD or DO degree, location, and license number when available.
Start with DocInfo
Review nationwide license history, education, degree type, specialties, and reported board actions.
Find every relevant issuing board
Identify each state where the physician practices, provides telehealth, or claims current licensure.
Open the complete state-board profile
Check status, expiration, restrictions, probation, formal charges, and linked public orders.
Run separate supporting checks
Use NPI, specialty certification, OIG, or NPDB only for the specific question each source answers.
Save dated verification evidence
Record the source, date, jurisdiction, license number, status, expiration, restrictions, and reviewer name.
Three decisions that prevent most verification mistakes
Is the person an MD or DO?
Some states regulate both through one board. Others maintain a separate osteopathic medical board.
Where is the patient located?
Verify the physician’s authority for the state where care occurs, especially for telehealth.
What are you actually verifying?
License status, NPI, specialty certification, exclusion status, and NPDB reports are separate checks.
Which record proves what?
| Source | What it answers | What it does not prove | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official state medical board | Whether the license is current in that jurisdiction and whether restrictions or public orders appear. | Current authority in every other state. | Final status and discipline verification. |
| FSMB DocInfo | Nationwide physician license history, education, specialties, and reported board actions. | That every listed license is currently active. | Nationwide starting point. |
| NPPES NPI Registry | Provider identity, NPI type, taxonomy, and listed addresses. | Active licensure, good standing, or specialty competence. | Identity and billing-record matching. |
| ABMS or AOA certification | Whether the physician holds the claimed specialty certification. | Current legal authority to practice in a state. | Verifying specialty claims. |
| OIG LEIE | Whether an individual or entity is excluded from federal health care programs. | Medical-license status. | Employer compliance screening. |
| NPDB | For authorized users or the practitioner, whether specified adverse actions or malpractice payments were reported. | It is not a public named-doctor lookup. | Authorized credentialing or the practitioner’s own Self-Query. |
Medical-license status meanings and next actions
Status wording varies by state. Always read the board’s definition and any linked order.
| Status | Practical meaning | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Active or current | The license appears current, subject to expiration, restrictions, and orders. | Match identity and review the complete profile. |
| Inactive or retired | The record remains, but active practice authority should not be assumed. | Review reactivation requirements. |
| Expired or lapsed | The license is outside its active period or was not renewed. | Wait until renewed or reinstated status appears. |
| Restricted or limited | Practice is allowed only under specific conditions. | Read every prescribing, procedure, setting, and supervision restriction. |
| Probation | The physician is subject to monitoring and board conditions. | Review the current order and later modifications. |
| Suspended | Practice is prohibited during the suspension period or until conditions are met. | Do not treat the license as active. |
| Revoked or surrendered | The license was terminated or relinquished under stated circumstances. | Read the order and do not rely on it as current authority. |
| Pending application or renewal | A request is under review; authority may not yet be issued. | Wait for the public record to show the required issued status. |
Medical License Status Helper
Confirm the identity, expiration date, restrictions, and public orders. Save dated evidence from the board.
Why a physician may not appear in a license search
Common causes
- The wrong state or territory was searched.
- The physician uses a former legal surname.
- A DO is regulated by a separate osteopathic board.
- The portal requires exact spelling or a license prefix.
- The application is pending and no license has been issued.
- The physician holds a training, limited, institutional, or temporary permit.
- The license belongs to another profession or jurisdiction.
Troubleshooting order
- Confirm the MD or DO degree.
- Ask for the issuing state and full license number.
- Search DocInfo for license history.
- Try current and former surnames.
- Check separate medical and osteopathic boards.
- Review training and temporary license categories.
- Contact the board if the result remains unclear.
Telehealth medical-license verification
For interstate telehealth, verify the physician’s authority in the state where the patient is physically located during the appointment.
Check the patient’s state
Look for a full license, telemedicine license, registration, permit, or applicable exception.
Do not rely on the office address
The physician may be located in one state while treating a patient in another.
Review current state rules
Consultation, follow-up, emergency, temporary, and limited-practice exceptions vary.
