Checking on Your Surgeon's Medical License

A doctor's state medical license is very important. Your surgeon must hold a valid license to practice medicine in the state where he or she will perform your procedure.

A license to practice medicine is a minimum standard necessary to practice medicine in a given state. The licensing of physicians and surgeons is administered by the states. The standards are established and all actions taken by a state medical board in granting a license, suspending it, or withdrawing it are matters of public record. Many doctors are licensed to practice in more than one state.

Most states call the regulatory agency that oversees the licensing of doctors either a medical board or a board of medical examiners. In some states, the same board oversees licensing of dentists and nurses and is called a health professions board.

Don't confuse a state's medical licensing board with a medical specialty board, which a national organization that certifies doctors within a specialty. Having a state medical board issue a license to practice medicine is something very different from being board-certified in a specialty.

A surgeon can be either a Medical Doctor (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), which is an osteopathic physician. The initials denote what type of a doctoral degree they have earned. Both types of surgeon are usually licensed through the same state agency, but some states have separate licensing boards for osteopaths.. Osteopathy differs very little from medicine, but it has a different underlying philosophy and emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health. DOs are taught to focus on preventive health care and treat the body as a whole

Most plastic surgeons are medical doctors (who practice allopathic medicine, but you rarely see that phrase). Osteopathic physicians usually become primary care physicians, but there are some who are plastic surgeons. The American Osteopathic Association (the equivalent of the American Medical Association) has special requirements to achieve certification for specialty boards, such as dermatology, plastic surgery, and anesthesiology.

Most states medical boards allow you to verify your doctor's medical license online, but some require a request by telephone or even a written request.

You can find a complete list of state medical boards at the directory website of the Federation of State Medical boards.

We have provided the below information to assist you in researching your surgeon. Please refer to the finding Finding a Surgeon section to determine the proper credentials and training a surgeon should have when choosing him or her to perform your surgery.

click a letter for the state beginning with that letter

A | C | D | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W


A

Alabama:
Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 946
Montgomery, AL 36101-0946
(street address: 848 Washington Ave., 36104)
(334) 242-4116 - Fax:(334) 242-4155
(800) 227-2606
www.albme.org

Alaska:
Alaska State Medical Board
3601 C Street, Suite 722
Anchorage, AK 99503-5986
(907) 269-8160 - Fax:(907) 269-8156
www.state.ak.us/local

Arizona:
Arizona Board of Medical Examiners
9545 East Doubletree Ranch Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
(480) 551-2700 - Fax: (480) 551-2704
www.azmd.gov

Arkansas:
Arkansas State Medical Board
2100 Riverfront Dr., Suite 200
Little Rock, AR 72202-1793
(501) 296-1802 - Fax:(501) 296-1805
www.armedicalboard.org


C

California:
Medical Board of California
1426 Howe Ave., Suite 54
Sacramento, CA 95825-3236
(916) 263-2389 - Fax:(916) 263-2387
(800) 633-2322
www.medbd.ca.gov

Colorado:
Colorado Board of Medical Examiners
1560 Broadway, Suite 1300
Denver, CO 80202-5140
(303) 894-7690 - Fax:(303) 894-7692
www.dora.state.co.us/medical

Connecticut:
Connecticut Medical Examining Board
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
(street address 410 Capitol Ave. MS13PHO)
(860) 509-7648 - Fax:(860) 509-7553
ww.dph.state.ct.us


D

Delaware:
Delaware Board of Medical Practice
P.O. Box 1401
Dover, DE 19903
(street address: 861 Silver Lake Blvd., Cannon Building, Suite 203, 19904)
(302) 739-4522 - Fax:(302) 739-2711
www.dpr.delaware.gov

District of Columbia:
District of Columbia Board of Medicine
825 North Capital Street, NE, 2nd floor
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 442-9200 - Fax:(202) 442-9431
www.dchealth.com


F

Florida:
Florida Board of Medicine
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN #C03
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1753
(850) 245-4131 - Fax:(850) 922-3040
www.doh.state.fl.us


G

Georgia:
Georgia Composite State Board of Medical Examiners
2 Peachtree Street, NW, 6th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303-3465
(404) 656-3913 - Fax:(404) 656-9723


H

Hawaii:
Hawaii Board of Medical Examiners
Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
(street address: 1010 Richards St., 96813)
(808) 586-3000 - Fax:(808) 586-2874
http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl


I

Idaho:
Idaho State Board of Medicine
Statehouse mail
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0058
(street address: 1755 Westgate Drive, Suite 140, 83704)
(208) 327-7000 - Fax:(208) 327-7005
www.bom.state.id.us

Illinois:
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph St., 9-300
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 814-4500 - Fax:(312) 814-1837
www.idfpr.com


