How do you verify a doctor's license in Puerto Rico?
To verify a doctor's license in Puerto Rico, search the doctor's name or license number on the Department of Health's license lookup, which shows the records of the Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica (the medical board). Check that the name matches and the license shows as current. Then look up the doctor's NPI in the federal NPPES registry. Both are free and public.
Step 1: search the medical board's lookup
The Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica (Medical Licensing and Discipline Board) issues licenses to practice medicine in Puerto Rico. Its records are on the Department of Health's license lookup. The site is in Spanish.
On the lookup:
- Search by the doctor's first and last names, or by license number if you have it.
- If the name is common, use the filters the portal offers, such as profession or municipality.
- Open the result and compare the full name and license number with what the doctor or clinic gave you.
- Read the license status as the portal shows it. If it is unclear, call the board before your appointment.
Step 2: check the NPI in NPPES
The NPI (National Provider Identifier) is a 10-digit federal number that identifies each health care provider in the United States, including Puerto Rico. Look it up in the NPPES NPI Registry, run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The registry shows the provider's name, declared specialty (taxonomy) and reported licenses. An NPI is not a license: it confirms identity and specialty, but the license itself is verified with the board.
What else to check
A current license comes first, but it is not the only thing to look at:
- Specialty: compare what the service advertises with the specialty in the registry. A general practice physician, for example, is not a pediatrician.
- Who runs the service: a trustworthy site says which organization operates it, how to contact it and who receives payments.
- Where the license is valid: in telehealth, what matters is a license where you are, not where the doctor is.
Why you should verify a doctor's license in Puerto Rico for telehealth
On a video visit you can't see an office or a diploma on the wall. The online lookup is the simplest way to confirm you are talking to a real doctor licensed in Puerto Rico.
The doctor must also be licensed where you are during the visit. A Puerto Rico license covers patients who are in Puerto Rico. More in Puerto Rico telemedicine law.
Example: verify our doctor
Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, holds Puerto Rico license 24027 and NPI 1922842756. Her NPPES specialty is General Practice.
Check it yourself on the board lookup and in her NPI record. More on the doctor's profile and about us. To see what a visit is like, read how it works and about an online doctor visit with her.
Before you book
- You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors and tourists are welcome).
- We see patients from 6 months old. Patients under 21: a parent or legal guardian must be on camera for the whole visit.
- Real-time video only; we do not do phone-call visits.
- We do not prescribe controlled substances.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the doctor licensed in Puerto Rico? How do I check?
- Search the name or license number on the Department of Health lookup (orcps.salud.pr.gov/mbps/verifica) and confirm the name, number and status.
- Is an NPI the same as a license?
- No. The NPI is a federal identifier. The license to practice in Puerto Rico is issued by the Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica.
- Does it cost anything to verify a license?
- No. The board lookup and the NPI Registry are both free and public.
Sources
- License lookup (PR Department of Health, Spanish) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica (PR Department of Health, Spanish) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- NPI Registry (NPPES, CMS) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Telemedicine practice requirements (PR Department of Health, Spanish) (accessed 2026-09-30)