FL license

[Iamnew2]

So in a new system of nonsense I am being told that in FL even if you inactivate your license you still have to pay every two years or however long the licensing period is and you have to keep up CME. How does that make any sense? how do you discontinue having a license in FL then? I awnt to inactivate this license as I wont be practicing here any time soon. I called the board and other than cookie cutter statements, no one could tell me any information - when i asked "how does this make sense?"

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[gutonc]

That’s pretty typical. Inactive licenses require all the same things as active licenses do, just usually less money to the board each cycle.

The upside is if you choose to reactivate it, you just send them a check and you’re done, compared to having to start the process over again.

Up to you if it’s worth the effort and expense to go inactive with a plan to return soon-ish, or just let it lapse and apply again if needed in the future.

 

[Iamnew2]

That’s pretty typical. Inactive licenses require all the same things as active licenses do, just usually less money to the board each cycle.

The upside is if you choose to reactivate it, you just send them a check and you’re done, compared to having to start the process over again.

Up to you if it’s worth the effort and expense to go inactive with a plan to return soon-ish, or just let it lapse and apply again if needed in the future.

No, it costs exactly the same to inactivate it than to keep it. I thought that at least no CMEs had to be done but apparnetly still have to be done. Then what's the point? Why would anyone continue doing CME to keep an inactive license? Why not just keep it active then!? I inactivated my NY license, it was free and there is nothing to do to keep it inactive.

If one lets it lapse, is there any type of punitive nonsense that goes with it? Or just the hassle of having to reapply if one wants to practice in that state? i dont think i'll go back to FL to practice, since I got myself a pretty nice gig here close to home. But I despise paperwork. Sigh.

 

[gutonc]

No, it costs exactly the same to inactivate it than to keep it. I thought that at least no CMEs had to be done but apparnetly still have to be done. Then what's the point? Why would anyone continue doing CME to keep an inactive license? Why not just keep it active then!? I inactivated my NY license, it was free and there is nothing to do to keep it inactive.

If one lets it lapse, is there any type of punitive nonsense that goes with it? Or just the hassle of having to reapply if one wants to practice in that state? i dont think i'll go back to FL to practice, since I got myself a pretty nice gig here close to home. But I despise paperwork. Sigh.

I mean, it's Florida, you have to kind of assume some serious f***ery. But it's not unique in requiring CME and payment to keep your license in inactive status.

Also, according to teh Googelz, if you don't practice there for 4 consecutive years with inactive license status, they will just cancel your license and you have to start from scratch anyway. So if you're not planning to practice there in the next 4 years, just let it expire and call it a day.

Also, consider either drinking more or getting a therapist (maybe both). You seem to get really worked up over really inconsequential crap.

 

[Iamnew2]

I mean, it's Florida, you have to kind of assume some serious f***ery. But it's not unique in requiring CME and payment to keep your license in inactive status.

Also, according to teh Googelz, if you don't practice there for 4 consecutive years with inactive license status, they will just cancel your license and you have to start from scratch anyway. So if you're not planning to practice there in the next 4 years, just let it expire and call it a day.

Also, consider either drinking more or getting a therapist (maybe both). You seem to get really worked up over really inconsequential crap.

I don't drink, and therapists are rather infuriating. My poor fiance is somewhat of a saint though for putting up with my complaints, long schpeels, and justice soap boxes. Sigh. It's not inconsequential though - all these things add up to massive things. Paying hundreds of dollars for a non-usable license, talking to people who have no idea what they are doing like the DEA that could have potentially added weeks to a new position, not getting paid for 4 months and counting, etc. Frustrating!

 

[Vandalia]

This is common in most states. Since an inactive license may be converted to an active license somewhat automatically in most places, the requirements for an active and inactive license are pretty much the same.

In most places, it does not make any sense to be inactive, since you have all of the costs and none of the benefits. Either remain active, or surrender the license.

 

[Iamnew2]

When someone surrenders the license though, is there any negative situation that can happen? applications for credentialing, etc frequently inquire whether a license has been revoked/lost/surrdendered - could that create a problem?

 

[Vandalia]

The fact they ask doesn't necessarily mean an answer is a negative.

I will admit that the term "surrendered" doesn't sound the best, but I surrendered one license when the state asked for a couple thousand bucks to fund a state malpractice insurance plan.

Something like, "Surrendered Kentucky License - don't plan to practice in state again"

wouldn't be considered a negative. This isn't applying to medical school when one small thing can make the difference between being admitted or not.

State medical boards are aware of the issues and won't bat an eye, and from a hiring perspective, being "all in" and getting rid of extraneous state licenses would to me be a positive.

 

[Smurfette]

When someone surrenders the license though, is there any negative situation that can happen? applications for credentialing, etc frequently inquire whether a license has been revoked/lost/surrdendered - could that create a problem?

It's faster to reactivate than to apply for a new license and have to submit all the stuff again (and have them await all the verifications before issuing).
I have one inactivated license and I don't have to do CME or pay regularly to maintain that, but I will have to submit CME and pay to reactivate.

