Whose name am I checking?
Start by asking who will assess you: their name, their professional role and where that role is licensed. Ask separately for the pharmacy that would fill a prescription. Keep both names beside your notes.
For a doctor, look at the state medical board’s public record. It shows the doctor’s license and any punishment or restrictions the board has made public.
Finding no punishment in that record does not prove the doctor gives good care.
How do I find the right doctor record?
The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) provides a directory of state boards. The MD or DO letters after a doctor’s name stand for their degree; some states have a separate board for each. Match those letters to a board; if you are unsure, have the doctor name the board keeping their record.
Your location during the visit matters under federal health guidance checked September 26, 2026. The person providing care needs a license for that state or permission under another legal route. They must also meet the license rules in the state where they work.
Give the state you’ll be sitting in, even if you are away from home. A doctor’s office location alone does not settle the question.
Where do I check the pharmacy?
Pharmacy licenses come from a different body: the state board of pharmacy.
The US drug agency’s website links to these pharmacy searches. Its name is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Match the name in the search to the name you were given. If the person’s role is nurse practitioner or physician assistant, ask which board has that license record.