Before choosing a doctor, accountant, contractor, or other licensed professional, a good resource is the California Department of Consumer Affairs' list of links for license verification. Most licensing boards have made licensure information available through the web. The information contained in each database will vary, but you can usually learn when the professional received their license, whether any disciplinary actions have been taken against them and the current status of their license. If required, a copy of the professional's license application materials or documents related to any disciplinary actions can be requested under the applicable open records statute. Licenses for the following professional fields can be accessed through the Department of Consumer Affairs web site:
- Accountants and Professional Fiduciaries
- Acupuncturists and Naturopathic Medicine Providers
- Architects and Landscape Architects
- Athletic Commission Licensees
- Automotive Services
- Barbering and Cosmetology Licensees
- Behavioral Sciences
- Cemetery and Funeral Services
- Contractors, Engineers and Land Surveyors
- Court Reporters
- Dentists and Dental Hygienists
- Electronic and Appliance Repair
- Geologists
- Medical Professions, including Physicians, Pharmacists, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Osteopathic Physicians, Podiatric Medicine, Respiratory Care
- Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
- Home Furnishings
- Optometry, Registered Dispensing Opticians and State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Psychiatric Technicians and Psychology
- Registered Nursing, Physician Assistants and Midwives
- Security and Investigative Services
- Structural Pest Control
- Veterinary Medicine