After a doctor finishes medical school and his residency program, he must pass a state exam. A state board of medical examiners then licenses him to practice general medicine in that state. Without a medical license, a doctor is not legally allowed to treat patients.

Your state medical board can tell you if a doctor in your state has a valid medical license. Contact the Federation of State Medical Boards at (817) 868-4000 or www.fsmb.org to locate the medical board in your state. On this Web site, you can also find out if a physician has had malpractice suits or complaints and whether he has ever practiced in another state. Most health insurance companies also offer this information, if they have lists of participating physicians.

When you’re selecting a specialist, look for one who is board certified. This certification is not a legal requirement for practicing medicine, but board-certified specialists are more committed to a specific area of medicine, and are often more knowledgeable.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) oversees 24 approved medical specialty boards in the United States that certify doctors. The American Board of Allergy & Immunology, for example, certifies doctors specializing in allergy and immunology, while the American Board of Otolaryngology certifies doctors specializing in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery.

Board-certified physicians must successfully complete an approved educational program and evaluation process and pass an exam that assesses knowledge, skills, and experience in their chosen area of expertise such as allergy, dermatology, or pediatrics. The certification is valid nationwide – not just in the state where the doctor practices.

Checking to see if your physician is board certified is easy. The ABMS offers a doctor verification service at www.abms.org or via its toll-free hotline at 866-ASK-ABMS. ABMS also annually publishes The Official American Board of Medical Specialties Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists, which is available in most medical and public libraries. ABMS’ Web site offers contact information for each of the 24 medical specialty boards; they can provide written verification of a doctor’s certification.

Reprinted from Allergy & Asthma Health magazine, Summer 2001.

Find a physician near you! Check out AANMA’s Physician Locator, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s Allergist Locator, or the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s Physician Referral System.