Medical Doctor (MD)

Applicants to become a licensed medical doctor must meet either the requirements for Licensure by Endorsement or Licensure by Examination.

For Licensure by Examination, applicants who do not hold a state license or who have not passed a national examination, the requirements are as follows and can be found in Chapter 458.311 F.S.:

• Be a graduate of an Allopathic US Medical School recognized and approved by the US Office of Education and completed at least one year of approved residency training

OR

• Be a graduate of an Allopathic international medical school and have a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

OR

• Be a graduate who has completed the formal requirements of an international medical school except the internship or social service requirement, passed parts I and II of the NBME or ECFMG equivalent examination, and completed an academic year of supervised clinical training (5th pathway) and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

And one of the following:

• Passed all parts of a national examination (NBME, FLEX, or USMLE) or currently licensed in the U.S. or Canada, and has actively practiced pursuant to such licensure for at least 10 years, has passed a state board or LMCC examination, and passed the SPEX examination

OR

• licensed on the basis of a state board exam prior to 1974, and is currently licensed in at least three other jurisdictions in the U.S. or Canada, and practiced pursuant to such licensure for at least 20 years

Applicants for initial licensure must use a Livescan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.

Applicants can use any FDLE approved Livescan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department.  If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. For more information, FAQs, and a list of all approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at: FLHealthSource.gov/Background-Screening.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Applicants with Health History

Applicants who answer “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application are required to submit the following documentation to the board office:

Self-Explanation – Applicants must submit a letter in your own words explaining the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s). Include a description of all treatments and diagnoses you have received for any condition(s)/impairment(s) you are/have been treated for. Include all medications prescribed and all physicians/counselors that have provided treatment.

Physician(s) Letter – Applicants must submit a statement from your treating physician(s)/counselor(s) for each condition you are/were being treated for and whether or not you are currently able to safely practice Medicine. The physician’s statement should include all DSM IIIR/ DSM IV, Axis I, II, and III diagnoses.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Medicine has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Medicine for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

The Florida Board of Medicine general statutes require that you must have a valid Florida medical license to practice medicine in Florida.

If you have been named in any malpractice suits, or have answered “yes” to any of the questions in the application, anticipate the possibility that additional information be requested.

You can check the status of the application by clicking the “Check Status” link. Once you have submitted your application, it will take up to 10 days before the information on your status is up to date. You will need to know your File ID number and your date of birth to access the information. Your File ID number will be given to you once you start the application

We recommend that you do not make any commitments based upon expectation of licensure until you are actually licensed.  Some applicants suffer significant costs by signing mortgages and committing to a start date prematurely.

Read instructions before and while you complete the application.  Failure to do so may result in delays in processing your application.

One application is not accelerated at the expense of another, particularly if there is a premature commitment to start practicing medicine.  All applicants are handled equally and fairly.  The application process may take between two to six months to complete depending on your credentials.  You will not be able to start work until you have been granted a full medical license.

Applicants can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with their application packets (medical school diploma, residency certificates, etc).  We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application.  Please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter.  E-mail contact is more efficient.  Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.  Please direct questions or comments to BOM_InitialApps@flhealth.gov.  We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Licenses will not be issued without the background check results and will be issued in date order.

When issuing licenses, we have a strict policy of fairness.  One application will not be accelerated at the expense of another.  All applications will be handled equally and fairly.  Also, the less time reviewers spend responding to duplicate e-mails and telephone calls, the faster applications can be reviewed.  The standard procedures for the reviewers are:

Return phone calls within 24 hours.
Check mail within one week from receipt date.
Respond to e-mails within one week.

It could take up to 10 business days to issue your license after completion of your application. It will take approximately 7 business days to receive your license in the mail after issuance. To view your license before receiving the actual license in the mail, click LOOKUP. Your license number will appear on the web site 24 to 48 hours after it is issued.

Federal Credentials Verification Services (FCVS) will primary source verify and provide a copy of the medical school transcript(s), medical school diploma, medical school verification, name change document(s), national examination score report, ECFMG certificate, and ECFMG verification.  For more information about FCVS, visit their website at www.fsmb.org/licensure/fcvs.

Note:  If you have not completed the FCVS certification process prior to applying for license in Florida it could take longer to receive your Florida license.

