Who can provide care in Minnesota?

Where can I look for care?

You can compare an in-person medical clinic with a telehealth service, where care happens at a distance. Get the assessor’s name from each service.

That person may be a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Ask how they would approach your concern, rather than starting with a treatment menu.

Doctors and physician assistants

You may see MD or DO after a doctor’s name. MD means a medical doctor; DO means a doctor with a degree in osteopathic medicine. Both are doctors licensed to practise medicine by Minnesota’s Board of Medical Practice, as of October 1, 2026. The board also licenses physician assistants, or PAs.

A PA can assess and prescribe within Minnesota practice rules. As of October 1, 2026, the PA must work under a written practice agreement: a document describing the care the PA provides. A licensed doctor at the same workplace reviews that document each year.

The yearly review is of the agreement; it does not promise that the doctor will review your treatment. The document stays at the practice and is not in the public licence search. Ask who would review your care if needed.

Nurse practitioners

Nurse practitioners have completed advanced training in nursing. Minnesota’s Board of Nursing holds the licence record for this role.

As of October 1, 2026, Minnesota nurse practitioners can diagnose and prescribe under their own licences after an initial period of work with an experienced health professional under a written agreement.

Ask a new nurse practitioner how that work is arranged.

A name is more useful than a care logo

Ask who will assess you and who will write any prescription. Get the full name and role before checking the board record.

You do not need to rank job titles to start. You need to know whose record to check and who is responsible for your care.