I always interpreted surrendered as "forced to give up" and not "let expire or cancelled". But it's really all about how it is phrased on the application as to what to report.

Not sure why doing CME is a problem for inactivating a license; all states require it, so it's not like you won't have to do it in whatever state you are in. It's not like you have to do completely different CME for each state. There may be a few specific requirements though.
I generally get way more CME than I need to maintain licensing and board certification.

 

[Iamnew2]

It's faster to reactivate than to apply for a new license and have to submit all the stuff again (and have them await all the verifications before issuing).
I have one inactivated license and I don't have to do CME or pay regularly to maintain that, but I will have to submit CME and pay to reactivate.

I always interpreted surrendered as "forced to give up" and not "let expire or cancelled". But it's really all about how it is phrased on the application as to what to report.

Not sure why doing CME is a problem for inactivating a license; all states require it, so it's not like you won't have to do it in whatever state you are in. It's not like you have to do completely different CME for each state. There may be a few specific requirements though.
I generally get way more CME than I need to maintain licensing and board certification.

For example IN does not require ANY CME. IL requires 150 per renewal cycle but it is based on the honor system so it doesn't get reproted per se, and a lot of stuff counts as CME including every day collaboration with peers on patient cases, conferences, etc. For FL you still have to do CME despite the license being inactive and you have to pay per renewal cycle - despite not having an active license. I can understand when one reactivates it - to both pay and do CME but why do it if the license is inactive? Maybe I should have let it expire. I let my former DEA expire. It shouldn't be this $$ to practice medicine. the requirements are onerous and over the top.

 

[Smurfette]

For example IN does not require ANY CME. IL requires 150 per renewal cycle but it is based on the honor system so it doesn't get reproted per se, and a lot of stuff counts as CME including every day collaboration with peers on patient cases, conferences, etc. For FL you still have to do CME despite the license being inactive and you have to pay per renewal cycle - despite not having an active license. I can understand when one reactivates it - to both pay and do CME but why do it if the license is inactive? Maybe I should have let it expire. I let my former DEA expire. It shouldn't be this $$ to practice medicine. the requirements are onerous and over the top.

I understand it doesn't make sense to pay for a full license when it's inactive; I wouldn't want to either. I just was asking about the CME because you generally need to do it for board certification or state renewals or whatever. Interesting that IN has no CME requirement.

My personal favorite money grab is that CME conferences are much cheaper for midlevels. Same conference, same amount of CME credits, different pricing...sigh.

 

[Iamnew2]

I understand it doesn't make sense to pay for a full license when it's inactive; I wouldn't want to either. I just was asking about the CME because you generally need to do it for board certification or state renewals or whatever. Interesting that IN has no CME requirement.

My personal favorite money grab is that CME conferences are much cheaper for midlevels. Same conference, same amount of CME credits, different pricing...sigh.

Licensing should not be this expensive. I also dont understand why physicians would pay for malpractice type cash funds as someone else was mentioning up there. FL does a similar thing - NICA. I think in part that's one of the biggest reasons I would not practice in FL. Im not even an OB - physicians shouldn't have to pay for a specialty that has nothing to do with their training much less for potential lawsuits. Ugh

 

[Vandalia]

Licensing should not be this expensive. I also dont understand why physicians would pay for malpractice type cash funds as someone else was mentioning up there. FL does a similar thing - NICA. I think in part that's one of the biggest reasons I would not practice in FL. Im not even an OB - physicians shouldn't have to pay for a specialty that has nothing to do with their training much less for potential lawsuits. Ugh

The reason you have to pay is because the state passed a law that said you had to pay.

West Virginia created the West Virginia Mutual Insurance Company to serve as a malpractice insurer for physicians in the state. To fund it every licensed physician was taxed several thousand dollars and then kinda became a shareholder in the company. Sort of. That was part of a pretty significant malpractice reform package and the WVMIC apparently insures about 60% of physicians in the state and dropped the price of insurance for the rest. So if you were actually practicing in the state you probably came out ahead. However, that was the tipping point for me and others who kept a license "just because."

The more interesting thing is that the med-mal reforms came about as the result of a strike by a number of physicians in the state.

Surgeons Strike In West Virginia

One Patient Transferred 90 Miles Away For Operation

www.cbsnews.com

The license algorithm is pretty simple:

Would I rather not be a physician than practice in that state again?

• If yes, then surrender the license.
• If no, then keep an active license in the state.

To get to the fundamental point in this thread, in most states there is no reason to go to "inactive" license status. It is the same cost with no real benefit. Perhaps there is an exception out there, but I haven't found it. The laws in many states gave the state medical boards the ability to set the fees and requirements for "inactive" licenses and of course they would use that authority to max both out.

 

[shaggybill]

My personal favorite money grab is that CME conferences are much cheaper for midlevels. Same conference, same amount of CME credits, different pricing...sigh.

It's to make up for the fact that midlevels are basically doctors who get paid half the salary. Plus they have the heart of a nurse.

