How do you check whether a doctor is licensed and board certified? In Florida, start with the Department of Health’s free license verification search, which shows whether a physician holds an active Florida license and whether the state has taken any public action against it. Then check board certification with the certifying board for the doctor’s specialty. For internists, that’s the American Board of Internal Medicine, which offers a public lookup on its website. Both checks take a few minutes and cost nothing.
Most people spend more time researching a new car than a new doctor. If you’re choosing a physician you plan to stay with for years, and especially if you’re thinking about paying for a concierge membership, these few minutes are worth it. Here’s how to do each check and what the results mean.
Step one: confirm the Florida medical license
Every physician who practices in Florida must hold a Florida license. The Florida Department of Health license verification portal lets anyone search by name, license number, city or county.
When you find the doctor, look at three things. First, the license status, which should read clear and active. Second, the profession, which shows if the doctor is a medical doctor (MD) or an osteopathic physician (DO). Both are fully licensed physicians. Third, any public disciplinary history. A clean record doesn’t promise great care, but an open action is something you want to know about before your first visit, not after.
Search tip: Florida’s portal works best with fewer fields filled in. Start with last name and city, then narrow down. Common names can return dozens of results, so match the city and the profession before you read anything into a record. If you have the license number from the practice’s website or paperwork, search by that instead and you’ll land on the right physician the first time.
Step two: check board certification
A license means a doctor is legally allowed to practice. Board certification is a separate, voluntary credential. It means the physician completed residency training in a specialty and passed that specialty board’s examination, and in most specialties it has to be maintained over time.
For internal medicine, the certifying board is the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), which lets the public verify a physician’s certification status online. For other specialties, the American Board of Medical Specialties runs a public lookup called Certification Matters that covers its member boards. Osteopathic physicians may be certified through the American Osteopathic Association’s boards instead.
When you look a doctor up, note the specialty listed and whether the certification is current. “Board eligible” is not the same as “board certified.” It usually means the doctor finished training but hasn’t passed, or hasn’t yet taken, the board exam.
Step three: look past the paperwork
Credentials tell you a doctor is qualified. They don’t tell you whether that doctor will have time for you. That part you learn by asking questions:
How long is a typical visit? How do I reach the doctor if something comes up on a weekend? Will I see the physician, or someone else in the practice? How are my records and test results shared with specialists? What happens if I’m admitted to the hospital?
Pay attention to how the questions get answered, too. A practice that is proud of its access will tell you exactly how it works. A vague answer, or a promise that sounds too good to be specific, is worth a follow-up question before you sign anything.
We cover more of these in questions to ask before choosing a private physician. A good practice answers them clearly and without pressure.
Why this matters more with concierge medicine
Concierge practices ask you to make a commitment, usually with an annual membership on top of your insurance. That’s a reasonable trade when it buys you real access to an experienced physician. It’s a poor one if the credentials or the access aren’t what they appear to be.
So check. Look up any doctor you’re considering, including ours. Dr. Jeffrey L. Stein, MD brings 34 years of experience in internal medicine and has been named Boca Raton Doctor of the Year three times, in 2017, 2019 and 2025. You’re welcome to verify his Florida license through the same state portal, and to ask him anything about his training and practice when you meet. You can read more about Dr. Stein or see how our membership works.
A simple checklist
Before you commit to a new physician in Boca Raton or anywhere in Florida: confirm an active license on the state portal, check for public disciplinary actions, confirm board certification and the specialty with the right certifying board, and ask about access, visit length and hospital coordination.
If you’d like to talk through any of this with our office, call (561) 483-5500 or contact us here. The doctor will see you now.