How to check discipline, restrictions, and board orders
Search DocInfo
Identify public state-board actions connected with the physician across jurisdictions.
Open the issuing board profile
Check the current status and locate the original disciplinary order.
Read later modifications
Look for reinstatement, probation completion, termination, or amended restrictions.
How to file a complaint against a physician
File with the medical or osteopathic board that has jurisdiction over the physician and the care.
Prepare these details
- Physician’s full name and license number.
- MD or DO degree.
- Clinic, hospital, or telehealth platform.
- Dates and a chronological description.
- Relevant messages and documents.
- Witnesses or professionals involved.
- Clear patient-safety or professional-conduct concern.
Common board concerns
- Substandard care.
- Failure to diagnose.
- Improper prescribing.
- Sexual misconduct or boundary violations.
- Practicing while impaired.
- Fraud or dishonesty.
- Practicing without required authority.
NPI lookup does not prove medical licensure
The National Provider Identifier is a 10-digit identifier used in health care administrative and financial transactions. CMS states that having an NPI does not ensure that a provider is licensed or credentialed.
An NPI can help confirm
- Individual or organization provider name.
- Type 1 or Type 2 record.
- Provider taxonomy.
- Listed practice and mailing addresses.
- Other public NPPES information.
An NPI does not prove
- Active state licensure.
- Good standing.
- Absence of discipline.
- Board certification.
- Hospital privileges.
- Insurance-network participation.
Medical license vs physician board certification
| Credential | What it means | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| State medical license | Legal authority to practice under that state’s law and license conditions. | The issuing medical or osteopathic board. |
| ABMS board certification | Specialty or subspecialty certification through an ABMS Member Board. | ABMS certification-verification services. |
| AOA board certification | Osteopathic specialty certification through an AOA certifying board. | AOA certification services. |
NPDB access for patients, physicians, and employers
No public named-doctor search
The public cannot use the NPDB as a general search engine for a specific physician.
Personal account and Self-Query
A physician can access matched reports and obtain a certified Self-Query response.
Authorized credentialing queries
Hospitals and other eligible entities may query under federal NPDB rules.
Employer and credentialing verification checklist
Core license verification
- Verify every claimed state license.
- Match the legal name and license number.
- Record status and expiration.
- Review restrictions and full public orders.
- Confirm patient-state telehealth authority.
- Save dated primary-source evidence.
Separate supporting checks
- ABMS or AOA certification.
- OIG exclusion search.
- NPI and taxonomy match.
- NPDB query when legally eligible.
- Education and training verification.
- Hospital privileges and payer enrollment.
FCVS, Uniform Application, IMLC, and VeriDoc
| Service | Main purpose | What it does not replace |
|---|---|---|
| FCVS | Creates a lifetime repository of primary-source verified core credentials. | The state application, fees, questions, and licensing decision. |
| Uniform Application | Lets physicians reuse core application information for participating boards. | Board-specific requirements and credential verification. |
| IMLC | Provides an expedited application pathway for eligible physicians. | Separate licenses issued by each selected state. |
| VeriDoc | Sends official licensure verification from participating boards to another board. | Public status checks or application requirements. |
Before calling or visiting a medical board
Have these details ready
- Physician’s full legal name.
- MD or DO degree.
- License number and state.
- Exact status wording.
- Order or case number when shown.
- Date the profile was checked.
- A short, specific question.
Before leaving home
- Check whether the task is available online.
- Confirm office hours and appointment rules.
- Verify the address on the board’s official website.
- Call before traveling if the service is unclear.
- Do not carry unnecessary original sensitive documents.
Phone scripts for the doctor’s office and medical board
Calling the doctor’s office
“Please provide the physician’s full legal name, MD or DO degree, state medical-license number, and the state that issued the license. I need this information to confirm the official board record.”
Calling the medical board
“I am verifying a physician named [full name]. The license number is [number], and the public profile shows [exact status]. Where can I confirm whether the license is currently valid and read any restriction or board order?”