The State of Florida operates under Chapter 286, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law.”  This law requires that board meetings are public.  All information that you provide to the Department is public record and shall be open to public inspection as required by 119.07 F. S., except financial information, examination records, and patient records.

Personal Appearances before the Credentials Committee or the Board of Medicine may be required for a variety of reasons: e.g., malpractice, medical education, postgraduate training, disciplinary actions, etc.  If an appearance is required, we will notify you by mail including the date, time, location, and reason(s) for the appearance.  The Credentials Committee meets in conjunction with the full Board of Medicine meetings. In order for the Committee members to review all the information that is provided for this committee, other committee meetings at the same time, and for the full board meeting, a deadline for applications must be established and respected. The cut off for a complete application to be considered is six (6) weeks prior to the committee meeting. All Board and Committee meetings dates, click Meetings.

Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a literal translation.  Acceptable translators are: An employee of a professional translating company, a member of a professional translation company, a member of the American Translators Association, a faculty member of the modern languages or linguistics department of a United States college or university.  Translations must be prepared on letterhead paper or bear the translator’s certification seal. All information appearing on the original document must also appear on the translation each time it appears on the original document.  This includes pre-printed information.  For example, the letterhead of the university, titles, etc.

All stamps and seals must be translated if legible.  If not legible, state that it is not legible and cannot be translated.

All signatures and photos must be identified.

All numbers must be translated unless they appear as follows:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.  If they do not appear on the document as they do above, they must be accurately transcribed.

Any other information on the document must be translated.

Note:  Translations prepared in international countries often have certifications on the translation.  If a certification is in a language other than English, it must also be translated.  Omissions or errors will cause a delay in the application process.

To be licensed as a medical doctor in Florida through the MOBILE Endorsement pathway, you must meet the following requirements in section 456.0145, Florida Statutes:

1. Must hold an active, unencumbered license issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States in a profession with a similar scope of practice, determined by the board or the department, as applicable.
2. Must have obtained a passing score on a national licensure examination or hold a national certification recognized by the board. Please refer to Rule 64B8-5.001, Florida Administrative Code for accepted examinations.
3. 1. Must have actively practiced the profession for at least two years during the four-year period immediately preceding the date of submission of this application; or
   2. Must submit proof of successful completion of a board-approved postgraduate training program within two years of the application date; or
   3. Must submit proof of successful completion of a board-approved clinical competency examination within one year of the application date.
4. Must not have ever been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, unless the applicant successfully appealed to have the report removed or if the reported adverse action was a result of conduct that would not constitute a violation of any Florida law or rule.
5. Must not be the subject of a disciplinary proceeding in a jurisdiction in which he or she holds a license or by the United States Department of Defense for reason related to the practice of the profession for which the applicant is applying.
6. Must not have had disciplinary action taken in the five years immediately preceding the date of submission of the application.

Refer to section 456.0145(2)(c), Florida Statutes, for licensure ineligibility criteria.

Applicants for initial licensure must use a Livescan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.

Applicants can use any FDLE approved Livescan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department.  If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. For more information, FAQs, and a list of all approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at: FLHealthSource.gov/Background-Screening.

Applicants for a temporary license in an Area of Critical Need must meet the following:

• Be licensed to practice in any jurisdiction in the United States and whose license is currently valid

And

• Only practice in certain designated, approved facilities located in communities of Florida where there is a critical need for physicians. Pursuant to s. 458.315, Florida Statutes, the State Surgeon General determined the areas of critical need within the State of Florida are primary care and mental health Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), as displayed at: https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/by-address; Volunteer Health Care Provider Program participants; free clinics; and any location that was in a designated HPSA at the time the Temporary Certificate was issued or renewed, whichever was later, but was withdrawn by HRSA as published in the Federal Register during the term of the Temporary Certificate, shall be considered as practicing in an area of critical need until the next Temporary Certificate renewal.In addition, the following institutions which have been operating as an approved institution in a designated area of critical need but which are not located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) as designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, shall continue to be designated and approved as an area of critical need for so long as the facility continues to provide health care to meet the needs of the underserved population in its area, or until further Order by the State Surgeon General:
• Crossroads
  444 Valparaiso Parkway, Building C
  Valparaiso, Florida 32580
• Med Express Urgent Care
  13856 North Dale Mabry
  Tampa, Florida 33618
• Interamerican Medical Center Group
  15529 Bull Run Road, Miami Lakes
  Florida 33014
• State Surgeon General Determination of Areas of Critical Need Order

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Applicants for initial licensure must use a LiveScan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.

