how does state licensing work?

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Not sure if this is the right place to ask. If you end up doing a residency in another state, and decide that you want to go back to your original state to practice after residency, what exactly is the process involved in regards to licensing? Will you just need to show your credentials and pay a fee for the license, or is there actually a separate licensing exam that will need to be taken?

No, no separate exam (usually; although Texas has you take an exam on the laws relating to the practice of medicine). Just submit your credentials and pay a few hundred dollars.

Each state has its own rules. Links to each can be found here: http://www.fsmb.org/fcvs_state_specific_req.html.

I am not aware of a state that requires a "licensure exam", but some states to have some extra tested requirements (e.g. Texas which requires an ethics exam). All will required at least one year of post-graduate training and some more than one. All will require passing steps 1-3 of the appropriate licensing exam (USMLE or COMLEX). Some states limit the number of attempts taken to pass said exam(s). Costs for licenses vary widely. That site should link you to where you need to go for the appropriate info.

thanks for the quick and helpful replies!