Find the state board that licenses that profession in the state where you’ll be treated, and search its free license lookup by name. Confirm the license is active, the name matches, and there’s no current discipline. For doctors you can also search DocInfo, and for nurses Nursys. Our license lookup links to the right board in every state.
Why Check at All
Most providers are exactly who they say they are. Checking still matters because a license can lapse, be suspended or come with limits, and none of that shows on a clinic’s website. A quick check also catches simpler problems: the wrong person with a similar name, a provider licensed in another state seeing you by video, or a therapist who isn’t enrolled with your insurance.
It matters most before surgery or a procedure, when choosing a therapist or a home health agency for a parent, after a bad experience, or when a price seems too good to be true, for example cosmetic injections offered outside a medical office.
Which Board Licenses Whom
Each profession has its own board in each state, so the first step is picking the right one. Names vary by state; the profession is what matters.
| Profession | Who licenses them | Credentials you’ll see |
|---|---|---|
| Doctors (MD, DO) | State medical board (some states have a separate osteopathic board) | MD, DO |
| Physician assistants | Usually the medical board; some states have a PA board | PA, PA-C |
| Nurses and nurse practitioners | State board of nursing (confirm free on Nursys) | RN, LPN, APRN, NP, CNM, CRNA |
| Counselors | Board of professional counselors (name varies) | LPC, LPCC, LMHC |
| Social workers | Board of social work | LCSW, LICSW, LMSW |
| Marriage and family therapists | MFT board, often combined with counselors | LMFT |
| Psychologists | Board of psychology | PhD, PsyD (licensed psychologist) |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Board of dentistry | DDS, DMD |
| Pharmacists and pharmacies | Board of pharmacy | RPh, PharmD; pharmacy permit |
| Physical and occupational therapists | PT board; OT board | PT, DPT; OTR/L |
| Chiropractors | Board of chiropractic examiners | DC |
| Massage therapists | Massage therapy board (most states) | LMT |
Step by Step: Verifying a License
- Get the full name and profession. Use the name on the clinic site or your appointment confirmation. Note any middle initial.
- Open the right state board. Use the state where you’ll be physically located during care. Our license lookup lists every state’s boards.
- Search by last name first. Then narrow by first name or city. Boards often list legal names, so “Bob” may appear as “Robert”.
- Confirm it’s the same person. Match the city, specialty or license type. If two people share a name, the license number or NPI separates them.
- Read status and expiration. “Active” or “Clear” is what you want. See the next section for other statuses.
- Open any public actions. Boards post orders and consent agreements. Read the date and what it restricts.
- Look up the NPI. Search our NPI lookup to confirm the practice address, phone and Medicare enrollment.
Reading What the Board Shows
- Active, current or clear: allowed to practice in that state.
- Probation: may practice, but under conditions such as supervision or monitoring. The order explains what.
- Restricted or limited: may practice only within stated limits, such as no prescribing of certain drugs.
- Suspended or revoked: may not practice. Don’t book.
- Expired, lapsed or inactive: not currently allowed to practice in that state, often for paperwork reasons. Ask the office.
- Provisional, associate or intern: common for newer therapists and counselors, who must practice under a licensed supervisor. Ask who the supervisor is.
Board Certification Is Different
A license is the legal permission to practice. Board certification is a voluntary extra: the physician passed exams in a specialty, such as cardiology or dermatology, and keeps up with ongoing requirements. You can check physician certification by ABMS member boards free on Certification Matters. If a surgeon describes themselves as “board certified”, it’s fair to ask “by which board?”.
NPI, Medicare and Exclusion Checks
Three quick federal checks round out the picture. Our free tools do all three:
- NPI Registry: confirms the provider’s ID, specialty, practice address and phone, and whether the NPI is active. See what an NPI number tells patients, or search with the NPI lookup.
- Medicare enrollment: if you have Medicare, check that the provider is enrolled and hasn’t opted out. An opted-out provider can still see you, but for routine care you sign a private contract, pay them directly and Medicare won’t reimburse you (emergency and urgent care are an exception). Use the Medicare provider lookup.
- Exclusions: people excluded by HHS-OIG can’t be paid by Medicare or Medicaid. The exclusion check searches OIG, SAM.gov and state lists.
Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Agencies
For facilities, licensing is only the start. Medicare Care Compare shows star ratings, inspection findings and staffing for nursing homes, plus quality data for hospitals, home health agencies and hospices. Read the inspection details, not just the stars, and compare two or three options before deciding. You can browse facilities by state in our directory, for example skilled nursing facilities in Texas or hospice providers in Illinois.
Telehealth and Out-of-State Providers
In general a provider needs a license in the state where you are when you receive care, even by video. A therapist in another state may hold licenses in several states, or practice through an interstate compact for their profession. Check the license in your own state’s board, or ask the provider which state license covers your sessions.
Red Flags
- You can’t find the license, and the office won’t give you the license number.
- The license is in a different name with no explanation, or in another state only.
- A recent board order restricts exactly the treatment you’re booking.
- Injectables, IV therapy or “medical” weight loss offered with no supervising physician or nurse practitioner named.
- Pressure to pay up front in cash for something your insurance normally covers.
How to Report a Concern
Every state board accepts complaints, usually online, and investigates them; you don’t need a lawyer. For suspected billing fraud against Medicare or Medicaid, contact the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). In an emergency, call 911.
Questions
Is it free to check a doctor’s license?
Yes. Every state board offers a free online license search, and FSMB’s DocInfo and NCSBN’s Nursys QuickConfirm are free for the public. You never need to pay a third-party site to see whether a license is active.
What if I can’t find my provider on the board’s website?
Search by last name only, try former names, and check the right board (a counselor is not on the medical board). If you still can’t find them, call the board. Some people practice under supervision with a provisional or associate license that appears under a different license type.
Does an NPI number mean someone is licensed?
No. Anyone in a health profession can get an NPI from CMS, and the registry does not verify that a license is current. Always check the license with the state board.
Does a past disciplinary action mean I should avoid a provider?
Not always. Read what happened, when, and whether the order is closed. A years-old continuing-education lapse is very different from current restrictions for patient harm. If an order limits what they may do, make sure your care is outside those limits.
How do I know if my therapist can take Medicare?
Since January 1, 2024, Medicare Part B covers therapy from enrolled marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors, as well as clinical psychologists and clinical social workers. Ask whether the therapist is enrolled, or check their page in our NPI directory, which shows Medicare enrollment and opt-out.
Is board certification required to practice?
No. A state license is the legal requirement. Board certification (for example by an ABMS member board) is voluntary and shows extra training and testing in a specialty.
Sources
- FSMB DocInfo: physician license and discipline search — physician license and discipline search across state medical boards
- Nursys QuickConfirm: nurse license verification (NCSBN) — free nurse license verification
- ABMS Certification Matters: physician board certification — checking physician board certification
- CMS NPPES NPI Registry — NPI number, practice address and phone
- HHS-OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities — federal health program exclusions
- Medicare Care Compare — Medicare quality and inspection data for facilities and clinicians
- CMS: Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors in Medicare (from January 1, 2024) — Medicare coverage of MFTs and mental health counselors
- HHS-OIG: Report fraud (1-800-HHS-TIPS) — reporting suspected fraud
This guide is general information as of October 31, 2026, not medical or legal advice. Board names, statuses and rules differ by state and change; the state board’s own record is the official source.