Applicants can use any FDLE approved LiveScan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department.  If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. For more information, FAQs, and a list of all approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at: https://www.flhealthsource.gov/background-screening and click on the Livescan Service Providers tab.

Applicants with Health History

Applicants who answer “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application are required to submit the following documentation to the board office:

Self-Explanation – Applicants must submit a letter in your own words explaining the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s). Include a description of all treatments and diagnoses you have received for any condition(s)/impairment(s) you are/have been treated for. Include all medications prescribed and all physicians/counselors that have provided treatment.

Physician(s) Letter – Applicants must submit a statement from your treating physician(s)/counselor(s) for each condition you are/were being treated for and whether or not you are currently able to safely practice Medicine. The physician’s statement should include all DSM IIIR/ DSM IV, Axis I, II, and III diagnoses.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Medicine has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Medicine for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

The Florida Board of Medicine general statutes require that you must have a valid Florida medical license to practice medicine in Florida.

If you have been named in any malpractice suits, or have answered “yes” to any of the questions in the application, anticipate the possibility that additional information be requested.

You can check the status of the application by clicking the “Check Status” link.  Once you have submitted your application, it will take up to 10 business days before the information on your status is up to date.  You will need to know your File ID number and your date of birth to access the information.  Your File ID number will be given to you once you start the application.

We recommend that you do not make any commitments based upon expectation of licensure until you are actually licensed.  Some applicants suffer significant costs by signing mortgages and committing to a start date prematurely.

Read instructions before and while you complete the application.  Failure to do so may result in delays in processing your application.
One application is not accelerated at the expense of another, particularly if there is a premature commitment to start practicing medicine.  All applicants are handled equally and fairly.  The application process may take between two to six months to complete depending on your credentials.  You will not be able to start work until you have been granted a full medical license.

Applicants can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with their application packets (medical school diploma, residency certificates, etc).  We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application.  Please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter.  E-mail contact is more efficient.  Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.

Please direct questions or comments to BOM_InitialApps@flhealth.gov.
We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Licenses will not be issued without the background check results and will be issued in date order.

When issuing licenses, we have a strict policy of fairness.  One application will not be accelerated at the expense of another.  All applications will be handled equally and fairly.  Also, the less time reviewers spend responding to duplicate e-mails and telephone calls, the faster applications can be reviewed.The standard procedures for the reviewers are:

Return phone calls within 24 hours.
Check mail within one week from receipt date.
Respond to e-mails within one week.

It could take up to 10 business days to issue your license after completion of your application.  It will take approximately 7 business days to receive your license in the mail after issuance.  To view your license before receiving the actual license in the mail, click LOOKUP. Your license number will appear on the web site 24 to 48 hours after it is issued.

Federal Credentials Verification Services (FCVS) will primary source verify and provide a copy of the medical school transcript(s), medical school diploma, medical school verification, name change document(s), national examination score report, ECFMG certificate, and ECFMG verification.  For more information about FCVS, visit their web-site at www.portal.fsmb.org/MyFsmb/.

Note:  If you have not completed the FCVS certification process prior to applying for license in Florida it could take longer to receive your Florida license.

The State of Florida operates under Chapter 286, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law.”  This law requires that board meetings are public.  All information that you provide to the Department is public record and shall be open to public inspection as required by 119.07 F. S., except financial information, examination records, and patient records.

Personal Appearances before the Credentials Committee or the Board of Medicine may be required for a variety of reasons: e.g., malpractice, medical education, postgraduate training, disciplinary actions, etc.  If an appearance is required, we will notify you by mail including the date, time, location, and reason(s) for the appearance.  The Credentials Committee meets in conjunction with the full Board of Medicine meetings. In order for the Committee members to review all the information that is provided for this committee, other committee meetings at the same time, and for the full board meeting, a deadline for applications must be established and respected. The cut off for a complete application to be considered is six (6) weeks prior to the committee meeting. All Board and Committee meetings dates, click Meetings

Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a literal translation.  Acceptable translators are: An employee of a professional translating company, a member of a professional translation company, a member of the American Translators Association, a faculty member of the modern languages or linguistics department of a United States college or university.  Translations must be prepared on letterhead paper or bear the translator’s certification seal. All information appearing on the original document must also appear on the translation each time it appears on the original document.  This includes pre-printed information.