Indiana:
Indiana Health Professions Bureau
402 W. Washington St., Room 041
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-2960 / Fax:(317) 233-4236
www.in.gov/pla/bandc/mlbi

Iowa:
Iowa Board of Medical Examiners
400 SW 8th Street, Suite C
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-4686
Phone: (515) 281-5171 - Fax: (515) 242-5908
www.docboard.org/ia/ia_home.htm


K

Kansas:
Kansas Board of Healing Arts
235 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66603-3068
(913) 296-7413 - Fax:(913) 296-0852
www.ink.org/public/boha

Kentucky:
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
Hurstbourne Office Park
310 Whittington Parkway, Suite 1B
Louisville, KY 40222-4916
(502) 429-8046 - Fax:(502) 429-9923
http://kbml.ky.gov/


L

Louisiana:
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 30250
New Orleans, LA 70190-0250
(street address: 630 Camp St., 70130)
(504) 524-6763 - Fax:(504) 568-8893
www.lsbme.org


M

Maine:
Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine
137 State House Station (U.S. mail)
2 Bangor Street, 2nd Floor (delivery service)
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 287-3601 - Fax:(207) 287-6590
www.docboard.org/me/me_home.htm

Maryland:
Maryland Board of Physician Quality Assurance
P.O. Box 2571
Baltimore, MD 21215-0095
(street address: 4201 Patterson Ave., third floor, 21215)
(410) 764-4777 - Fax:(410) 358-2252
(800) 492-6836
www.mbp.state.md.us/

Massachusetts:
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
10 West St., 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 727-3086 - Fax:(617) 451-9568
(800) 377-0550
www.massmedboard.org

Minnesota:
Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
University Park Plaza
2829 University Ave. SE, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3246
(612) 617-2130 - Fax:(612) 617-2166
Hearing impaired 1-800-627-3529
www.bmp.state.mn.us

Mississippi:
Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
1867 Crane Ridge Drive, Suite 200B
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 987-3079 - Fax:(601) 987-4159
www.msbml.state.ms.us

Missouri:
Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts
P.O. Box 4
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(street address: 3605 Missouri Blvd., 65109)
(573) 751-0098 - Fax:(573) 751-3166
www.pr.mo.gov/healingarts.asp

Montana:
Montana Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(street address: 301 S. Park Ave., 4th floor)
(406) 444-4284 - Fax: (406) 841-2363
http://mt.gov/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/med_board/board_page.asp


N

Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery
Health and Human Services
Regulation and Licensure Credentialing Division
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
(402) 471-2118 - Fax:(402) 471-3577
www.hhs.state.ne.us/

Nevada:
Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 7238
Reno, NV 89510
(street address: 1105 Terminal Way, Suite 301, 89502)
(702) 688-2559 - Fax:(702) 688-2321
www.medboard.nv.gov

Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine
2860 E. Flamingo Rd., Suite D
Las Vegas, NV 89121
(702) 732-2147 - Fax: (702) 732-2079
www.bom.nv.gov

New Hampshire
New Hampshire State Board of Medicine
2 INdustrial Park Drive, Suite
Concord, NH 03301-8520
(603) 271-1203 -Fax: (603) 271-6702
Complaints: (800) 780-4757
www.state.nh.us/medicine

Nebraska
Nebraska Health and Human Services,
Regulation and Licensure Credentialing Division
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
(street address: 301 Centennial Mall South, 68508)
(402) 471-2118 - Fax:(402) 471-3577
www.hhs.state.ne.us/

New Jersey:
New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 183
Trenton, NJ 08608
(street address: 140 E. Front Street, 2nd Floor, 08608)
(609) 826-7100 - Fax:(609) 984-3930
www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/medicine.htm#bme5

New Mexico:
New Mexico Medical Board20-55 S. Pacheco, Building 400
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 476-4695 - FAx: (505) 476-4665
www.nmmb.state.nm.us

New Mexico Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners
2550 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87501-5101
(505) 476-4695 - Fax:(505) 476-4665
www.rld.state.nm.us/b&c/Osteo

New York:
New York State Board for Medicine (Licensure)
Cultural Education Center, Room 3023
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12230
(518) 474-3841 - Fax:(518) 486-4846
www.op.nysed.gov

New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct (Discipline)
New York State Dept. of Health
Office of Professional Medical Conduct
433 River St., Suite 303
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 402-0855 - Fax:(518) 402-0866
www.health.state.ny.us/

North Carolina:
North Carolina Medical Board
P.O. Box 20007
Raleigh, NC 27619-0007
(street address: 1201 Front Street, 27609)
(919) 326-1100 - Fax:(919) 326-1130
www.ncmedboard.org

North Dakota:
North Dakota State Board of Medical Examiners
City Center Plaza
418 E. Broadway, Suite 12
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 328-6500 - Fax:(701) 328-6505
www.ndbomex.com


