Start with their full name and license type
You need two things: the provider’s full legal name and the type of license they hold, such as RN, NP, PA, MD, or a state esthetics license. The name on a med spa website is often a nickname or a married name. Ask the front desk for the legal name and the license type if it is not posted. A provider who hesitates to share this has told you something.
Search the correct state board
Each profession has its own board, and each state runs its own. A physician appears with the state medical board. A nurse appears with the state board of nursing. An esthetician appears with the state cosmetology or health board. Use the board’s official license lookup, which lives on a .gov or official state site. Skip third-party verification sites that charge a fee. The state record is free and authoritative.
If you are unsure which board governs a given role in your state, our state scope-of-practice pages break it down board by board.
Read the record, not just the green light
An active status is the start. Look at the issue and expiration dates, the license number, and any disciplinary actions, restrictions, or board orders attached to the file. A license can be active and still carry a public reprimand or a practice restriction. Those notes are there for a reason.
Confirm the license covers the treatment
Holding a license is one thing. Being allowed to perform a specific procedure is another. State law decides which license types may inject, use lasers, or perform deeper treatments, and under what supervision. An esthetician in good standing still may not legally inject neurotoxins in most states. Match the license to the treatment you are booking. Our state scope-of-practice pages show who may do what, with the board citation.