Patient checklist before an appointment or procedure
Verify these items
- Full legal name and degree.
- License in the state where care occurs.
- Current status and expiration.
- Restrictions or public board orders.
- Specialty certification when relevant.
- Practice address and clinic identity.
- Telehealth authority for the patient’s state.
Do not rely only on
- “Doctor near me” search results.
- Online ratings or testimonials.
- Insurance-network directories.
- Clinic biography pages.
- NPI status.
- Social-media profiles.
- A framed diploma or certificate.
How to avoid fake medical-license lookup websites
Private directories may help locate a possible license number, but they should not be the final source for status, discipline, renewal, payment, or complaint filing.
Safer signs
- The source is FSMB or an official state agency.
- The record names the issuing board.
- Status and expiration are shown.
- Discipline links to board-hosted documents.
Warning signs
- A private site charges for basic status.
- A page claims to issue one national license.
- An unexpected message demands immediate payment.
- A private page imitates a government seal.
Safer workflow
Open FSMB or the state board manually, search the physician, read the complete profile, and save dated proof from the official source.
Official physician-license and credential resources
FSMB DocInfo
Nationwide physician license history, education, specialties, and public board actions.
Open DocInfoFSMB state-board directory
Find the correct state or territorial medical and osteopathic board.
Find a boardCMS NPI Registry
Match individual and organization NPI records, taxonomy, and listed addresses.
Search NPI RegistryABMS certification verification
Verify specialty certification through an ABMS Member Board.
Verify certificationAOA Board Certification
Review osteopathic specialty certification and official verification services.
Open AOA certificationInterstate Medical Licensure Compact
Review the expedited pathway for separate licenses in participating jurisdictions.
Review IMLCHHS-OIG exclusions
Search individuals and entities excluded from federal health care programs.
Search LEIENPDB Self-Query
Practitioners can review reports matched to themselves and obtain a certified response.
Review Self-QueryMedical License Verification FAQs
What is the safest way to verify a medical license nationwide?
Start with FSMB DocInfo to identify physician license history and public state-board actions. Then verify every relevant current license on the issuing state medical board’s official profile, including status, expiration, restrictions, and complete disciplinary orders.
Is DocInfo an official nationwide physician lookup?
DocInfo is provided by the Federation of State Medical Boards and contains verified information supplied by state medical boards and physician-certification organizations. It is a nationwide starting point, but current authority should still be confirmed with each issuing state board.
Does an active NPI mean a physician has an active medical license?
No. CMS states that having an NPI does not ensure that a provider is licensed or credentialed. An NPI identifies a provider in health care transactions; it does not prove current state medical-license status.
What is the difference between medical licensure and board certification?
A state medical license provides legal authority to practice under that jurisdiction’s law. Board certification is a separate specialty credential. Verify licensure through the state board and the specialty through an official ABMS or AOA source.
Do MD and DO physicians always use the same licensing board?
No. Some states regulate MD and DO physicians through one board, while others maintain a separate osteopathic medical board. Confirm the physician’s degree before selecting the regulator.
How do I verify a doctor licensed in several states?
Use DocInfo to identify license history, then verify each claimed current license on the corresponding state board’s website. An active license in one state does not automatically authorize practice in another.
Which state license should I check for a telehealth appointment?
Check the physician’s authority for the state where the patient will be physically located during the telehealth encounter. State telemedicine licenses, registrations, permits, and exceptions vary.
Why can I not find a physician in a license search?
You may be searching the wrong state, board, profession, legal name, or license category. The physician may be a DO under a separate board, use a former surname, hold a training or temporary permit, or have a pending application.
Can the public search the NPDB for a specific physician?
No. The NPDB is not a general public named-physician search. Authorized organizations may query under federal rules, and practitioners may access reports matched to themselves through a personal account and Self-Query process.
Where do I file a complaint against a physician?
File with the medical or osteopathic board that has jurisdiction over the care. Use the FSMB state-board directory to locate the correct regulator and its official complaint process.