O

Ohio:
State Medical Board of Ohio
77 S. High St., 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0315 (for Fed Ex delivery use zip 43215)
(614) 466-3934 - Fax:(614) 728-5946
(800) 554-7717
www.state.oh.us/med/

Oklahoma:
Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
P.O. Box 18256
Oklahoma City, OK 73154-0256
(street address 5104 N. Francis, Suite C, 73118)
(405) 848-6841 - Fax:(405) 848-8240
(800) 381-4519


Oregon:
Oregon Board of Medical Examiners
620 Crown Plaza
1500 SW First Avenue
Portland, OR 97201-5826
(503) 229-5770 - Fax:(503) 229-6543
http://www.oregon.gov/OMB/ 


P

Pennsylvania:
Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
124 Pine Street, 17101
(717) 787-2381 - Fax:(717) 787-7769K
www.dos.state.pa.us

Examiners of Puerto Rico
P.O. Box 13969
San Juan, PR 00908
(street address: Kennedy Avenue, ILA Building,
Hogar del Obrero Portuario, Piso 8, Puerto Nuevo, 00920)
(787) 782-8989 - Fax:(787) 782-8733


R

Rhode Island:
Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline
Dept. of Health
Cannon Building, Room 205
Three Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908-5097
(401) 222-3855 - Fax:(401) 222-2158
www.health.ri.gov/hsr/bmld/


S

South Carolina:
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
110 Centerview Drive, Suite 202,
Columbia, SC 29211-1289
(803) 896-4500 - Fax:(803) 896-4515
www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/medical

South Dakota:
South Dakota State Board of
Medical and Osteopathic Examiners
1323 S. Minnesota Ave.
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 334-8343 - Fax:(605) 336-0270
medicine.sd.gov


T

Tennessee:
Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners
1st Floor, Cordell Hull Building
425 5th Ave. North
Nashville, TN 37247-1010
(615) 532-4384 - Fax:(615) 532-5369
www.state.tn.us/health

Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination
227 French Landing, Suite 300 Heritage Place MetroCenter
Nashville, TN 37243
(800) 778-4123 / Fax:(615) 253-4484
http://health.state.tn.us

Texas:
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 2018
Austin, TX 78768-2018
(street address: 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 630, 78701
(512) 305-7010 - Fax: (512) 305-7008
Disciplinary Hotline (800) 248-4062
Consumer Complaint Hotline (800) 201-9353
www.tmb.state.tx.us


U

Utah:
Utah Department of Commerce
Div. of Occupational & Professional Licensure
P.O. Box 146741
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741
(street address: Heber M. Wells Building, 4th Floor, 160 E 300 South, 84102)
(801) 530-6628 - Fax:(801) 530-6511
www.dopl.utah.gov


V

Vermont:
Vermont Board of Medical Practice
109 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05609-1106
(802) 828-2673 - Fax:(802) 828-5450
www.healthvermont.gov

Vermont Board of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons
26 Terrace Street, Drawer 09
Montpelier, VT 05609-1106
(802) 828-2373 - Fax:(802) 828-2465
www.healthvermont.gov

Virgin Islands:
Virgin Islands Board of Medical Examiners
Virgin Islands Dept. of Health
48 Sugar Estate
St. Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 774-0117- Fax:(340) 777-4001

Virginia:
Virginia Board of Medicine
6606 W. Broad St., 4th Floor
Richmond, VA 23230-1717
(804) 662-9908 - Fax:(804) 662-9517
www.dhp.state.va.us/


W

Washington:
Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission
P.O. Box 47866
Olympia, WA 98504-7866
(street address: 1300 SE Quince Street, 98501)
(360) 236-4800 - Fax:(360) 586-4573
www.doh.wa.gov

Washington State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
P.O Box 47870
Olympia, WA 98504-7866
(street address: 1300 SE Quince Street, 98501)
(360) 236-4943 - Fax:(360) 586-0745
www.doh.wa.gov

West Virginia:
West Virginia Board of Medicine
101 Dee Drive
Charleston, WV 25311
(304) 558-2921 / Fax:(304) 558-2084
www.wvdhhr.org/wvbom

West Virginia Board of Osteopathy
334 Penco Rd.
Weirton, WV 26062
(304) 723-4638 - Fax:(304) 723-2877
www.wvbdosteo.org

Wisconsin:
Wisconsin Medical Examining Board
Dept. of Regulation & Licensing
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935
(street address: 1400 E. Washington Ave., 53703)
(608) 266-2112 - Fax:(608) 267-0644
www.drl.state.wi.us

Wyoming:
Wyoming Board of Medicine
211 W. 19th St., Colony Bldg., 2nd floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 778-7053 - Fax:(307) 778-2069
wyomedboard.state.wy.us