Ask which record to look up
To see whether a doctor is licensed, use the public records held by a state medical board. The records also show penalties or formal charges that the board has made public.
In some states, doctors holding an MD have license records kept separately from those for doctors holding a DO.
Look for the letters MD or DO after the doctor’s name, then ask which state board holds that doctor’s record. Match the full name and license details, rather than stopping at a similar search result.
Check the place where the visit happens
Under the guidance checked September 26, 2026, a doctor seeing you remotely needs authorization from the state where you are physically located for the visit.
That permission may be a license from that state. Some states instead let a doctor licensed elsewhere register for permission to provide remote care. Each state sets its own rules.
Give the service your actual physical location for the appointment. A home address alone does not answer that question if you are traveling.
Read the result without overreading it
An absence of public penalties in the record cannot establish a doctor’s skill.
Look for a current license, any board restrictions on the doctor’s work, and any board actions against the doctor. Ask the board for an explanation of any part you cannot understand. Keep the name and search result with your notes.
If the person assessing you is not a physician, ask for their exact professional role and the board that licenses that role. Do not assume a physician search covers everyone.
Find the board
For links to medical boards in states and territories, consult the Federation of State Medical Boards directory.
Use the board directory in the source file to reach the public record.