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How to Verify a Podiatrist License

Podiatrists (Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, DPMs) are licensed by state podiatric boards or medical boards. Verification requires a direct lookup with the licensing authority in the state where the podiatrist practices. Here is how to verify licensure, specialty board certification, and surgical privileges.

· 7 min read

Quick answer

Verify with the state podiatric board or medical board in each state where the DPM practices. State boards maintain free public license lookups. For specialty board certification, verify with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) or the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS). Also check DEA registration if the role involves prescribing controlled substances.

State licensing authority: board vs. medical board

Podiatry licensing is administered by different authorities depending on the state:

  • Standalone podiatric boards: Many states have a dedicated board of podiatric medicine (e.g., California Board of Podiatric Medicine, Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners)
  • Medical board oversight: Some states license podiatrists through the general state medical board rather than a separate podiatric board (e.g., North Carolina, Virginia)
  • Combined health professions boards: A few states regulate podiatry through a broader health professions board

Ask the podiatrist which state agency issued their license and verify directly with that agency.

State podiatric board lookup portals

State podiatry license lookups (selected)

  • California: California Board of Podiatric Medicine — bpm.ca.gov; License Search
  • Texas: Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners — tsbpme.texas.gov; License Verification
  • Florida: Florida DBPR — myfloridalicense.com; search Podiatrist
  • New York: NYS Office of the Professions — op.nysed.gov/verification; search Podiatry
  • Pennsylvania: PA State Board of Podiatry — dos.pa.gov; License Search
  • Illinois: Illinois IDFPR — idfpr.illinois.gov/LicenseLookup; Podiatrist
  • Ohio: Ohio State Medical Board — med.ohio.gov; License Verification; search Podiatrist
  • New Jersey: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs — njconsumeraffairs.gov; Podiatry License Lookup

For states not listed, search “[State] board of podiatric medicine license verification” to find the relevant portal.

APMLE: the national licensing exam

The American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (APMLE) is administered by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME) and is required for licensure in all U.S. states. It consists of:

  • Part I: Basic science (anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology)
  • Part II: Clinical sciences (medicine, surgery, orthopedics, dermatology)
  • Part III: Integrated clinical competency exam

Passing the APMLE is a prerequisite for licensure, not a license itself. The state board issues the license and is the authoritative source for current license status.

Specialty board certification: ABPM and ABFAS

Specialty board certification is separate from state licensure. The two primary certifying boards for podiatry are:

ABPM — American Board of Podiatric Medicine

ABPM certifies podiatrists in podiatric medicine and orthopedics. Board certification requires completion of a podiatric medical and surgical residency, documented clinical experience, and passing a written examination.

Verify at: abpm.org → Diplomate Verification (search by name)

ABFAS — American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery

ABFAS certifies podiatrists in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery. Board certification is the standard credential for podiatrists in surgical roles. Requires residency completion, surgical case logs, and a rigorous examination process.

Verify at: abfas.org → Verify a Diplomate (search by name)

Board certification is voluntary but is typically required by hospitals and surgery centers for credentialing privileges. Confirm the relevant board certification based on the clinical role being filled.

DEA registration and hospital privileges

Podiatrists have prescriptive authority in all states, including for controlled substances in most states. If the role involves prescribing controlled substances, verify DEA registration at deadiversion.usdoj.gov.

For hospital-employed or credentialed podiatrists, hospital credentialing committees typically verify licensure, board certification, malpractice history (via NPDB), and clinical references independently. Employer verification should coordinate with the credentialing process to avoid duplication.

The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) maintains malpractice payment history and adverse action records for all licensed health practitioners. Hospitals and credentialing organizations can query the NPDB directly; individual employers may need to use the Public Use Data File or work through a credentialing service for NPDB access.

Verification checklist

  • 1. Collect the DPM's name, license number, and state(s) of licensure
  • 2. Identify the issuing authority (standalone podiatric board or state medical board)
  • 3. Search the state board portal — confirm Active status and expiration date
  • 4. Review the full disciplinary record on the state board record
  • 5. For surgical roles, verify ABFAS board certification at abfas.org
  • 6. For medical/orthopedic roles, verify ABPM board certification at abpm.org
  • 7. For controlled substance prescribing, verify DEA registration at deadiversion.usdoj.gov
  • 8. Set renewal reminder — podiatry licenses typically renew every 1–2 years depending on state

Verify podiatric medicine school accreditation

Colleges of podiatric medicine must be accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). Use VerifyED to confirm a candidate's program was accredited before accepting their educational credentials.

Search Schools and Accreditation →