How to Check a Doctor's License and Malpractice History — Free
A white coat is not a credential. The medical board record is.
Anyone can print a diploma on a wall. What you actually want to know before trusting a doctor is: are they licensed, in good standing, and have they been disciplined or sued for malpractice? Most of that is a free public record held by the state medical board.
Start with the state medical board
Every state licenses physicians through a medical board with a free license lookup. Search "[state] medical board license verification." The record shows license status, specialty, issue and expiration dates, and — critically — any disciplinary actions: suspensions, probation, restrictions, or reprimands.
- Search the state board's license verification for the doctor's name.
- Confirm the license is active and unrestricted.
- Read any disciplinary or board-action history in full, not just the status word.
"Active" is the floor, not the finish. The board actions section is where the real record lives.
Cross-check nationally
The Federation of State Medical Boards runs DocInfo, which aggregates license and disciplinary data across states — useful if a doctor has practiced in several. The NPI Registry confirms the provider's identity and practice locations. For hospital and quality data, Medicare Care Compare helps.
Finding malpractice history
Malpractice suits are civil court cases. Some state boards publish paid malpractice settlements; where they do not, you can search civil court records by the doctor's name — NU's guides to federal and state court records show how. A single old suit is not a verdict on a career; a pattern is a signal.
The takeaway
State board for license and discipline, DocInfo to check across states, court records for malpractice. All free, all public. Verify the record before you hand over your health — the same instinct as checking any business or professional.