Plan a conversation · Myth and fact
Get a name for the clinician, and a name for the pharmacy. Then check those names rather than relying on a badge.
The myth to test
Letting a polished website stand in for a licence check.
A state medical board keeps records of doctors’ licences and action it takes over their conduct. The Federation of State Medical Boards’ consumer information explains what these public records can tell you.
The Federation’s state medical-board directory links to the boards’ own websites.
Ask the doctor for a licence number and the full name used on that licence. Match both to the record. Look for whether the licence is current, any action the board has taken over the doctor’s conduct, and any limits on the doctor’s work.
What appears in the public record varies by state. Some states have separate boards for different types of doctor.
If a search finds no match, use the directory to check which board holds that doctor’s licence.
As of September 26, 2026, doctors offering remote visits need the patient’s state to permit their work. The doctor may hold a licence, or the state may give permission in another way. The relevant state is where the patient is during that visit.
Mention any travel, including the state from which the visit will take place.
The US medicines agency, FDA, links to state pharmacy records for a separate check.
A licence entry confirms that a licence exists; it does not prove the pharmacy is dispensing appropriately.
A record with no published action by the board does not tell you how well the doctor cares for patients.
If the person being checked is not a doctor, ask which board keeps the record for that role. Finding a licence still leaves the question of what allows the pharmacy to use the proposed ingredient.