Physician License Requirements
All 50 States, Verified

Initial physician licensing costs vary significantly by state, ranging from $35 in Pennsylvania to $1,425 in Nevada, with an average of $496. These fees cover only the state licensing application and don't include additional costs like USMLE or COMLEX exams, which total several thousand dollars, or the federal DEA registration fee if you plan to prescribe controlled substances.

All states require either the N/A sequence (Steps 1, 2 CK, and 3) for MD graduates or the COMLEX series (Levels 1, 2-CE, and 3) for DO graduates. International medical graduates must also obtain ECFMG certification. Some states additionally require a state-specific jurisprudence examination covering local medical laws and regulations.

Physician continuing medical education (CME) requirements vary widely by state, ranging from N/A to N/A hours, with an average of N/A hours required for license renewal. 0 states have no CME requirements at all. Most states accept AMA PRA Category 1 credits or equivalent approved continuing education programs.

0 states participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), which provides an expedited pathway for qualified physicians to obtain licenses in multiple states. For non-compact states or physicians not meeting compact requirements, licensure by endorsement is available in most states, requiring verification of your current license, education, training, and exam scores from your previous state.

All states require graduation from an LCME-accredited medical school (for MDs) or COCA-accredited program (for DOs), plus completion of at least one year of ACGME or AOA-accredited residency training. Medical Degree Required is the standard across most jurisdictions. International medical graduates must obtain ECFMG certification and meet the same residency requirements.

Once you've completed medical school, residency training, and passed the required exams, the actual licensing process typically takes 4-12 weeks for application review and approval. However, the total path to independent practice requires 4 years of medical school plus at least 1-3 years of residency training depending on the state's requirements.

Yes, 51 states and jurisdictions require physicians to be licensed to practice medicine independently. There are no states where physicians can practice without proper medical licensure. All jurisdictions maintain medical boards or equivalent regulatory bodies that oversee physician licensing, renewal, and disciplinary matters.