The person check
Check the person treating you
Follow a name to a record
Get the assessing doctor’s name in full. Get the spelling and the board that holds their licence.
- Ask for the nameGet the full spelling
- Find the right boardUse the state directory
- Read the recordMatch the details yourself
Find the public record
According to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), a group of state boards, a doctor’s licence status appears in the board’s public record.
A board’s public record can also show punishment it gave a doctor who broke its rules.
The board may list cases where it says a doctor broke its rules but has not yet reached a decision.
The FSMB directory, checked on September 17, 2026, links to the state boards’ own sites.
Open the board’s own search. Check that the name in full and the licence details belong to the doctor you expect to see. If the match is unclear, ask the board or doctor to explain it.
Check the state for an online visit
HHS, the US Department of Health and Human Services, says the doctor needs a licence or other permission where you sit during a remote visit, as of September 26, 2026.
Telehealth means care over video, phone, or an online form. Tell the service your location during the visit, including details of any travel.
Read the guidance on location
HHS describes several ways states allow care across state lines. Ask the state board which route applies to the doctor you are checking.
Read the record with its limits
A clear record shows no public punishment by the board or case still waiting for its decision.
It does not tell you how good the doctor is.
Read the board-record note
If the record lists a punishment or a case still waiting for a decision, open the board’s document. Ask the board what happened and how it relates to the care being offered.
Keep a licence-check note
- Full name and licence details
- State where I will receive the visit
- Board record I read
- Anything I need explained