The 5 Verification Steps
NPI Registry match
Every profile is sourced from the US National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registry, a public federal database maintained by CMS. Name, NPI number, specialty, and primary practice address come directly from this source. We do not accept claims from doctors whose NPI is deactivated or whose taxonomy does not match a physician code (207xxxxxxx).
Practice email verification
The doctor or practice owner claims the listing using the email on file with their practice. A 6-digit code is sent to that inbox and must be entered within 30 minutes. This confirms the person claiming has access to the practice's official communications channel.
State license upload
The doctor uploads a scan or photo of their state medical license (PDF, JPG, PNG). The document is stored on encrypted storage and is not visible on the public profile. We accept licenses from any US state, DC, or US territory.
Admin review
A member of the Doctor Directory admin team manually reviews the uploaded license, cross-checks the license number and issue state against the NPI Registry record, and confirms the state medical board record where a state board API is publicly available. Review typically completes within 3 business days. Complex cases (name change, license from a state without a public verification API, expired-and-renewed status) may take longer; we email the doctor with status.
Verified badge issued
On approval, a green Verified badge appears on the public profile and the listing is prioritized in search results within its city+specialty combination. Rejected claims receive a rejection reason via email; the doctor may re-submit with corrected documentation. No claim is final; a doctor can update credentials at any time.
What Verification Confirms vs What It Does Not
| Verification confirms | Verification does NOT confirm |
|---|---|
| Real, licensed US physician | Board certification (ABMS status) |
| Active state medical license at time of review | Malpractice history |
| NPI Registry match | Hospital admitting privileges |
| Current primary practice address | DEA registration for controlled substances |
| Person controlling the listing has access to the practice email | Insurance panel participation |
Ongoing Monitoring
We re-check verified listings against the NPI Registry on a rolling basis. When an NPI record deactivates or when we receive a credible report of license action, we remove the Verified badge and, for serious cases, add a public disclosure line to the profile. Doctors can also request removal at any time by emailing admin@thedoctordirectory.com from the practice email on file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the green Verified badge mean?
The Verified badge means a member of the Doctor Directory admin team manually reviewed the doctor's uploaded state medical license, cross-checked it against the federal NPI Registry, and confirmed the identity is real and current. Verified listings are prioritized in search results within their city+specialty pairing.
Do you verify claims of board certification?
Board specialty designations come from the NPI Registry taxonomy code the physician self-reported to CMS. We display the specialty as recorded. We do not independently verify American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) certification. Patients seeking ABMS-certification confirmation should check certificationmatters.org.
How do you handle a doctor whose license has been suspended?
When we become aware that a listed doctor's license has been suspended or revoked (via the NPI Registry deactivation, a state medical board notice, or a credible patient report we can confirm), we remove the Verified badge, add a public disclosure line to the profile, and notify the doctor via the email on file. Full removal requires deactivation on the NPI Registry itself, which we cannot override.
Can a patient trust a profile that is not verified?
Every profile - verified or not - shows a real, NPI-registered physician. The absence of the Verified badge only means the doctor has not yet claimed the listing and uploaded their license documentation. Name, specialty, and primary practice address are federally-sourced and current.