Get a name.
Check the record.

Start with the state board

A doctor’s state medical board makes licence records public, along with records of any penalties that board imposed on the doctor.

The board is the state office that gives a doctor permission to work as a doctor. Look up the person named in your care offer.

Some states use different boards for different kinds of doctor.

For an online visit, check permission in your state

As of September 2026, HHS says a care professional needs permission to treat you in your state. HHS stands for the US Department of Health and Human Services.

For online care, your state location at the time of the visit matters. Tell the care service where you will be.

Some states allowed health professionals licensed in another state to register for online care, as of September 2026. That route replaces getting a full licence in the patient’s state.

Ask which licence or permission covers your location. Check the answer with that state’s board.

Read what the record actually says

Is the name right? Is the licence current? Are there penalties or formal accusations about the doctor’s work? Ask the board to explain any entry you do not understand.

Finding no board penalties in a doctor’s record does not establish the quality of that doctor’s care.

If your treating professional is not a doctor, ask their job title and the state board that holds their licence record. Ask what care they can provide in your state.