State licenses and applying for jobs

[unchockey21]

As I'm applying for jobs, I've come across some that have been pretty adamant about having applied for a state license in that state to be considered. I understand it can show your commitment to an area but we've got about 6 areas near family or very close friends that we'd go to across 4 states and I'd rather not shell out several grand to get licensed in all of those states. In your expert opinions, do I need to sell some plasma and just get the licenses or is it not that big of a deal?

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[Ducttape]

If u want to work in calif or NY - apply early. 5-6 months.


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[Aether2000]

Unless you plan to work for the VA, in which case you only need a state license from any state. You can work in the other 49 states in VA hospitals without being licensed in those states.

 

[unchockey21]

Unless you plan to work for the VA, in which case you only need a state license from any state. You can work in the other 49 states in VA hospitals without being licensed in those states.

I guess my question is do I get a license in every state I'm applying to or wait until I get a job and then get one in just that one state.

 

[Gauss]

wait until I get a job and then get one in just that one state.

 

[Aether2000]

Depends on the starting time. If you start work in July and are offered a job now, then you have time to acquire a license in most states. However if the job offer is forthcoming within 3 months of the job offer, then it may be too late to get the license by the starting date

 

[bedrock]

As I'm applying for jobs, I've come across some that have been pretty adamant about having applied for a state license in that state to be considered. I understand it can show your commitment to an area but we've got about 6 areas near family or very close friends that we'd go to across 4 states and I'd rather not shell out several grand to get licensed in all of those states. In your expert opinions, do I need to sell some plasma and just get the licenses or is it not that big of a deal?

Be specific about which states you're talking about. In my experience only NY and CA need license applications in at the start of fellowship to be ready for job hunting during the winter.

It's rare for jobs outside of CA/NY to require that you've already applied for their state license before they'll even talk to you. If not one of those two states, then this says something about those positions. Either they are secret hidden treasures that are way better than all other jobs, or some of those practices are run by rigid arseholes.

 

[unchockey21]

Be specific about which states you're talking about. In my experience only NY and CA need license applications in at the start of fellowship to be ready for job hunting during the winter.

It's rare for jobs outside of CA/NY to require that you've already applied for their state license before they'll even talk to you. If not one of those two states, then this says something about those positions. Either they are secret hidden treasures that are way better than all other jobs, or some of those practices are run by rigid arseholes.

CA and NY I get since it takes forever and you don't want your start date delayed waiting for it to process. I'm seeing it with some FL and TX jobs too.

 

[bedrock]

CA and NY I get since it takes forever and you don't want your start date delayed waiting for it to process. I'm seeing it with some FL and TX jobs too.

That's why I asked for specific states.

CA & NY are notorious as the slowest med licenses in the country. However, FL & TX are the second tier of slow licenses and are competitive places to be a pain physician. I could see some reasonable jobs requiring license apps for those two states.

If you're serious about maybe living in TX or FL, I would bite the bullet and apply for those two licenses now if some jobs require it. However, I wouldn't spend the money on any other state licenses until you have a signed job contract.

 

[deleted185747]

Your potential employer can ask anything they want of you. Is that the type of employer you really want? Some employers offer licensing and relocation bonuses. Sounds better than what you were offered.

An alternative method of getting licensed is using a headhunter to do locums because they usually pay for licensing.

 

[cbest]

IL was slow, IN was quick and easy

 

[freddydpt]

I got my FL license in 3 weeks from start of application.

 

[Ducttape]

depending on what state you are currently in, I would get a license for whichever state you live in, first. it is probably easiest to get a license for the state you are essentially currently practicing in (as a fellow)... unless it is a state where it is expensive to get a license. NY is, for example, $600.

after that, I would wait until after you interview... and see if the position is one you are very interested in. you can always download documents, get applications, etc., and say "license pending" for a particular state for each job position you look at...

 

[lonelobo]

I got my FL license in 3 weeks from start of application.

That must be a record, I have heard 6 months is about average there

 

[SSdoc33]

just tell them that you have started the application process. then, if they offer you a job, you can get it rolling. i wouldnt shell out the application fee let alone jump thru all the hoops to get a license in a state where i dont even know im going to be offered a job. the whole process always takes longer than one would expect (including the job offer, negotiating the contract, moving, etc).

 

[olafa]

if you want a job in a particular state its does make it easier to be considered and demonstrates that you are serious and not a procrastinator

 

[painj]

With any of the state licenses you should plan on a minimum of 8-12 weeks-
Coming out of a program as opposed to being a current practicing physician will help with shorter wait time within a few states.

The longest states for licensing are:
Texas-which is about $800 fee with a typical wait time of at least 5 months-but most go longer past the 6 month mark
Florida-it does vary-nobody knows why-I had a physician wait over a year for licensing but also had one coming out of a program that got it within 8 weeks of applying. This license is a whopping $1200
California-Minimum of 6 months but most likely up to and past 9 months
New Jersey is one of the highest with typical minimum 6 months with most going to the 8-9 month process
New York is typically 2-3 months however, depending on background-could go past 6 months
North Carolina is one that sneaks up on your as you don't really think about it unless applying here-but typical 5-6 months
Louisiana is usually in the 4-6 month range.
I will double check in case I am missing anything here.

With what we see from employers-Texas, CA and FL practices (private-not necessarily medical centers) like to see and interview only those candidates that have the state license in hand--with FL possibly in process. This is not across the board necessarily-but more often than not. NJ is another that this has started to have this requirement as well as a growing number in NC.

You can look at the FCVS http://www.fsmb.org/licensure/fcvs/
This has just about all of the states requirements listed as well as information where you can apply to some states using the uniform application. This became available a couple of years ago. Off the top of my head-I think there are about 15-20 states that use this application with a growing number yearly. If you have used this application when applying for one of these state licenses-it will dramatically cut time with other states that utilize this form.

Hope that may help.

 

[freddydpt]

That must be a record, I have heard 6 months is about average there

I had FCVS completed already. I think that may have helped. FYI I despise that company. It's a complete scam monopoly with poor staffing and a crappy site that breaks often. But it's a monopoly.

 

[Apollyon]

I had FCVS completed already. I think that may have helped. FYI I despise that company. It's a complete scam monopoly with poor staffing and a crappy site that breaks often. But it's a monopoly.

It's not a COMPLETE scam. If it was, no one would get licensed. It's only VERY scammy. As such, the rest of your post holds.

 

[hyperalgesia]

I guess my question is do I get a license in every state I'm applying to or wait until I get a job and then get one in just that one state.

When I was in your shoes I got 3 licenses. The one I was trained in, and then my 2 other "most-likelys". Every state you're licensed in will have to be reported to every credentialing body including hospitals and insurance companies for the rest of your miserable life.