Key points
- The Washington Medical Commission is the state medical board; the Department of Health's Provider Credential Search lets you look up a surgeon's credential.
- The search provides copies of legal disciplinary actions taken after July 1998, unless prohibited by law.
- The American Board of Ophthalmology confirms certification for free, online or by phone.
- ABMS Certification Matters checks certification across all 24 ABMS member boards.
This guide uses official pages from the Washington Medical Commission, the Washington State Department of Health, the American Board of Ophthalmology and ABMS. Sources last checked November 2026. We don't rank, review or endorse individual surgeons.
The five checks, step by step
- Get the surgeon's full nameUse the name exactly as it appears on the practice website, your referral or your insurer's directory. A credential number is even better.
- Search the state recordOpen the Department of Health's Provider Credential Search. You can search by credential number, individual name or business name.
- Read any disciplinary actionsThe search provides true and correct copies of legal disciplinary actions taken after July 1998, unless prohibited by law. Read the documents, not just the summary.
- Confirm ophthalmology board certificationEnter the surgeon's name and/or location in the American Board of Ophthalmology's free physician search, or call the board at (610) 664-1175.
- Cross-check other specialtiesIf the surgeon isn't an ophthalmologist, search ABMS Certification Matters, which covers all 24 ABMS member boards.
Who oversees surgeons in Washington
The Washington Medical Commission (WMC) is the state medical board of Washington. Its legal actions page links to a tool to look up a practitioner or their disciplinary documents, and explains that the commission acts when a WMC investigation shows a licensee has violated the Uniform Disciplinary Act (UDA).
The lookup itself is the Department of Health's Provider Credential Search, which lets you search by credential number, individual name or business name.
The WMC pages we reviewed mention MDs and physician assistants. If your surgeon's credentials say DO, search their name in the Department of Health tool and note which credential appears. We haven't yet confirmed which board oversees DOs in Washington.
How to read a license record
Under the state's HELMS Release 3 upgrade, provider details pages include credential-specific information such as endorsements, plus a count of open and closed enforcement cases (Washington DOH). As you read, check:
- Do the name and the credential match the surgeon who will operate on you?
- Are there any enforcement cases, open or closed?
- Are there legal disciplinary documents? Read them yourself and note the dates.
A case count on its own doesn't tell you what happened. The WMC acts when an investigation shows a violation of the Uniform Disciplinary Act, so read any documents and, if something is unclear, ask the surgeon about it directly.
Anyone who wants the data in bulk, such as a researcher or a journalist, can download it from the state's Open Data Portal.
Verifying board certification
The American Board of Ophthalmology's physician search is free: enter the name and/or location of your physician to verify their certification. The board also confirms certification to the public free of charge by phone (NEI). It is based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and its number is (610) 664-1175 (ABMS).
You may see a $50 fee on the ABO's site. That applies to organizations that need written verification, paid by check to the board (ABO). As a patient, the free search or phone line is enough.
ABMS Certification Matters is a second free option. It shows whether a doctor is board certified by one of the 24 ABMS member boards, which helps when a surgeon's specialty isn't ophthalmology.
| Tool | What it checks | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| DOH Provider Credential Search | Washington credential and legal disciplinary actions | Search by credential number, name or business name |
| Washington Medical Commission | State medical board and legal actions | Follow its link to look up a practitioner or disciplinary documents |
| ABO physician search | Ophthalmology board certification | Enter a name and/or location; free |
| ABO by phone | Ophthalmology board certification | Call (610) 664-1175; free |
| ABMS Certification Matters | Certification by any of the 24 ABMS member boards | Free search for the public |
| Washington Open Data Portal | License data in bulk | Download the License check dataset |
Questions to ask at the consultation
Records show credentials; a conversation shows how a surgeon works. The FDA's LASIK site includes a checklist of questions to ask your doctor, and the AAO publishes questions to ask about LASIK. For any eye operation, these are worth asking:
- How many of this exact operation do you perform?
- Am I a good candidate, and what would make me a poor one?
- Which device, laser or lens will you use, and what is it approved for?
- What results are realistic for me? The AAO notes that not everyone gets 20/20 vision after LASIK.
- Who handles follow-up, and whom do I call after hours?
- What does the written quote include, and what does it leave out?
- Where is the surgery performed, and is that facility in my insurance network?
Signs you need more information before deciding
- You can't find the surgeon in the Department of Health search under the name you were given.
- The practice can't tell you who will actually perform your surgery.
- You're asked to commit before you've seen a written quote.
- Questions about risk get vague answers. The FDA wants LASIK patient labeling to clearly describe risks such as dry eye, pain and discomfort, and visual symptoms (AAO).
What these checks can't tell you
Public records won't tell you about a surgeon's manner or results. This site doesn't publish reviews, rankings or endorsements of individual doctors. Use the checks to rule surgeons in or out, then judge the rest at the consultation. For procedure-specific questions, see our guides to LASIK, cataract surgery and eyelid surgery.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an eye surgeon is licensed in Washington?
Use the Department of Health's Provider Credential Search. You can search by credential number, individual name or business name.
Can I see if a doctor has been disciplined?
Yes. The DOH search provides true and correct copies of legal disciplinary actions taken after July 1998, unless prohibited by law. The Washington Medical Commission also links to a practitioner lookup.
Is checking board certification free?
Yes. The American Board of Ophthalmology's online search is free, and the board confirms certification free by phone at (610) 664-1175. ABMS Certification Matters is also free.
Why does the ABO mention a $50 fee?
That's for organizations that need written verification. Patients can use the free online search or phone line.
What's the difference between the WMC and the DOH search?
The WMC is the state medical board and acts when an investigation shows a violation of the Uniform Disciplinary Act. The DOH Provider Credential Search is the tool for looking up credentials and disciplinary documents.
Does this site recommend surgeons?
No. We don't rank, review or endorse individual doctors. We show you how to check them yourself.
Sources
- Licensing — Washington Medical Commission
- Legal actions and information — Washington Medical Commission
- Provider credential or facility search — Washington State Department of Health
- License check dataset — Washington State Open Data Portal
- American Board of Ophthalmology — American Board of Medical Specialties
- American Board of Ophthalmology (eye health organizations database) — National Eye Institute
- FAQs — ABMS Certification Matters
- LASIK — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- LASIK: questions to ask — American Academy of Ophthalmology
- LASIK surgery — American Academy of Ophthalmology