Glossary
Primary-source license verification
Primary-source license verification means confirming a clinician's license directly with the issuing authority — the state licensing board and federal registries — rather than trusting a self-reported claim.
How it works
Verification checks the license number, status, and class against the state board and cross-checks identity against the NPPES NPI registry. The check is dated, so the claim has a knowable freshness.
Why it matters when choosing a therapist
Self-reported credentials can be outdated, lapsed, or overstated. A primary-source check with a date is the difference between 'they say they're licensed' and 'their license was confirmed with the board on this date.'