For example, the letterhead of the university, titles, etc.

All stamps and seals must be translated if legible.  If not legible, state that it is not legible and cannot be translated.

All signatures and photos must be identified.

All numbers must be translated unless they appear as follows:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.  If they do not appear on the document as they do above, they must be accurately transcribed.

Any other information on the document must be translated.

Note:  Translations prepared in international countries often have certifications on the translation.  If a certification is in a language other than English, it must also be translated.  Omissions or errors will cause a delay in the application process.

Applicants for a Rear Admiral Leroy Collins Jr. Temporary Certificate Active Duty Military and Veterans license must meet the following:

• Be licensed to practice in any jurisdiction in the United States and whose license is currently valid

AND

• Is serving as a physician on active duty in the United Stated Armed Forces

OR

• Has served as a physician in the United States Armed Forces for at least 10 years and received an honorable discharge from the military

AND

• Only practice in certain designated, approved facilities located in communities of Florida where there is a critical need for physicians

Applicants for initial licensure must use a Livescan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.

Applicants can use any FDLE approved Livescan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department.  If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. For more information, FAQs, and a list of all approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at: FLHealthSource.gov/Background-Screening.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Applicants with Health History

Applicants who answer “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application are required to submit the following documentation to the board office:

Self-Explanation – Applicants must submit a letter in your own words explaining the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s). Include a description of all treatments and diagnoses you have received for any condition(s)/impairment(s) you are/have been treated for. Include all medications prescribed and all physicians/counselors that have provided treatment.

Physician(s) Letter – Applicants must submit a statement from your treating physician(s)/counselor(s) for each condition you are/were being treated for and whether or not you are currently able to safely practice Medicine. The physician’s statement should include all DSM IIIR/ DSM IV, Axis I, II, and III diagnoses.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Medicine has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Medicine for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

The Florida Board of Medicine general statutes require that you must have a valid Florida medical license to practice medicine in Florida.

If you have been named in any malpractice suits, or have answered “yes” to any of the questions in the application, anticipate the possibility that additional information be requested.

You can check the status of the application by clicking the “Check Status” link.  Once you have submitted your application, it will take up to 10 business days before the information on your status is up to date.  You will need to know your File ID number and your date of birth to access the information.  Your File ID number will be given to you once you start the application.

We recommend that you do not make any commitments based upon expectation of licensure until you are actually licensed.  Some applicants suffer significant costs by signing mortgages and committing to a start date prematurely.

Read instructions before and while you complete the application.  Failure to do so may result in delays in processing your application.

One application is not accelerated at the expense of another, particularly if there is a premature commitment to start practicing medicine.  All applicants are handled equally and fairly.  The application process may take between two to six months to complete depending on your credentials.  You will not be able to start work until you have been granted a full medical license.

Applicants can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with their application packets (medical school diploma, residency certificates, etc).  We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application.  Please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter.  E-mail contact is more efficient.  Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.  Please direct questions or comments to BOM_InitialApps@flhealth.gov.  We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Licenses will not be issued without the background check results and will be issued in date order.

When issuing licenses, we have a strict policy of fairness.  One application will not be accelerated at the expense of another.  All applications will be handled equally and fairly.  Also, the less time reviewers spend responding to duplicate e-mails and telephone calls, the faster applications can be reviewed.  The standard procedures for the reviewers are:

Return phone calls within 24 hours.
Check mail within one week from receipt date.
Respond to e-mails within one week.

It could take up to 10 business days to issue your license after completion of your application.  It will take approximately 7 business days to receive your license in the mail after issuance.  To view your license before receiving the actual license in the mail, click LOOKUP. Your license number will appear on the web site 24 to 48 hours after it is issued.

Federal Credentials Verification Services (FCVS) will primary source verify and provide a copy of the medical school transcript(s), medical school diploma, medical school verification, name change document(s), national examination score report, ECFMG certificate, and ECFMG verification.  For more information about FCVS, visit their website at www.fsmb.org/licensure/fcvs.

