Key points
- The Medical Board of California's online Licensee Profile search covers physicians; choose the Physician and Surgeon license type.
- The American Board of Ophthalmology's physician search is free and shows certification status and history.
- “Board Eligible” means the doctor finished residency but is not certified yet; the status lasts up to seven years after residency.
- “Certified – On Probation” is a separate ABO status. If you see it, read the record and ask the surgeon about it directly.
Two checks, two different credentials
A state medical license and specialty board certification are separate credentials from separate organizations. The Medical Board of California runs the online Licensee Profile search for physicians. Certification in ophthalmology comes from the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO).
The ABO was founded in 1916 and is one of 24 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Medical Association, according to its testing partner's page. Both lookups are online, and the ABO search is free.
Step 1: Check the California license
- Open the searchGo to the Medical Board of California's License Verification page, home of the Licensee Profile search.
- Choose the license typeSelect Physician and Surgeon. If your surgeon is an osteopathic physician (DO), read the separate note the page gives for DOs.
- Enter the nameUse the surgeon's name exactly as it appears on the practice website or your appointment letter.
- Read the profileConfirm the profile matches the surgeon you will see, and read everything it shows rather than just the first line.
- Note the dateWrite down when you checked. If you prefer your phone, the board offers a license-search mobile app called License Alert.
If several doctors share a name, match the full name and any middle initial, and ask the practice for the surgeon's California license number so you can be sure you are reading the right profile.
Step 2: Check board certification
- Open the ABO searchThe physician search is free and lets you search by name, location or both.
- Narrow it downIf the name is common, add San Francisco or the city where the surgeon practices.
- Read status and historyThe record shows each doctor's certification status and history. Compare it with what the practice says about the surgeon.
What the ABO statuses mean
| Status on the ABO record | What the ABO says it means | A sensible next step |
|---|---|---|
| Board Eligible | The doctor finished an ophthalmology residency but is not certified yet; this status lasts up to seven years after residency | Ask the surgeon about their certification plans and timeline |
| Certified – On Probation | A separate status the ABO can assign | Read the full record and ask the surgeon to explain it before you decide |
| No record found | Not covered by our sources | Check the spelling and location, then ask the surgeon which board, if any, certified them |
The ABO search covers ophthalmologists, and not everyone in an eye clinic is one. Kaiser's San Francisco Vision Essentials team, for example, includes ophthalmologists, a retinal specialist and optometrists. Eyelid surgery may also be offered by surgeons from other specialties, who are certified by other boards. If a surgeon does not appear in the ABO search, ask which board certified them.
Step 3: Ask the right questions at the consultation
Credentials are the floor, not the ceiling. The FDA says carefully screened candidates with an experienced doctor, reasonable expectations and a clear understanding of risks and alternatives are likely to be happy with LASIK results. Those four ingredients make a useful framework for any eye surgery consultation:
- Who will perform my surgery, and who will I see at follow-up visits?
- How often do you perform this exact procedure?
- Why am I a good candidate, and which alternatives did you consider?
- What are the risks for my eyes in particular, and what happens if a complication occurs?
- Will the surgery take place in a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center?
- What does the written quote include, and what would cost extra?
- If this is a teaching hospital, will a resident be involved, and who supervises?
- Can I take the paperwork home and decide later?
Teaching hospitals: who does what
San Francisco's large eye departments are also training programs. UCSF ophthalmology residents rotate through UCSF Medical Center, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, the SF VA Medical Center and Zuckerberg San Francisco General, and the UCSF department's clinical faculty has 45 full-time members. CPMC runs its own ophthalmology residency based at the Pacific Vision Eye Institute, where the Lions Eye Clinic of San Francisco is run by residents and serves low-income and uninsured patients.
Being treated at a teaching site is not a red flag. It is entirely reasonable to ask who will perform each part of your surgery, who supervises, and who you will see at follow-up visits.
Extra checks for LASIK and lens implants
- Your job: some jobs prohibit certain refractive procedures. The FDA advises checking with your employer, professional society or military service before any procedure.
- Your age: no lasers are approved for LASIK on anyone under 18, according to the FDA.
- Lens implants: ask for the exact phakic lens model and look it up in the FDA's list of approved phakic lenses.
For procedure-specific questions, see our guides to LASIK, SMILE, PRK and ICL, cataract surgery and eyelid surgery.
Both lookups search by the doctor's details, not yours. You do not need to share any health information to run them, and we never ask readers to send medical details.
Frequently asked questions
Does “Board Eligible” mean a surgeon is not qualified?
According to the ABO, it means the doctor has finished an ophthalmology residency but is not certified yet, and the status lasts up to seven years after residency. It is reasonable to ask the surgeon about their plans for certification.
What does “Certified – On Probation” mean?
It is a separate status the ABO can assign. Our sources do not explain the reasons in any individual case, so read the full ABO record and ask the surgeon to explain it.
My surgeon is a DO. How do I check the license?
The Medical Board of California's verification page includes a separate note for osteopathic physicians (DOs). Follow the directions in that note.
Can I check a license on my phone?
Yes. The Medical Board of California offers a license-search mobile app called License Alert.
Do you rate or recommend surgeons?
No. We publish no paid rankings and no star ratings, and we never present a doctor as recommended. These public checks let you judge for yourself.
Sources
- Medical Board of California — Medical Board of California
- License Verification — Medical Board of California
- American Board of Ophthalmology testing information — Pearson VUE
- Ophthalmology residency program — UCSF Department of Ophthalmology
- CPMC ophthalmology residency: about — Sutter Health
- CPMC ophthalmology residency: curriculum — Sutter Health
- What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me? — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- When is LASIK not for me? — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- FDA-approved phakic lenses — U.S. Food and Drug Administration