Obtaining a License to Practice Medicine in the United States of America
Posted July 15th, 2021 by Dennis Abramson.
Categories: ECFMG, Medical Licensing, NBME, NRMP, USMLE.
Navigating the process of obtaining a license to practice medicine in any jurisdiction in the United States confounds even the most sophisticated physicians. Making matters more complicated are the different rules, regulations, application questions, and protocols among the various state and U.S. territory medical boards. While the Federation of State Medical Boards (“FSMB”) has undertaken significant efforts in the past few years to standardize the licensing and credentialing process (including by way of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which offers an expedited pathway to become licensed in multiple states), each state and territory still maintains its own autonomy and set of legislatively mandated criteria it must follow when considering a new or renewal physician licensure application. From medical degree verification to post-graduate residency training requirements to passage of medical licensing examinations (USMLE for M.D.s and COMLEX for D.O.s, not to mention ECFMG Certification for IMGs), the process can be daunting. Add to that the criminal background checks, reference requirements, and numerous “character and fitness to practice” inquiries, it is easy to see why many aspiring and current physicians turn to experienced attorneys to assist them with the process — especially where they have concerns about prior conduct or are required to respond to adverse inquiries in the affirmative. (For our prior blog post on required disclosures on medical licensing applications, click here.)
On July 14, 2021, Chris Kissel authored and posted a great article titled “What every physician should know about getting a medical license.” The article gives an excellent overview and offers a great starting point for individuals interested in pursuing a career in medicine in the United States.
Over the years, our law firm has assisted dozens of physicians and aspiring physicians with their state medical licensing board applications, both initial and renewal. Should you seek assistnace navigating the the medical licensing and credentialing landscape, including with respect to matters involving ECFMG, USMLE, NRMP, or ABIM, our experienced attorneys stand ready to assist.
