Buying medicine online can be convenient, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t know if the pharmacy is real. Every year, the FDA shuts down thousands of illegal online pharmacies selling fake, expired, or contaminated drugs. In 2022 alone, they identified over 1,200 rogue sites that could have put your health at risk. The good news? You don’t need to guess whether a pharmacy is safe. Pharmacy verification services exist to let you check exactly who’s behind the website - and whether they’re legally allowed to sell you medication.
Why checking pharmacy licenses matters
You wouldn’t trust a doctor without a license. So why trust an online pharmacy that doesn’t show one? Many fake sites look professional. They use logos, testimonials, and even fake FDA seals. But they’re not regulated. They might sell you pills with the wrong dosage, no active ingredient, or worse - toxic chemicals. The FDA says 96% of websites selling prescription drugs without a prescription are illegal. That’s not a small risk. That’s a life-threatening one. Real pharmacies are licensed by state boards. Each state has its own rules, but they all require the same basic things: trained pharmacists on staff, secure storage, proper record-keeping, and regular inspections. If a pharmacy doesn’t have a current license, it’s not following any of those rules. And that’s not something you should gamble with.How to check a pharmacy’s license
There are two main ways to verify a pharmacy: through your state’s system or through a national service. Both are free or low-cost. Neither requires special software. All you need is a web browser. Step 1: Find the pharmacy’s official name and license numberLook on the website. Legitimate pharmacies list their license info in the footer, About Us page, or Contact section. It usually says something like “Licensed in Washington State, License #PH-12345.” If you can’t find it, walk away. Real pharmacies don’t hide this. Step 2: Go to the right verification site
If the pharmacy says it’s licensed in Washington State, go to doh.wa.gov and search for “license verification.” That’s where Washington’s HELMS system lives. If it’s in Kentucky, go to gateway.pharmacy.ky.gov. Each state has its own portal. There’s no single national website for every state. Step 3: Search by name or license number
Type in the exact business name or license number. Don’t guess. If the name is “Pacific Coast Pharmacy,” don’t search “Pacific Pharmacy.” One wrong word and you’ll get no results. Washington’s system requires exact matches - and 31% of users fail because they don’t know that. Step 4: Check the license status
Once you find the record, look for the word “Active.” If it says “Expired,” “Suspended,” or “Revoked,” don’t buy from them. Also check the expiration date. Licenses usually renew every one or two years. If it’s about to expire, the pharmacy might not be in good standing. Step 5: Look for disciplinary actions
Some states show past violations. A pharmacy might have been fined for mislabeling drugs or dispensing without a prescription. That’s a red flag. Even one violation means they’ve broken the rules before. You don’t want to be their next customer.
The national option: NABP Verify
If you’re checking a pharmacy that operates in multiple states, or you’re a healthcare provider managing several pharmacies, use NABP Verify. It’s run by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Instead of checking 50 different state sites, you check them all at once. NABP Verify costs $79 per year. That’s not cheap for an individual, but it’s a bargain for hospitals, clinics, or pharmacies that need to verify dozens of partners. It pulls real-time data from 41 state boards. That means if a license is revoked today, you’ll know tomorrow - not in 72 hours like some state systems. It also shows if a pharmacy is accredited by the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program. That’s a higher standard than just being licensed. VIPPS means they’ve passed extra checks for safety, privacy, and customer service. Look for the VIPPS seal - but only if you’ve verified it through NABP. Fake sites copy the seal.
