Open the state’s verification search
New York’s Office of the Professions, within the State Education Department, runs the public licence search.
The search covers doctors, physician assistants, nurses and pharmacists, as well as registered pharmacies.
Select the right profession and compare the name with the one the service gave you.
Look inside the source drawer
The public verification service is free to use.
Check the status, not just the name
A familiar name on a page is only a starting point.
Look at the state record for the licence’s status: current, suspended (on hold) or revoked (taken away).
Open the Enforcement Actions tab for public decisions about misconduct, meaning failures to follow the profession’s rules.
Look inside the source drawer
As of September 2026, ‘good standing’ can still appear after a penalty, unless the licence has been put on hold or taken away.
Doctors and assistants need a separate check
New York’s Department of Health keeps the conduct record for doctors and physician assistants.
The list includes penalties, official orders that carry no penalty, and formal charges: accusations that the person broke professional rules.
For these professions, the Education Department’s search does not show the whole conduct record.
Look inside the source drawer
Before relying on a posted result, ask the Office of Professional Medical Conduct to confirm it; use the contact details on its linked page.
A clean record is not a care rating
Finding no public penalty or official order does not tell you how well someone gives care.
You can still ask who will assess you and how they will explain the treatment options.
If the name or role does not match, ask the service to clear that up before deciding.
Look inside the source drawer
Medical-board records show whether someone is licensed and any public decisions about failures to follow professional rules.