How do I know if an online therapist is licensed and legit?

Short answer: ask for their license number and the state that issued it, then verify that number on the state licensing board website (or the NPI registry) and confirm their credentials and telehealth policies. Below is a quick checklist, exact steps to verify, what to ask, and trusted services you can use.

What to check (quick checklist)

• License type and number (e.g., PsyD/PhD = psychologist; MD = psychiatrist; LCSW, LMFT, LPC/LCMH = clinical social worker / marriage & family therapist / professional counselor)
• State that issued the license (therapist must be licensed in the state where you are located during the session)
• License status (active, expired, suspended, disciplined)
• NPI number (for prescribers and many clinicians)
• Board certification for psychiatrists (ABPN) or specialty certificates if relevant
• Telehealth/remote service policies, privacy/HIPAA protections, crisis plan
• Whether they accept your insurance or have a sliding scale

How to verify (step-by-step)

1. Ask the therapist directly: “What is your license number, what state issued it, and can you tell me your NPI number?” (Most legitimate clinicians will give this.)
2. Verify on the state licensing board website:
   • Search “[Your state] board of psychology license lookup” (for psychologists), or “[Your state] medical board license lookup” (for psychiatrists), or “[Your state] social work/counselor/marriage and family therapy board license lookup.”
   • Enter the license number or name and confirm status and any disciplinary history.
3. Check the NPI Registry (federal): https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov — enter name to verify NPI and practice addresses.
4. For psychiatrists, verify board certification via the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) or ABMS: https://www.abms.org.
5. Use professional directories that include license info:
   • Psychology Today directory (therapist profiles often list license number and state)
   • GoodTherapy
6. If the therapist works through a telehealth company, check the company’s clinician vetting page and licensing policies.

Trusted teletherapy platforms and directories (why)

• Teladoc and Amwell — large telemedicine platforms that list clinician qualifications and require state licensure for providers; good for psychiatric consults and medication management.
• Doctor On Demand — reputable for psychiatry and therapy with clear clinician credentials and privacy protections.
• BetterHelp and Talkspace — widely used for online therapy; clinicians report credentials on profiles (note: these platforms primarily provide therapy, not controlled medication prescribing).
• Psychology Today and GoodTherapy — directories where individual clinicians list license and education; useful if you want to choose an independent therapist outside a platform.

What to ask the therapist (short script)

• “Can you tell me your license number and the state that issued it?”
• “Are you licensed to provide telehealth where I live?”
• “What training do you have and do you have experience with [my issue]?”
• “How do you handle emergencies or crises between sessions?”
• “Do you accept insurance or offer a sliding scale?”

Red flags (stop and verify carefully)

• Refuses to give a license number or gives vague answers about licensure.
• Claims to be licensed but you can’t find them via the state board or NPI registry.
• Promises guaranteed cures or asks you to stop other treatment without explanation.
• Offers prescriptions without a proper evaluation, or asks to use unsecured apps or non-HIPAA messaging for therapy.
• Claims to be licensed “in all states” without explanation — clinicians usually must be licensed in the state where you are located.

If you find concerns

• Contact the state licensing board to confirm and ask about any complaints.
• Consider reporting unlicensed or fraudulent practice to your state board or the Federal Trade Commission if necessary.
• Seek another provider if anything feels off.

If you want, tell me the therapist’s name, the state they say they’re licensed in, and the license number (if you have it) and I can help look up the status.