Navigating State Medical Licensure

A medical license granted by a U.S. state or jurisdiction is required of every practicing physician. Licensing boards and statutes can be complex and vary from state to state. While there is a trend toward uniformity among licensing boards, automatic reciprocity between state medical boards has mostly been discontinued. The resulting process may require physicians to complete individual applications for each state in which they seek to practice medicine.

What to expect when applying for a state medical license.

When applying for a state medical license, primary verification of your education and graduate training will be reviewed. Additionally, your exam scores, references, hospital privileges, and current and past licenses will also be included in your application. Although each state’s licensing processes may be different, the applications and requested information are usually similar. You can save time by retaining copies of completed materials to reuse on multiple applications.

All states require physicians to submit proof of successful completion of all 3 steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Several states have also passed legislation that empowers medical boards to have jurisdiction over the practice of medicine across state boundaries or the treatment decisions made by medical directors of managed care organizations.

A physician seeking initial licensure or subsequently applying for a license in other states should anticipate the possibility of delays due to the necessary investigation of credentials and past practices.

Physicians should plan for at least a 60-day period from the time they submit a completed application for license and the actual date licensure is granted. Physicians who are graduates of a medical school outside the United States should anticipate a slightly longer period. It takes time for the state medical licensing boards and their staff to fairly evaluate each application for licensure.

Tips for navigating the state licensure process

• When contacting a licensing board for the 1st time, ask for a copy of its current licensing requirements and the average time it takes to process applications.
• Provide the licensing board with a résumé or curriculum vitae. This will allow a licensing board to evaluate potential problem areas early in the process.
• Exercise patience and courtesy in the licensing process. State licensing boards and their staff are charged with protecting the public by approving the most qualified physicians and often have limited resources at hand.
• Following up with medical schools, training programs and appropriate hospitals can motivate these institutions to verify credentials more expeditiously. Following up with the licensing boards in other states where licenses are held also may assist in shortening the time for licensure. Write a short note to the organization processing your request for information 30 days after the initial request, but avoid frequent phone calls.
• Even physicians with uncomplicated histories and complete, accurate applications may experience delays in obtaining a medical license.
• The peak period for licensure applications is April through September and the volume of applications during this time submitted may impact processing times.
• Remember that a full and unrestricted license must be awarded before a physician can receive hospital credentialing or qualify for medical malpractice insurance.

Disclosing derogatory information

A physician should never try to hide derogatory information from a licensing board. It is much better to come forward with the information, assist the board in obtaining records and other necessary data, and provide any justifications that may prevent the denial of a license.

Full disclosure of all information requested is by far the best approach to successful licensure. A physician should remember that, in most states, making a false statement on an application for licensure is grounds for denial or future restriction.

The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS)

The FCVS was created in 1996 by the Federation of State Medical Boards to provide a centralized, uniform process for state medical boards to obtain a verified, primary source record of a physician’s core credentials. The FCVS repository of information allows a physician to establish a confidential, lifetime professional portfolio that can be forwarded, at the physician’s request, to any entity that has established an agreement with the FCVS.

The FCVS also offers a service to USMLE candidates who complete their Step 3 application online. As a convenience to examinees, information entered on their Step 3 online application can be used to begin a personalized FCVS physician information profile containing their primary source verified credentials. As a USMLE Step 3 applicant, you will benefit from enrolling in FCVS by having your credentials verified and accessible when you are ready to apply for your 1st full and unrestricted license to practice medicine.

Currently, most licensing authorities accept FCVS-verified documents for licensure. Learn more about how to make use of the FCVS during your state licensure process or call at (888) 275-3287. To read the full article, visit the AMA Career Planning Resource.