Published on November 13th, 2026
Choosing a dermatologist comes down to a few checks you can do in minutes: the doctor’s training, who will actually treat you, their experience with your problem, and whether the office fits your insurance and schedule.
1. Confirm board certification
Dermatologists train for more than a decade. After college and four years of medical school, they complete a year-long internship and three years of residency in dermatology, with 12,000 to 16,000 hours of treating patients.
Be careful with the words “board certified,” because there are many types of boards and certifications. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to look for one of these:
- FAAD after the doctor’s name. It stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and tells you the dermatologist is board certified.
- Certification by the American Board of Dermatology.
- Certification by the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology.
- Certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
You can check for yourself at no cost. The American Board of Dermatology’s Dermatologist Search Tool shows whether a doctor is certified by that board. The AAD’s Find a Dermatologist tool lets you search by location, condition and procedure.
To look up a physician’s medical license and any actions taken by a medical board, use DocInfo.org from the Federation of State Medical Boards, or your state medical board’s website.
2. Ask who will actually treat you
Many dermatology offices have more than one kind of clinician.
- MD or DO: A dermatologist can hold either degree. Check the board certification above.
- PA: Physician assistants, also called physician associates, are licensed clinicians who practice in every specialty.
- NP: Nurse practitioners complete a master’s or doctoral program and are licensed in every state, practicing under that state’s rules.
PAs and NPs train differently from a dermatology residency, so when you book, it is fair to ask who you will see and whether you can see the dermatologist.
3. Match the doctor to the problem
Some dermatologists complete additional fellowship training in a particular area. The American Board of Dermatology offers subspecialty certification in dermatopathology, micrographic dermatologic surgery (Mohs surgery) and pediatric dermatology.
- For a child’s skin, ask how often the doctor treats children, or look for a pediatric dermatologist.
- For skin cancer that may need Mohs surgery, see our guide on how to find a qualified Mohs surgeon.
- For cosmetic treatments, read the next section.
4. For cosmetic treatments, ask more
The AAD says your results depend largely on the skill and experience of the person performing the procedure. Questions it suggests asking:
- Are you a board-certified doctor?
- How many times have you performed this exact procedure?
- Can I see before-and-after photos of your patients?
- How long will the procedure take, and how many treatments will I need?
Cosmetic procedures, such as treatment for wrinkles, usually are not covered by insurance.
5. Check the practical fit
- Insurance: Your insurance company is the best source for learning whether a dermatologist is in your network and whether the visit is covered. See our guide on whether you need a referral.
- Wait time: There can be a wait to see a dermatologist, so ask for the first available appointment.
- Location and hours: You may need follow-up visits, so choose an office you can get to.
Questions to ask when you call
- Is the doctor board certified in dermatology, and by which board?
- Will I see the dermatologist, a PA or an NP?
- How often does the doctor treat my condition or perform this procedure?
- Do you take my insurance, and do I need a referral?
- When is the first available appointment?
Find a dermatologist near you
Browse Top Dermatology by state and city to compare dermatology providers near you. Many listings are compiled from public records and have not been verified by the provider, so confirm details with the office before you book.
Frequently asked questions
What does FAAD mean? FAAD stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. It tells you the dermatologist is board certified.
How long does a dermatologist train? More than a decade, including four years of college, four years of medical school, a year-long internship and three years of dermatology residency.
How do I check if a dermatologist is board certified? Use the American Board of Dermatology’s Dermatologist Search Tool. If the doctor is not listed, the doctor may be certified by another board, and the board suggests checking the American Board of Medical Specialties’ Certification Matters website.
Is a PA or NP the same as a dermatologist? No. PAs and NPs are licensed clinicians, but their training is different from the medical school and dermatology residency a dermatologist completes.
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Published on November 13th, 2026
It depends on your health plan. Many HMO plans require a referral, while PPO plans and Original Medicare usually do not. It is worth checking before you book, because if your plan requires a referral and you do not get one first, the plan may not pay for the visit.
