Medical License Lookup by State: Verify Doctor & Physician Status

The licensing of medical doctors in the United States is a critical public safety function overseen by state regulatory authorities, most typically state medical boards. The primary purpose of this process is to protect the public by ensuring that only physicians who meet stringent minimum standards of education, training, and professional conduct are allowed to practice medicine. These boards verify that applicants have completed medical school, postgraduate training (residency), and passed comprehensive national examinations like the USMLE. Furthermore, they investigate complaints, enforce ethical standards, and require doctors to participate in continuing medical education (CME) to maintain licensure and stay current with medical advancements. Unlicensed physicians, operating outside a regulatory and ethical framework designed to ensure patient well-being, pose a risk to the public, ranging from misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment to serious physical harm. To empower the public to mitigate exposure to unlicensed practitioners, most states offer generally free-to-use license lookup tools. These online verification services allow patients to quickly and easily confirm a physician's active license status, practice history, and any disciplinary actions taken against them, reinforcing patient trust and safety.

Links to Medical License Lookup web tools provided by state are listed below. In some instances, the license lookup tools below only pertain to medical doctors and surgeons, and doctors of osteopathy. Some States also regulate naturopathic physicians. To find naturopath license status, visit our Naturopathic Medical License Lookup page. License verification tools for other health practitioners can be found through our Health License Lookup page. For lookup tools organized by State, go to our U.S. Medical License Lookup section. For Canadian credentials, see Canadian Medical License Lookup.