What state systems can’t do
Here’s the problem: not all states talk to each other. Only 32 states share data with NABP. That means if you’re using a state system like Washington’s HELMS, you’re only seeing what’s happening in Washington. A pharmacy could be licensed in Washington but operating illegally in Florida. You won’t know unless you check Florida too. Also, some systems are slow. If a pharmacy just renewed its license, it might take up to three days to show up in the database. That’s why experts recommend checking at least 30 days before you plan to order. If you wait until the last minute and the license isn’t updated yet, you might think the pharmacy is unlicensed - when it’s just delayed. And don’t forget: state systems only check the pharmacy, not the people. If you’re hiring a pharmacist, you need to check their individual license too. That’s a separate search in most states.What to do if you can’t find a license
If you search and get nothing - no results, no match, no record - walk away. That’s not a glitch. That’s a warning. No legitimate pharmacy hides its license. If the website won’t tell you where they’re licensed, they’re trying to hide something. Some sites use foreign pharmacies. That’s a bigger risk. Countries like India or Canada have their own licensing systems. But if a U.S.-based site is shipping from overseas without clear labeling, that’s illegal under U.S. law. The FDA doesn’t regulate foreign pharmacies. So even if the site claims it’s “Canadian,” you have zero protection if something goes wrong.Real-world consequences of skipping verification
In 2023, a hospital in Chicago hired a pharmacist whose Illinois license had been revoked. They only checked their internal database - not the state’s official system. The pharmacist dispensed the wrong drug. A patient suffered a stroke. The hospital settled for $250,000. That could’ve been prevented with a 5-minute license check. Another case: a woman in Ohio bought diabetes medication from a site that looked legit. The pills didn’t work. She went to her doctor and found out they were fake. Her blood sugar spiked. She ended up in the ER. The pharmacy? Based in China. No license. No trace. These aren’t rare. They’re common. And they’re preventable.
What’s changing in 2025
The system isn’t perfect - but it’s getting better. Washington State is upgrading its HELMS system in late 2024 to connect directly to electronic health records. That means doctors and pharmacists will be able to check licenses with one click inside their software. NABP is adding 14 more states to its real-time network by 2025. And the FDA is giving $15 million in grants to help states upgrade their tech. Long-term, experts predict blockchain and biometric verification will replace today’s systems. But for now, the simple tools we have work - if you use them.Quick checklist: Is this pharmacy safe?
- Can you find a valid state license number on the website?
- Did you verify that number on the official state or NABP site?
- Is the license status listed as “Active”?
- Does the pharmacy display the VIPPS seal - and did you confirm it through NABP?
- Is the pharmacy physically located in the U.S. with a verifiable address?
- Do they require a valid prescription before shipping?
How do I know if an online pharmacy is real?
A real online pharmacy will clearly display its state license number and physical address. You can verify that license through your state’s board of pharmacy website or NABP Verify. If the pharmacy doesn’t show this info, or if you can’t find it when you search, it’s not legitimate. Also, real pharmacies require a valid prescription for controlled medications.
Is NABP Verify worth the $79 fee?
If you’re a single consumer, probably not. But if you’re a healthcare provider, pharmacy owner, or manage multiple locations, yes. It saves hours of checking individual state systems and gives you real-time updates across 41 states. For hospitals and clinics, the time saved and risk reduced makes it a necessary tool.
Can I trust pharmacies based in other countries?
Not reliably. The FDA doesn’t regulate foreign pharmacies, and many websites that claim to be “Canadian” or “British” are actually scams operating from unregulated countries. Even if they claim to follow local laws, you have no legal protection if you receive counterfeit or harmful drugs. Stick to U.S.-licensed pharmacies with a verifiable physical address.
Why does my state’s verification system say the license is expired when the pharmacy says it’s renewed?
There’s often a delay between when a pharmacy renews its license and when the state updates the public database. Some systems take up to 72 hours. Don’t assume the pharmacy is lying - they might have just paid. Wait a few days and check again. If it’s still not updated, contact your state board directly.
What if I already bought from an unverified pharmacy?
Stop using the medication immediately. Don’t throw it away - take it to your local pharmacy. They can help identify if it’s fake or dangerous. Report the site to the FDA at fda.gov/safety/report-problem. If you’ve taken the medication and feel unwell, contact your doctor or go to the ER. Your health comes first.
