Pharmacy License Verification: How to Check an Online or Local Pharmacy

Want to make sure a pharmacy is legit before you buy meds? Good move. A quick license check can save you from fake drugs, stolen data, or a bad runaround. Below are clear, easy steps you can do in minutes, plus signs that mean “walk away.”

Quick checklist

Before you dig deeper, scan for these things: a full street address, a working phone number, a clearly listed pharmacist or pharmacy name, a displayed license number, HTTPS on the website, and a written prescription requirement. If any of those are missing, be cautious.

Step-by-step verification

1) Find the license number. Good pharmacies list their state license or registration number on the site’s footer or the “About” page. Save that number or copy it.

2) Check the state board of pharmacy (U.S.). Go to the state pharmacy board website where the pharmacy says it’s located and use their license lookup. Type the pharmacy name, city, or license number. The board will confirm if the license is active and any public actions.

3) Look for national accreditation. In the U.S., the NABP VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) seal signals a pharmacy follows safe standards. You can verify seals on NABP’s site rather than trusting a logo on the pharmacy page.

4) Verify the pharmacist. Many state lookup tools also let you search for pharmacists by name. Make sure the pharmacist on the site is licensed in the same state as the pharmacy.

5) For pharmacies outside the U.S., check local regulators and groups like CIPA for Canadian sellers. Rules vary by country; check whether the seller is allowed to ship to your country.

6) Call them. A real pharmacy answers with a local phone number and gives clear answers. Try this short script: “Hi, I’d like to confirm your pharmacy license number and the name of your supervising pharmacist. Which state are you licensed in?” Note how they respond—hesitation or vague answers are a red flag.

7) Spot red flags: no prescription required for prescription drugs, prices that are unrealistically low, only email contact, foreign addresses with no local licensing info, or lots of fake reviews. If the site won’t show a license number or name, don’t buy.

8) Save proof and report. If something seems off, take screenshots and report the business to your state board, the NABP, or consumer protection agencies.

Doing these checks takes a few minutes and lowers your risk a lot. If you want, paste the pharmacy’s name and address here and I’ll point you where to look for the license info.