In some instances, you may even need to verify if the certifying board is bona fide.
This article explains how to check the board certification and credentials of a medical practitioner.
It also offers tips on how to check for malpractice or disciplinary actions.
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Even so, infractions can sometimes occur, and it is in the patient’s right to know.
In 2022, state medical and osteopathic boards issued no less than 6,584 disciplinary board actions to 3,062 physicians.
Or call your state’s medical licensure association which is often aware of scams.
you might learn if a doctor is a current member and which state board they have been certified by.
Access to this information requires you to register and enter.
You will also be asked to warrant that the information is for your personal use.
These sites may or may not provide details of disciplinary actions.
Checking certification with the AOA is not as easy as it doesn’t publish a master list of members.
The ABMS is the oldest and most well-known medical board.
As insightful as they can be, they have their limitations.
Contact Your State Licensing Association
Licensing is not the same thing as certification.
Licensing is required to practice medicine and certification is not.
Moreover, licensing in one state does not mean that a provider can practice in another state.
Each state makes its medical licensing information public via an online search portal.
Most will provide board certification and educational background information as well.
The information can vary from one state to the next and may not always be current.
However, for most doctors, the websites provide adequate licensing and board certification information.
What If a Doctor Isn’t Listed?
There are several reasons why you could’t find a doctor on a certification search.
This is especially true for new doctors or doctors recently licensed in a new state.
you’re free to then call the member board directly for verification.
It is also possible that the doctor is not certified.
While certification is standard among practitioners in the United States, it is not required.
There is currently no law that requires that a physician be board-certified.
The DocInfo website operated by the Federation of State Medical Board can provide information about any disciplinary actions.
Federation of State Medical Boards.Physician discipline in 2022.
Federation of State Medical Boards.Physician licensure in 2022.
American Board of Internal Medicine.Attorney General warns of bogus medical board certification scam targeting immigrant doctors.
