The service names a medical professional, but the letters after the name mean little to you. Use those letters to choose the right record.
Find the right board
A prescription gives a medicine order from a doctor or another medical professional licensed to write it.
California has separate boards for MDs (medical doctors) and DOs (doctors with an osteopathic medical degree).
A DO is a doctor; osteopathic names their type of medical training.
The state Department of Consumer Affairs, or DCA, has a free licence search covering both types of doctor.
The same search covers nurse practitioners: nurses with advanced training to assess and treat medical problems.
It also covers physician assistants (PAs), medical professionals who provide care under an agreement with a supervising doctor.
Ask a PA which decisions their agreement covers and how to reach the supervising doctor.
Most California nurse practitioners prescribe under procedures agreed with a supervising doctor; some state-certified categories may work without those procedures, as of September 2026.
For a nurse practitioner, check both the nursing licence and the separate permission to order medicine, as of September 2026.
The search labels these records Registered Nurse — RN, Nurse Practitioner — NP, and Nurse Practitioner Furnishing — NPF.
The NPF record is the separate prescribing certificate: permission to order medicine.
Open the state record rather than relying on a badge in an advertisement.
DCA: search a licence ↗Nursing board: verification ↗PA board: public records ↗Read more than the name
Match the full name and licence type. Open the record, read the current status and look for linked board actions.
As of September 2026, DCA records show current or expired status and public discipline, such as a licence being paused or ended.
A record without public discipline does not establish the quality of care.
Public information differs by profession; California PA records do not publish investigations or malpractice information, meaning claims about harmful care.
Use the result in the visit
- Does this record match the person treating me?
- What is your role in making the treatment decision?
- Who can answer a question after the visit?
If a name is incomplete, request both the complete name and the licence number. If the record is unclear, the relevant board is the place to clarify it.
Source note: a licence check establishes a record, not a personal recommendation.
Osteopathic board: licence checks ↗State medical boards: public records ↗