What a referral is
A referral is a written order from your primary care doctor for you to see a specialist or get certain medical services. A dermatologist is a specialist, so your plan’s referral rules apply.
Referral rules by type of plan
- HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): Usually yes. In many HMOs, you need a referral before you can get care from anyone except your primary care doctor. HMOs also usually limit coverage to doctors who work for or contract with the plan.
- POS (Point of Service): Yes. POS plans require a referral from your primary care doctor to see a specialist.
- PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): Usually no. You can see providers outside the network without a referral, at an additional cost.
- EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization): Ask your plan. Services are covered only if you use doctors in the plan’s network, except in an emergency.
- Original Medicare: Usually no. In most cases you do not need a referral to see a specialist.
- Medicare Advantage: It depends on the plan. In most cases, Medicare Advantage HMO plans require a referral to use a specialist. Medicare Advantage PPO plans do not.
- TRICARE: TRICARE Prime usually requires your primary care manager to submit a referral for you to see a specialist. Without one, you pay more under the point-of-service option. TRICARE Select does not require referrals for most specialty appointments.
- Medicaid: Rules vary by state and plan, so call the number on your card.
- No insurance: No plan rule applies. Ask the dermatology office whether it has its own requirement and what a visit costs.
A referral is not the same as prior authorization
Prior authorization is approval from your plan before you get certain services. A plan can require one and not the other. TRICARE Select, for example, does not require referrals for most specialty care, but some services still need pre-authorization.
How to find out for sure
Your insurance company is the best source for learning whether a dermatologist is in your network and whether the visit is covered. Call the member services number on your card and ask:
- Do I need a referral to see a dermatologist?
- Does the referral have to be on file before my visit?
- Is this dermatologist in my network?
- Is this visit covered, and what will I owe?
- If I need a referral, how long is it good for and how many visits does it cover?
If you do need one, ask your primary care doctor’s office to send it before your appointment, then check that the dermatology office received it.
Cosmetic treatments
Cosmetic procedures, such as treatment for wrinkles, usually are not covered by insurance. Medicare usually does not cover cosmetic surgery unless you need it because of an accidental injury or to improve the function of a malformed body part. Ask for the full price before you book.
If a spot is changing, do not wait
There can be a wait to see a dermatologist. Even so, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to consult your dermatologist immediately if a mole or pigmented spot shows any of the ABCDE warning signs of melanoma, which include a spot that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.
If a referral would slow things down, tell your primary care doctor’s office and your plan that the spot is changing, and ask how you can be seen sooner.
Find a dermatologist near you
Browse Top Dermatology by state and city to compare dermatology providers near you. Where a profile lists Insurances Accepted, use it as a starting point, then confirm with the office and your plan, because listings can be out of date.
You can also read our guide on how to choose a dermatologist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see a dermatologist without a referral? With a PPO or Original Medicare, usually yes. With an HMO or POS plan, usually no.
Does Medicare require a referral to see a dermatologist? Original Medicare usually does not. Medicare Advantage plans vary: HMO plans usually do, and PPO plans do not.
What happens if I skip a required referral? The plan may not pay for the visit. Under TRICARE Prime, you pay more through the point-of-service option.
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Published on November 13th, 2026
If a biopsy shows basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, your dermatologist may recommend Mohs surgery. You may also learn that a different doctor will perform it. That is common: your dermatologist may have Mohs training or may refer you to a colleague who does.
So how do you know the surgeon is qualified? Here is what the credentials mean and how to check them yourself in a few minutes.
What Mohs surgery is
Mohs surgery removes skin cancer one thin layer at a time. After numbing the area, the surgeon removes the visible tumor and a thin layer of surrounding skin. That tissue is checked under a microscope while you wait. If cancer cells remain at an edge, the surgeon removes another thin layer from just that spot and repeats the process until no cancer cells are seen.
Because only skin with cancer cells is removed, Mohs saves as much healthy skin as possible. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says Mohs has the highest cure rate of all treatments for skin cancer, and also that it is not the right treatment for everyone or for every skin cancer.
