keep medical license if not practicing? need insurance?

[hmmminterest]

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I'm currently a resident with a limited license and I now qualify for an unlimited license. I may take time off while I reapply via the match for a different specialty. ("time off" meaning, not being a resident for maybe a year.)

My question is, if I am not seeing patients during my "time off," should I still apply for an unlimited license? I ask b/c some physicians maintain several licenses in other states even though they are NOT practicing there. Why do they do that?

If I stop having a license, will it be more difficult to apply for one in the future?

If I have an unlimited license and am not in residency, do I buy my own malpractice insurance? even if I'm not seeing patients?

Thanks!!

 

[Winged Scapula]

I see no reason to apply for an unlimited license until you come back to residency. After all, the license period is not unlimited, so why pay for 2 years of license when you'll only be using it for 1 year?

Physicians that have licenses in several states may do so because they live near borders of other states so having multiple state licenses makes it easier to serve patients in the various states; they may have put their licenses on inactive status in states in which they don't currently practice but perhaps they envision doing so one day and find it easier to reactivate a license rather than start from scratch.

If you are not practicing medicine, you do not need malpractice insurance. Therefore, if you are planning on taking time off and not practicing medicine (ie, moonlighting or a regular job), then you don't need an unlimited license nor do you need to purchase medical mal.

Simply allow your in-training license either to expire, place it on inactive status (if your state allows) or simply renew it (as they tend to be relatively inexpensive compared to the unlimited medical license). You will have to explain any time off to other programs when you interview as well as other licensing boards, BTW.

 

[deleted109597]

If you are not practicing medicine, you do not need malpractice insurance.

Not entirely true. You still need a tail, to cover all of those things you did when you were practicing. It depends on your previous contracts, etc.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Not entirely true. You still need a tail, to cover all of those things you did when you were practicing. It depends on your previous contracts, etc.

True - I assumed it was covered in his residency contract - the OP needs to check that to be sure.

 

[hmmminterest]

Thanks for the previous posts!

If someone takes an extended time off (more than 2, 3, X yrs,) at what point would these exams have to be re-taken? or is there a different test to take?

 

[3dtp]

Thanks for the previous posts!

If someone takes an extended time off (more than 2, 3, X yrs,) at what point would these exams have to be re-taken? or is there a different test to take?

I respectlfully disagree with the previous posters, with all due respect. If you are looking for a second residency, having a permanent, unrestricted license will indicate to your future residency that you are a proven commodity. It may make you more marketable to future program directors.

Also, if you fail to get the residency of your dreams, it will make it unbelievably easier to do locums work or get a job. It's cheap insurance and keeps your options open. You will not need med-mal unless you actually practice medicine.

I maintain my "idle" out of state license along with my current state's license because I might eventually want to practice there. It costs very little and renewing it is a matter of demonstrating CME. To get a new one after it lapses will require resubmission of all paperwork, new app fees, and a likely 3-4 month delay.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks for the previous posts!

If someone takes an extended time off (more than 2, 3, X yrs,) at what point would these exams have to be re-taken? or is there a different test to take?

They never expire. That doesn't mean that programs won't look askance at someone away from medicine for that length of time, but you don't have to retake Step 3. Some may want you to redo intern year given an extended period away from medicine.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I respectlfully disagree with the previous posters, with all due respect. If you are looking for a second residency, having a permanent, unrestricted license will indicate to your future residency that you are a proven commodity. It may make you more marketable to future program directors.

Also, if you fail to get the residency of your dreams, it will make it unbelievably easier to do locums work or get a job. It's cheap insurance and keeps your options open. You will not need med-mal unless you actually practice medicine.

I maintain my "idle" out of state license along with my current state's license because I might eventually want to practice there. It costs very little and renewing it is a matter of demonstrating CME. To get a new one after it lapses will require resubmission of all paperwork, new app fees, and a likely 3-4 month delay.

I respectfully fail to see how having an unrestricted license "proves" anything except that you are capable of filling out paperwork and paying several hundred dollars in fees to state X. But I would agree that perhaps, at least in the state he's currently licensed, that having it might make things easier to start a residency at any time (ie, not having to wait to apply and get license granted).

Obviously having the unrestricted license would be a bonus if he was looking to work while away from residency, but the OP was not clear about doing that, but rather just "taking time off". On re-reading his post though, I can see that it may be a possibility.

 

[f_w]

Actually, if you have long gaps in your licensing history, some states require you to take the 'SPEX' (special purpose examination) before they give you a new license. For 1 year, that should not be an issue (however, you will have to explain a 1 year gap in your medical career for the next 35 years to come).

In some states, licensing is so painful that it might make sense to keep up a license for a couple of years even if you don't practice there. Also, some states allow you to put your license 'dormant' for a small fee. Once you go back to that state, you just send them a postcard and a check and your license is active again.