Has Mehmet Oz maintained an active medical license and where is he/was he licensed?
Executive summary
Mehmet Oz has retained at least one active state medical license through recent years: multiple reports say he held a New York license valid through May 2024 (Lead Stories) and that he continued to hold an active license while stopping surgery in 2018 (MedPage Today); other outlets reported active licenses in Pennsylvania (through end of 2024) and New Jersey (through 2025) in their accounts [1] [2] [3] [4]. Available sources do not give a single, definitive current license record covering all states at once; they show state-by-state listings and evolving expiration dates [1] [4] [3].
1. The simple fact: he has not been stripped of his MD status
Multiple fact-checks and health reporting underline that Mehmet C. “Dr.” Oz is a licensed medical doctor and has not had his medical degree revoked. Lead Stories noted a New York license listed as valid through May 2024 [1]. MedPage Today and other health reporters explicitly state Oz “continues to have an active medical license,” while also noting he stopped performing surgeries in 2018 [2]. Several outlets summarized that he has retained licensure even as his public role shifted [1] [2].
2. Where he’s been licensed: state-level records matter
Reporting cites state licensure records rather than a single national registry. Lead Stories cites New York State Education Department records showing a license registered through May 2024 [1]. Distractify and ABC-sourced references noted a Pennsylvania listing that was valid through the end of 2024 [4]. A later piece claims an active New Jersey license with renewal due in 2025 [3]. These are stateboard snapshots; they reflect different points in time and different jurisdictions [1] [4] [3].
3. Why multiple states and expiry dates appear in reporting
Physicians can hold licenses in multiple states and each license has its own renewal cycle. Journalists relied on separate state databases and public filings; that produces apparent contradictions unless you track each state’s record at one moment. Lead Stories’ April 2022 check cited New York through May 2024, Distractify referenced Pennsylvania through end-2024, and a later summary claimed New Jersey through 2025 — all consistent with the underlying fact that licensure is state-controlled and time-limited [1] [4] [3].
4. What his active license say — and what they don’t
Sources make two clear points: Oz holds medical credentials and he stopped active surgical practice in 2018 [2] [1]. Reporting does not show revocation or permanent loss of a license in any cited state [1] [2]. Available sources do not mention whether any current license has been suspended or disciplined beyond ordinary renewals; specific state disciplinary histories are not presented in these excerpts [1] [2] [3].
5. The controversy behind the credentials
While sources confirm licensure, many also document controversies about Oz’s public medical advice and commercial endorsements. MedPage Today and other outlets note criticisms about “pseudoscience” and promotion of questionable remedies during his media career — criticisms that motivated professional scrutiny but, per these sources, did not automatically remove his license [2] [5]. The AMA Journal of Ethics piece documents long-standing professional concern about mixing media influence and medical credibility [6].
6. Why this matters politically and practically
Oz’s licensure status was a focal point during his nomination and confirmation as CMS administrator: news outlets repeatedly checked whether he remained a licensed physician as part of vetting for a federal role that oversees Medicare and Medicaid [2] [7]. The presence of active state licenses bolstered claims that he is formally a physician; critics argued that licensure alone does not address questions about evidence-based judgment and conflicts of interest raised during his media and political career [2] [6].
7. Takeaway and limits of the available reporting
Available sources consistently report Oz has held active state medical licenses in recent years (New York through May 2024; Pennsylvania through end-2024; a New Jersey listing through 2025 is also reported), and that he ceased operating as an active surgeon in 2018 [1] [4] [3] [2]. No single source in the provided set supplies a complete, up-to-the-minute national license inventory; state license databases are the primary authorities and should be checked for current status [1]. If you want a definitive, current accounting for a specific state, consult that state medical board’s online license lookup — available sources here do not replace those primary records [1].
Sources cited: Lead Stories (New York license through May 2024) [1]; MedPage Today (active license; stopped surgeries in 2018) [2]; Distractify/ABC citation (Pennsylvania through end-2024) [4]; DoughnutLounge report claiming New Jersey license to 2025 [3]; NPR and STS reporting on his CMS confirmation and role [7] [8]; AMA Journal of Ethics on professional controversy [6].