Chapter E

Check the licence of the person assessing you

Who will assess your health: a doctor or another health professional? Ask for their full name and job title, then check their licence.

Go to the public record

State medical boards make doctor licence records public, along with any public record of action taken when a doctor breaks board rules.

The Federation of State Medical Boards gathers links to individual boards in its directory.

That group brings medical boards together. Use its directory to reach the board’s own record search.

Ask for the full name and licence number of the person assessing you.
Choose the board for the state where the care will take place.
Compare the name and licence details with the information the service gave you.
Check that the licence is current. Look for any limits on the care that doctor may provide.

The record may show board action involving that doctor, along with charges awaiting a decision.

Ask the board to explain any unclear status or limits, and whether the licence permits the care you are considering.

Even when a doctor’s record shows no public board action, it cannot tell you their skill or whether their care fits your needs.

Some states have separate boards for medical doctors and osteopathic doctors, so a search of only one may miss the record.

Those are different doctor degree types. Ask which board holds the licence if the first search gives no match.

If the person’s job title is not doctor, ask which state board holds the record for that role.

As of September 26, 2026, federal health guidance ties permission for remote care to the patient’s location during the visit.

Ask the service to explain the licence or registration it relies on for that state. Carry any mismatch back to the service before deciding.