Note:  If you have not completed the FCVS certification process prior to applying for license in Florida it could take longer to receive your Florida license.

The State of Florida operates under Chapter 286, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law.”  This law requires that board meetings are public.  All information that you provide to the Department is public record and shall be open to public inspection as required by 119.07 F. S., except financial information, examination records, and patient records.

Personal Appearances before the Credentials Committee or the Board of Medicine may be required for a variety of reasons: e.g., malpractice, medical education, postgraduate training, disciplinary actions, etc.  If an appearance is required, we will notify you by mail including the date, time, location, and reason(s) for the appearance.  The Credentials Committee meets in conjunction with the full Board of Medicine meetings. In order for the Committee members to review all the information that is provided for this committee, other committee meetings at the same time, and for the full board meeting, a deadline for applications must be established and respected. The cut off for a complete application to be considered is six (6) weeks prior to the committee meeting. All Board and Committee meetings dates, click Meetings

Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a literal translation.  Acceptable translators are: An employee of a professional translating company, a member of a professional translation company, a member of the American Translators Association, a faculty member of the modern languages or linguistics department of a United States college or university.  Translations must be prepared on letterhead paper or bear the translator’s certification seal. All information appearing on the original document must also appear on the translation each time it appears on the original document.  This includes pre-printed information.  For example, the letterhead of the university, titles, etc.

All stamps and seals must be translated if legible.  If not legible, state that it is not legible and cannot be translated.

All signatures and photos must be identified.

All numbers must be translated unless they appear as follows:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.  If they do not appear on the document as they do above, they must be accurately transcribed.

Any other information on the document must be translated.

Note:  Translations prepared in international countries often have certifications on the translation.  If a certification is in a language other than English, it must also be translated.  Omissions or errors will cause a delay in the application process.

To make Florida your State of Principal Licensure through the IMLC, you must meet the following requirements outlined on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact website.

The same requirements can also be located in section 456.4501, Florida Statutes

All of the requirements outlined must be satisfied before you can apply.

To apply, you will need to submit your application through the IMLC Website.

Be advised that all Letter of Qualification (LOQ) applicants are required to have a completed background screening to qualify. Please refer to the ‘Background Screening Process’ tab for LOQ applicants.

Current Florida licensees with full unrestricted licenses who want to participate with the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) must designate a State of Principal Licensure (SPL) through the IMLC website. Member boards, when acting as the SPL, will apply these requirements contemporaneously at the time of application to determine if a physician has appropriately designated his or her SPL.

Your file will be reviewed accordingly after receipt of your submission. This timeline varies depending on when your LOQ application was submitted through the IMLC.

Please be advised that this is a two-step process for submission of an expedited license through the IMLC.

To be licensed in Florida through the IMLC, you must meet the following requirements in section 456.4501, Florida Statutes:

1. You must hold a full, unrestricted medical license in a compact-member state that is serving as your State of Principal Licensure. Please click here for a list.
2. Have graduated from an accredited medical school, or a school listed in the International Medical Education Directory or its equivalent such as the World Directory of Medical Schools.
3. Have successfully completed ACGME- or AOA-accredited graduate medical education (GME).
4. Have passed each component of the USMLE, COMLEX-USA, or equivalent predecessor exam accepted by the state medical board (such as the FLEX or NBME) in no more than three attempts for each component. PLEASE NOTE: Passing the Canadian Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) DOES NOT meet this requirement.
5. Hold a current specialty certification or time-unlimited certification by an ABMS or AOABOS board.
6. Complete the two-step application through the MQA online portal once submission of the IMLC application is completed through the IMLC website.
7. Not have any history of disciplinary actions toward your medical license.
8. Not have any criminal history.
9. Not have any history of controlled substance actions toward your license.
10. Not currently be under investigation.

Refer to section 456.4501(11)(f)-(i), Florida Statutes, for licensure ineligibility criteria.

