The timeline for obtaining a medical license can vary, so it is important to plan accordingly to allow adequate lead time for this process. Find resources and information on how to obtain a license in your home state and then how to navigate licensure in other states.
Be advised: Physicians seeking initial licensure or applying for a medical license in another state should anticipate delays due to the need for investigation of credentials and any past practice as well as the need to comply with that jurisdiction’s licensing standards.
Follow these tips to help ease the process.
Request current requirements
When contacting a licensing board for the first time, request a copy of its licensing requirements and ask about the average time it takes to process applications. This helps prevent unreasonable expectations in processing time and gives a better idea of when to close an existing practice, plan a move or arrange a start date with a new employer to minimize financial loss.
Disclose everything
Don’t try to hide potentially derogatory information from a licensing board. It is much better to come forward with the information—even if there are ambiguities or the matter hasn’t been resolved—assist the board in obtaining records and other necessary data, and provide information about mitigating circumstances that would prevent license denial.
Dive deeper:
- Licensing and board certification: What residents need to know
- Credentialing 101: What resident physicians need to know
- Final-year residents: Are you up to speed with your job search?
- What I wish I knew in residency about being an employed physician
Follow up to expedite the process
Many states verify medical school and graduate medical education through the AMA. In states that do not, contacting and following up with medical schools, training programs and appropriate hospitals will motivate these institutions to verify credentials more quickly. Following up with the licensing boards in other states where licenses are held may also assist in shortening the time for licensure.
If you already hold a medical license in another state, you may wish to consider using the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to obtain additional medical licenses, should you qualify.
The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) provides a direct, source-verified profile of physician core credentials that is accepted by all state medical boards. In many states, license applicants are required to use FCVS. Call FCVS at (817) 868-5000 or email [email protected] for more information.
It can take 60-plus days
Physicians should allow at least two to three months from the time they submit an application for licensure to be granted. Learn more about physician licensure with the Federation of State Medical Boards, which offers a link to a visual illustration of the pathway physicians must take in order to become licensed in the United States.
Physicians who are graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. should anticipate a slightly longer waiting period. It takes time for the state medical licensing boards and their staff to fairly evaluate each application. The AMA International Medical Graduates (AMA-IMG) Section offers a toolkit with more information for IMGs about state medical licensure in the U.S.
For residents preparing to enter the job market, the AMA provides many resources to help physicians understand employment contracts, such as the Annotated Model Physician-Group Practice Employment Agreement (PDF) and the AMA Physicians’ Guide to Hospital Employment Contracts (PDF), both free to AMA members.
Also, take time to learn about the “AMA Principles for Physician Employment” adopted by the AMA House of Delegates, which are designed to help physicians and employers address challenges such as contracting, conflicts of interest, payment agreements, and advocacy for patients and the profession.
