Medical Licensing Requirements

Abstract

While there are differences among the licensing jurisdictions in regard to the details of licensing, in general boards require applicants to have graduated from an acceptable school, to have completed a period of residency training in the United States or Canada, and to pass an acceptable licensing examination. Applicants for licensure should seek information about the detailed requirements for licensure from the licensing board where they want to be licensed. Medical graduates who are being licensed through FLEX should keep in mind that later applications for licensure by endorsement will depend on fulfilling acceptable licensing requirements in connection with initial licensure. Thus, graduates should be informed in general of licensing requirements at the time of initial licensure. The annual AMA licensing publication, cited previously, is a good source of information of this kind. Boards are increasing the length of graduate medical education required for licensure at present; they are also adding to the requirements for endorsement of licenses, for instance, setting limits to the number of years a licensing examination will be accepted for licensure endorsement. The AMA will continue its efforts to provide information about licensing requirements and to adopt policy positions in regard to licensing that will serve the interests of the medical profession while protecting the health and welfare of the American public.