Match the initials to the board
MD and DO are letters after a doctor's name. Each type of doctor has its own licensing board.
A licensing board gives doctors permission to practise and handles complaints about their work.
- For MD records, the Arizona Medical Board's Doctor Search includes links to the board's public decisions about the doctor, as of October 3, 2026. Arizona Medical Board: Doctor Search
- As of October 3, 2026, doctors called DOs use the Arizona Osteopathic Board's separate doctor search. Arizona board for DO doctors: Find your DO
- As of October 3, 2026, the Nursing Board offers checks of nurse licences and certificates for nurses trained for extra care roles. Arizona Nursing Board: licence and certificate checks
- As of October 3, 2026, physician assistants, called PAs, have a separate Arizona board with a licence search. Arizona PA Board: licence search
Check more than the name
Check that the name and type of licence belong to the person who would examine you. Check whether the licence is current and read the board's public decisions.
A decision may describe action taken by the board or limits on the person's work. Ask the board to explain wording you cannot follow. Save the record.
A nurse practitioner is a nurse trained for extra care roles, including making care decisions.
An Arizona nurse practitioner must have permission from the Nursing Board to prescribe medicine, as of October 3, 2026. Arizona: nurse prescribing rules
That permission covers only the kinds of patients the nurse is trained and certified to treat.
Ask the nurse which patients their certificate covers. If the answer leaves you unsure, ask the Nursing Board to check the record.
- Does the record match the full name and licence type?
- Is the licence current, and are there limits on the person's work?
- Does the board allow this nurse to prescribe this medicine for someone with my health needs?
An empty result is not the whole history
Arizona limits some of the board records displayed online; further public records can be requested, as of October 6, 2026. Arizona: public record limits
If a search leaves you unsure, ask the board how to read the record. Avoid treating a blank page as a verdict on the person.
- Recheck the spelling and the right board.
- Ask about extra public records when the history matters to your decision.