Nearby still needs a California check
Check the person who would treat you.
Get the full name of whoever decides your care. Have them confirm their role: doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Find their state license record.
Choose the license board for that person
| Person treating you | California record |
|---|---|
| Medical doctor (MD) | The Medical Board of California licenses medical doctors. |
| Doctor with a DO title | DO means doctor of osteopathic medicine, a type of medical doctor. These doctors are licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. |
| Nurse practitioner (NP) | Use the Board of Registered Nursing records to check the nurse license, the nurse practitioner certificate, and the separate certificate for prescribing medicines. |
| Physician assistant (PA) | The Physician Assistant Board holds the license records for physician assistants, also called PAs. |
California’s Department of Consumer Affairs provides the public license search for these boards.
Open California’s license searchOpen the sources for this check
Check the license and any board penalties
A name on a website
Use it as a starting point for the search. Match the full name and role.
A state record
The search shows whether a license is current, expired, suspended (paused), or revoked (taken away).
Records differ by job. A physician assistant’s public record includes board penalties and formal charges, but not investigations or information about harm caused by poor care.
Board penalties can include pausing or taking away a license. A record with no public penalty does not tell you how good the person’s care is.
Ask the service to clarify any difference in the name or role before you proceed.
Open the sources for this check
Use the record to ask better questions
- Is this the person who will review my history and make the decision?
- If someone else handles follow-up, who is that?
- Where can I read the full details of any board penalty or formal charge?
- Which California license or certificate allows this person to do the work being offered?
Save the record and the name with your care notes. Also ask how this person will decide what care fits your health problem.
Also check the pharmacy