Mohs is used mainly for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, especially ones that are large or aggressive, have come back after treatment, or sit where there is little tissue to spare. It is also used for some rare skin cancers, and for certain early melanomas with a slower, modified version of the technique.
Why the title “Mohs surgeon” is not enough
Board certification is not required to perform Mohs surgery. The title on a website tells you little about the training behind it, so check these three credentials.
1. Board certification in dermatology
Most Mohs surgeons are dermatologists who have completed extensive training in Mohs surgery. Start by confirming that the surgeon is board certified in dermatology.
- Check the American Board of Dermatology (ABD). Its free Dermatologist Search Tool shows whether a doctor is certified.
- Not listed? The doctor may be certified by a different board. The ABD suggests checking the American Board of Medical Specialties’ Certification Matters website next.
- Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) may hold certification from the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology (AOBD) instead.
2. Fellowship training in Mohs surgery
“Fellowship-trained” means the surgeon completed extra, supervised training in Mohs surgery after dermatology residency. These fellowships last one to two years and are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS), or the Australasian College of Dermatologists. The ACGME-accredited version is called a Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology (MSDO) fellowship.
The training is hands-on. Each fellow is paired with a veteran ACMS surgeon, learns to read the tissue slides, and performs a wide range of wound repairs. Under current ACMS rules, a fellow must complete at least 650 Mohs cases, including at least 50 complex cases.
The ACMS offers a tool to find a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon.
3. Board certification in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery
The ABD also certifies dermatologists in a Mohs subspecialty called Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery (MDS). To take the MDS exam, a dermatologist must already hold ABD certification in dermatology. Experienced Mohs surgeons could qualify through a practice pathway until 2025. Starting with the 2026 exam, every candidate must complete an ACGME-accredited MSDO fellowship.
For DOs, the AOBD offers a similar subspecialty certification in Mohs Micrographic Surgery.
Treat MDS certification as an added credential. Board certification in dermatology and fellowship training are the core ones to check.
Questions to ask before your Mohs surgery
- Are you board certified in dermatology, and by which board?
- Did you complete a Mohs fellowship, and who accredited it?
- Are you board certified in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery (or, for a DO, Mohs Micrographic Surgery)?
- Why is Mohs the best option for my skin cancer? In 2012, four dermatology and Mohs surgery organizations published criteria rating when Mohs is an appropriate choice. They rated it appropriate in 200 of the 270 situations they reviewed, which means it is not the best fit for every case.
- Who will repair the wound? Depending on its size and location, it may heal on its own, need stitches, or need a skin graft or other surgery.
- What should I plan for on the day? You stay awake, and each layer is checked while you wait. Ask how much time to set aside and whether you will need someone to drive you home.
- Does my insurance cover this, and do I need a referral? Some plans, especially HMOs, require a referral from your primary care doctor before you see a specialist.
Find a dermatologist near you
Browse Top Dermatology by state and city to compare dermatology providers near you. Where a profile lists Board Certifications and Specialties, use them as a starting point, then confirm board certification with the ABD’s search tool.
Learn more about Mohs surgery, skin cancer and the types of skin cancer.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Mohs surgeon a dermatologist? Usually. Most Mohs surgeons are dermatologists who have completed extensive training in Mohs surgery.
What does “fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon” mean? The surgeon completed a one- to two-year supervised fellowship in Mohs surgery after dermatology residency, accredited by the ACGME, the ACMS or the Australasian College of Dermatologists.
Can a DO be a Mohs surgeon? Yes. A DO who holds ABD certification in dermatology can sit for the ABD’s MDS exam after an ACGME-accredited MSDO fellowship. The AOBD also offers its own subspecialty certification in Mohs Micrographic Surgery.
Is Mohs surgery used for melanoma? Only in limited cases. The AAD says Mohs is used for some early melanomas, with a slower, modified version of the technique. Most patients return the next day.
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