Background screening requirements for LOQ applicants:

• If an applicant’s background screening was updated in our system within the last 90 days, a new background screening is NOT needed.
• If an applicant’s background screening was conducted in the last five years and is NOT expiring in the next 60 days, our system will send a request to AHCA for the resubmission of the background screening from the date your application has been received in our system. No further action is required of the applicant.
• If an applicant’s background screening is expiring within the next 60 days, the applicant should request fingerprint retention through the Clearinghouse Applicant Initiated (CHAI) Website at CHAI.FLClearinghouse.com. The retained print fee is $43.25.
• If an applicant’s background screening has not been updated in our system in the last five (5) years, the retention date is expired, or if the applicant was grandfathered in when initially licensed or a SHIELD applicant, the applicant will need to have a new background screening done and will need to submit/complete the Board’s Privacy Policy/Statement. Please see below instructions on how to complete and submit the privacy policy.
• DOH can access that background screening if you complete the required privacy statement. To complete the privacy statement, you will need to log into your MQA Online Services Account, navigate to “Manage my License”, and complete the Submit Privacy Policy For BGS application.

A background check is required for all Letter of Qualification applications.

Applicants seeking a Medical Faculty Certificate must meet all of the following requirements:

• Graduated from an accredited medical school list with the World Health Organization.
• Hold a valid current license to practice medicine in another jurisdiction.
• Completed an approved residency or fellowship of at least one year or received training which has been determined by the Board to be equivalent to the one year requirement.
• Been offered and accepted a full-time faculty appointment to teach in a program of medicine at:
  • The University of Florida
  • The University of Miami
  • The University of South Florida
  • The Florida State University
  • The Florida International University
  • The University of Central Florida
  • The Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida
  • The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Jacksonville, Florida
  • The Florida Atlantic University
  • Nova Southeastern University
  • Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida
  • Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Melbourne, Florida
  • The Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Orange Park, Florida
  • Loma Linda University School of Medicine – AdventHealth regional campuses in Orlando, Florida
• Only practice medicine in conjunction with a full-time faculty position at an accredited medical school in the State of Florida and its affiliated clinical facilities or teaching hospitals.

Applicants for initial licensure must use a LiveScan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.

Applicants can use any FDLE approved LiveScan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department.  If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. For more information, FAQs, and a list of all approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at: https://www.flhealthsource.gov/background-screening and click on the Livescan Service Providers tab.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Applicants with Health History

Applicants who answer “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application are required to submit the following documentation to the board office:

Self-Explanation – Applicants must submit a letter in your own words explaining the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s). Include a description of all treatments and diagnoses you have received for any condition(s)/impairment(s) you are/have been treated for. Include all medications prescribed and all physicians/counselors that have provided treatment.

Physician(s) Letter – Applicants must submit a statement from your treating physician(s)/counselor(s) for each condition you are/were being treated for and whether or not you are currently able to safely practice Medicine. The physician’s statement should include all DSM IIIR/ DSM IV, Axis I, II, and III diagnoses.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Medicine has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Medicine for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

The Florida Board of Medicine general statutes require that you must have a valid Florida medical license to practice medicine in Florida.

If you have been named in any malpractice suits, or have answered “yes” to any of the questions in the application, anticipate the possibility that additional information be requested.

You can check the status of the application by clicking the “Check Status” link.  Once you have submitted your application, it will take up to 10 days before the information on your status is up to date.  You will need to know your File ID number and your date of birth to access the information.  Your File ID number will be given to you once you start the application.

We recommend that you do not make any commitments based upon expectation of licensure until you are actually licensed.  Some applicants suffer significant costs by signing mortgages and committing to a start date prematurely.

Read instructions before and while you complete the application.  Failure to do so may result in delays in processing your application.
One application is not accelerated at the expense of another, particularly if there is a premature commitment to start practicing medicine.  All applicants are handled equally and fairly.  The application process may take between two to six months to complete depending on your credentials.  You will not be able to start work until you have been granted a full medical license.

Applicants can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with their application packets (medical school diploma, residency certificates, etc).  We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application.  Please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter.  E-mail contact is more efficient.  Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.  Please direct questions or comments toBOM_InitialApps@flhealth.gov.  We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Licenses will not be issued without the background check results and will be issued in date order.

When issuing licenses, we have a strict policy of fairness.  One application will not be accelerated at the expense of another.  All applications will be handled equally and fairly.  Also, the less time reviewers spend responding to duplicate e-mails and telephone calls, the faster applications can be reviewed.The standard procedures for the reviewers are:

Return phone calls within 24 hours.
Check mail within one week from receipt date.
Respond to e-mails within one week.