 

[j4pac]

I simply let mine expire and didn’t pay. I had to start the process over when I returned 4 years later...but whatever...I probably saved a ton of time and money in the process. The FL osteopathic license is pretty insane...they require live osteopathic CMEs. It’s a joke...no way was I dealing with that out of state.

 

[Iamnew2]

I simply let mine expire and didn’t pay. I had to start the process over when I returned 4 years later...but whatever...I probably saved a ton of time and money in the process. The FL osteopathic license is pretty insane...they require live osteopathic CMEs. It’s a joke...no way was I dealing with that out of state.

Not sure what live osteopathic CMEs are but I found one free CMEand then paid 10bucks for another - but paying $365 bucks for the license sucked. I wasn't sure what to do. I should have let it expire. Oh well. lesson learned

 

[j4pac]

Not sure what live osteopathic CMEs are but I found one free CMEand then paid 10bucks for another - but paying $365 bucks for the license sucked. I wasn't sure what to do. I should have let it expire. Oh well. lesson learned

Honestly, I didn’t even think about it. It just expired. When I went to reactivate it, it was in a “delinquent” status. When I saw that I was a little worried that it may be more difficult to get my next license...but it wasn’t. It was the same process.

 

[yeasports]

So in a new system of nonsense I am being told that in FL even if you inactivate your license you still have to pay every two years or however long the licensing period is and you have to keep up CME. How does that make any sense? how do you discontinue having a license in FL then? I awnt to inactivate this license as I wont be practicing here any time soon. I called the board and other than cookie cutter statements, no one could tell me any information - when i asked "how does this make sense?"

So I did not read the whole thread but..
I let my FL license lapse as the cme was going to be tough out of state. Plus you had to pay the state obgyn malpractice insurance (or whatever) if you have an active license whether you use it or not. I was explained that the license fee would just keep accumulating yearly. If I ever wanted the license back I had to pay all the amount in full. I specifically asked if it would hurt my credit or be reported if I let it lapse and was told no. I did not want to surrender the license as that is a question on many state licenses and I did not want to have to answer yes. I do not know how much I owe at this time if I wanted to reinstate my license in FL, but FL should not hold its breath.

 

[Iamnew2]

So I did not read the whole thread but..
I let my FL license lapse as the cme was going to be tough out of state. Plus you had to pay the state obgyn malpractice insurance (or whatever) if you have an active license whether you use it or not. I was explained that the license fee would just keep accumulating yearly. If I ever wanted the license back I had to pay all the amount in full. I specifically asked if it would hurt my credit or be reported if I let it lapse and was told no. I did not want to surrender the license as that is a question on many state licenses and I did not want to have to answer yes. I do not know how much I owe at this time if I wanted to reinstate my license in FL, but FL should not hold its breath.

Yeah I was told I could surrender as well but didn’t know the implications so I didn’t.

 

[rokshana]

So I did not read the whole thread but..
I let my FL license lapse as the cme was going to be tough out of state. Plus you had to pay the state obgyn malpractice insurance (or whatever) if you have an active license whether you use it or not. I was explained that the license fee would just keep accumulating yearly. If I ever wanted the license back I had to pay all the amount in full. I specifically asked if it would hurt my credit or be reported if I let it lapse and was told no. I did not want to surrender the license as that is a question on many state licenses and I did not want to have to answer yes. I do not know how much I owe at this time if I wanted to reinstate my license in FL, but FL should not hold its breath.

Generally the question about surrendering you license is if it was done under investigation … if you just let it expire, it’s not usually a problem.

 

[Iamnew2]

Generally the question about surrendering you license is if it was done under investigation … if you just let it expire, it’s not usually a problem.

Yeah that seems like a reasonable situation. That was my concern exactly though as the other poster mentioned - would I have to answer yes? Oh well. Lesson learned. You are welcome FL for an additional close to $400!

 

[Raryn]

Note that the above discussion is exceptionally variable state to state. For example, to place a CA license on inactive status you must pay the full amount. But instead of inactive, you can renew a CA license with retired or volunteer status for some nominal fee (I think my volunteer status cost me $25/2 years). And then at any time, you can convert it back to a full license by just paying the one time fees.

Some other states have similar tricks.

 

[yeasports]

Note that the above discussion is exceptionally variable state to state. For example, to place a CA license on inactive status you must pay the full amount. But instead of inactive, you can renew a CA license with retired or volunteer status for some nominal fee (I think my volunteer status cost me $25/2 years). And then at any time, you can convert it back to a full license by just paying the one time fees.

Some other states have similar tricks.

Agreed,
Please note I did not intend a knock against FL (I would be happy to move back as I enjoyed my time there). It was a knock against their medical board. My licenses in other states have a very easy hold/inactive option and FL was rather frustrating to me in this regards. $400 was a lot of money at the time to a new attending moving out of state as I had just finished fellowship. I still have resentment, it seems I probably need to let it go because:
1. I chose to do fellowship and this was a very highly ranked program.
2. I probably could have just applied for a training license only for fellowship (not sure but to lazy to look up)
3. I used my full FL license to moonlight and made some pretty good $