Not sure which doctor to see?

Pick the symptoms that describe what you are experiencing. PickTheDoc will suggest the type of doctor to consider — and when a primary care physician is the safest place to start.

Symptom finder

Emergency? Chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, or heavy bleeding — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Do not use this tool.
Step 1 — Find your symptoms
Step 2 — Tap the symptoms that apply

    JavaScript is required for the interactive finder. You can still browse our symptom guides and specialty guides to find the right type of doctor.

    No symptoms selected yet.

    This is not medical advice. PickTheDoc is an educational tool that points you toward a type of doctor. It does not diagnose conditions, does not replace a clinician, and should never delay urgent care. Read our full medical disclaimer.

    How PickTheDoc works

    • 1. Describe your symptoms

      Select one or more symptoms from a plain-language list. Nothing you select is saved, stored, or sent anywhere.

    • 2. See a suggested specialty

      We match your symptoms to the specialty that most commonly handles them. If your symptoms span several body systems, we point you to primary care.

    • 3. Learn what they treat

      Each suggestion links to a plain-language guide explaining what that specialist does and when people typically see one.

    Browse by specialty

    See all 12 specialties

    Popular symptom guides

    Browse all symptom guides

    Latest from the blog

    View all articles

    Free tools

    Six short tools for the questions that come before and after choosing a doctor. No account, nothing saved to our servers. See all tools.

    • Where should I go?

      Emergency room, urgent care, telehealth, or your own doctor — answer a few questions to find out which fits.

    • Appointment prep sheet

      Build a printable one-page sheet with your symptoms and the right questions for that specialist.

    • Symptom timeline

      Track when a symptom happens and how bad it is, then print a summary for your doctor.

    • Do I need a referral?

      See whether your insurance plan type usually requires one, and what to ask your insurer.

    • Check a doctor

      Verify board certification, licence status, and disciplinary history using the official free services.

    From the archive

    Medicine has been arguing about what doctors owe their patients for nearly 2,400 years. Read our guide to the Hippocratic Oath — its origin, the original text, and how the modern version sworn by doctors today differs from it.