Doctor Selection · Board Certification
How Do I Verify a Doctor Is Board Certified?
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Haute MD Editorial Team
You can verify a doctor's board certification in under 60 seconds at certificationmatters.org — the official ABMS physician certification verification database. Enter the physician's first name, last name, and select their specialty. Results immediately confirm whether they are board certified, when they were first certified, and whether their certification is currently active. This free, publicly available tool is the definitive standard for physician credential verification.
Step-by-step verification
Step 1: Go to certificationmatters.org. Step 2: Enter the physician's first and last name. Step 3: Select the specialty you are verifying (e.g., "Plastic Surgery," "Dermatology," "Orthopedic Surgery"). Step 4: Review results confirming certification status, initial certification date, and current certification status.
Additional verification resources
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (plasticsurgery.org) member directory lists ABPS-certified plastic surgeons. The American Academy of Dermatology (aad.org) member directory lists board-certified dermatologists. Hospital websites list physicians' credentials and privileges.
What to do if a physician is not listed
If a physician is not found at certificationmatters.org for the relevant specialty, ask them directly about their credentials. If they claim certification but it is not verifiable, that is a significant red flag warranting further investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the doctor says they are "board eligible"?
Board eligible means they have completed residency training and are qualified to take board examinations but have not yet passed them. Board eligible is not equivalent to board certified — the examination is a meaningful hurdle that not all candidates pass on first attempt.
Can doctors fake board certification?
Certificationmatters.org pulls directly from ABMS board databases — it cannot be gamed. If a physician claims ABPS certification but does not appear in the database, they are not certified regardless of what their website states.
What if my doctor is certified by a non-ABMS board?
Non-ABMS boards may have less rigorous standards. Research the specific board and verify whether it is recognized by the ABMS. For plastic surgery, only ABPS is ABMS-recognized — all other "cosmetic surgery" boards should be evaluated carefully.
Should I verify credentials even for non-surgical procedures like Botox?
Yes. While Botox and fillers are non-surgical, serious complications — including vascular occlusion and tissue necrosis — can occur with improperly trained injectors. Verifying that your injector is a board-certified physician (or is supervised by one with relevant training) is appropriate for any medical procedure.
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