> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.practiceownersguide.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Entity types by state

> Which professional entity your state lets a practice use, and how to verify in ten minutes.

<Warning>
  Not legal advice. Entity availability comes from each state's professional
  entity statutes and board rules; verify with the Secretary of State and the
  licensing board before filing.
</Warning>

## The patterns

| Pattern                   | What it looks like                                                                         | Examples                                                                   |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| PC required               | Medical practices must be professional corporations; PLLCs not available for physicians    | California (Moscone-Knox), a few others                                    |
| PC or PLLC                | Either professional entity works; choose on [tax and mechanics](/guides/entity-tax-basics) | Texas (PA or PLLC), New York (PC or PLLC), most states                     |
| Ordinary entities allowed | No CPOM doctrine, so a standard LLC or corp can own the practice                           | Florida, Illinois, and other [permissive states](/reference/cpom-by-state) |

Two overlays to check regardless of pattern. **Who may own shares:** CPOM
states restrict ownership to licensed clinicians, and often only the same
profession (a physician can't own a dental PC and vice versa; some states
allow limited cross-professional or employee ownership). **Board
registration:** some states register the professional entity itself with the
medical or dental board, a separate filing after the Secretary of State.

## Verify your state in ten minutes

Search the Secretary of State's business filing site for the professional
entity types it offers, then search "\[state] medical board professional
corporation requirements" for ownership and naming rules (name usually must
include the clinician designation and PC/PLLC suffix). If the two sources
disagree with this table, they win.

## Related

* [Choose your legal entity](/guides/choose-your-entity)
* [CPOM by state](/reference/cpom-by-state)
* [PC vs. PLLC, and the S-corp election](/guides/entity-tax-basics)
* [Owning a practice when you're not a physician](/guides/own-a-practice-without-a-license)
* [The PC and corporate practice of medicine](/concepts/cpom-and-the-pc)