Medical Licensing

[MichaelRW]

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I was hoping that someone can clarify a few things about medical licensing for me.

• What is the first license you will ever receive or need?
• When you go to medical school, you will take your different USMLE tests. Once you complete these exams, are you awarded with a national medical license?
• Whatever state you go to medical school in, will you get a medical license from that state at any time during your four years of medical school?
• Then, once you get into a residency, you will need to get a license from whatever state your residency is in?
• Then, assuming you had to move to different states for medical school and residency, you must get a license from your home state when you move back there after residency?

I guess it would just be great if someone could tell me, without speculating, the natural progression of licenses for people who stay in state and for people who have to go to many different states for their medical education. Much appreciated.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I was hoping that someone can clarify a few things about medical licensing for me.

• What is the first license you will ever receive or need?
• When you go to medical school, you will take your different USMLE tests. Once you complete these exams, are you awarded with a national medical license?
• Whatever state you go to medical school in, will you get a medical license from that state at any time during your four years of medical school?
• Then, once you get into a residency, you will need to get a license from whatever state your residency is in?
• Then, assuming you had to move to different states for medical school and residency, you must get a license from your home state when you move back there after residency?

I guess it would just be great if someone could tell me, without speculating, the natural progression of licenses for people who stay in state and for people who have to go to many different states for their medical education. Much appreciated.

1) A medical license is the first license you receive after you complete all 3 phases of the USMLE (or comlex if DO), the third phase cannot be completed until after medical school and is traditionally completed after at least one year of residency.
2) There is NO national license, medical licenses are issued by states. If you practice as a doctor in multiple states (living on the border of multiple states), you will need a license for each state.
3) No.
4) see response #1.
5) see previous responses.

In general, licenses are issued by states and every state in which you practice you will need a separate license. No licenses are issued while in medical school. Hope this helps.

-Senior medical student

 

[Law2Doc]

I was hoping that someone can clarify a few things about medical licensing for me.

• What is the first license you will ever receive or need?
• When you go to medical school, you will take your different USMLE tests. Once you complete these exams, are you awarded with a national medical license?
• Whatever state you go to medical school in, will you get a medical license from that state at any time during your four years of medical school?
• Then, once you get into a residency, you will need to get a license from whatever state your residency is in?
• Then, assuming you had to move to different states for medical school and residency, you must get a license from your home state when you move back there after residency?

I guess it would just be great if someone could tell me, without speculating, the natural progression of licenses for people who stay in state and for people who have to go to many different states for their medical education. Much appreciated.

There isn't a "national" medical license, it's a state by state thing. You have to complete Steps 1-3 to get licensed. You generally don't need a license during your initial year(s) of residency, unless you want to moonlight. When you move to a new state, once licensed, you need to get licensed in the state you plan to practice, which involves an application and fees.

 

[KJunior]

There isn't a "national" medical license, it's a state by state thing. You have to complete Steps 1-3 to get licensed. You generally don't need a license during your initial year(s) of residency, unless you want to moonlight. When you move to a new state, once licensed, you need to get licensed in the state you plan to practice, which involves an application and fees.

Well if you're going to practice in the civilian world there isn't one. But if you join the military you can practice wherever there's a base, whether it be stateside or across the globe. Just sayin....