What the record is for
A state medical board gives doctors permission to practise and can take action if they break its rules. The consumer guide from the Federation of State Medical Boards explains the public record. Its record can show whether a doctor may practise now and any public action the board has taken.
Follow the name to the record
Get the doctor's details
Request the doctor's full name and licence number; confirm which state you will be in during the appointment.
Find the relevant board
Use the FSMB board directory to reach the state medical board's own website. FSMB is short for Federation of State Medical Boards.
Open the public record
Search the board's licence lookup to see whether the doctor may practise now and any public board action.
Compare the details
Match the name and licence number with the person proposed for your visit. Ask about any mismatch before arranging care.
What a clean record cannot tell you
A doctor's quality of care cannot be judged just by a record showing no public board action. A licence also does not prove that every treatment a person offers is appropriate.
This lookup is for doctors, and does not cover nurses or other care professionals. If a nurse or someone with another care role would see you, ask what their role allows and which board holds their record.
A question to bring
Which board can confirm your authority to care for someone in my state?