It could take up to 10 business days to issue your license after completion of your application.  It will take approximately 7 business days to receive your license in the mail after issuance.  To view your license before receiving the actual license in the mail, click LOOKUP. Your license number will appear on the web site 24 to 48 hours after it is issued.

Federal Credentials Verification Services (FCVS) will primary source verify and provide a copy of the medical school transcript(s), medical school diploma, medical school verification, name change document(s), national examination score report, ECFMG certificate, and ECFMG verification.  For more information about FCVS, visit their web-site at www.fcvs.org/.

Note:  If you have not completed the FCVS certification process prior to applying for license in Florida it could take longer to receive your Florida license.

The State of Florida operates under Chapter 286, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law.”  This law requires that board meetings are public.  All information that you provide to the Department is public record and shall be open to public inspection as required by 119.07 F. S., except financial information, examination records, and patient records.

Personal Appearances before the Credentials Committee or the Board of Medicine may be required for a variety of reasons: e.g., malpractice, medical education, postgraduate training, disciplinary actions, etc.  If an appearance is required, we will notify you by mail including the date, time, location, and reason(s) for the appearance.  The Credentials Committee meets in conjunction with the full Board of Medicine meetings. In order for the Committee members to review all the information that is provided for this committee, other committee meetings at the same time, and for the full board meeting, a deadline for applications must be established and respected. The cut off for a complete application to be considered is six (6) weeks prior to the committee meeting. All Board and Committee meetings dates, click Meetings

Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a literal translation.  Acceptable translators are: An employee of a professional translating company, a member of a professional translation company, a member of the American Translators Association, a faculty member of the modern languages or linguistics department of a United States college or university.  Translations must be prepared on letterhead paper or bear the translator’s certification seal. All information appearing on the original document must also appear on the translation each time it appears on the original document.  This includes pre-printed information.

For example, the letterhead of the university, titles, etc.

All stamps and seals must be translated if legible.  If not legible, state that it is not legible and cannot be translated.

All signatures and photos must be identified.

All numbers must be translated unless they appear as follows:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.  If they do not appear on the document as they do above, they must be accurately transcribed.

Any other information on the document must be translated.

Note:  Translations prepared in international countries often have certifications on the translation.  If a certification is in a language other than English, it must also be translated.  Omissions or errors will cause a delay in the application process.

A Medical Doctor in Public Health is a physician who holds a master of public health degree or is board eligible or certified in public health or preventive medicine to practice medicine as an employee of the Department of Health.  For Certificate as a Medical Doctor Public Health, the requirements are as follows and can be found in Chapter 458.316 F.S.:

• Be a graduate of an Allopathic US Medical School of a school recognized and approved by the US Office of Education (AMG) and completed at least one year of approved residency training

OR

• Be a graduate of an allopathic international medical school (IMG) and have a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

OR

• Be a graduate who has completed the formal requirements of an international medical school except the internship or social service requirement, passed parts I and II of the NBME or ECFMG equivalent examination, and completed an academic year of supervised clinical training (5th pathway) and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

AND

• Holds a master of public health degree or is board eligible or certified in public health or preventive medicine.
• Licensed to practice medicine without restriction in another jurisdiction in the United States and holds a master of public health degree or is board eligible or certified in public health or preventive medicine

Applicants for initial licensure must use a LiveScan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.

Applicants can use any FDLE approved LiveScan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department. If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. For more information, FAQs, and a list of all approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at: https://www.flhealthsource.gov/background-screening and click on the Livescan Service Providers tab.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Applicants with Health History

Applicants who answer “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application are required to submit the following documentation to the board office:

Self-Explanation – Applicants must submit a letter in your own words explaining the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s). Include a description of all treatments and diagnoses you have received for any condition(s)/impairment(s) you are/have been treated for. Include all medications prescribed and all physicians/counselors that have provided treatment.

Physician(s) Letter – Applicants must submit a statement from your treating physician(s)/counselor(s) for each condition you are/were being treated for and whether or not you are currently able to safely practice Medicine. The physician’s statement should include all DSM IIIR/ DSM IV, Axis I, II, and III diagnoses.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Medicine has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Medicine for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

The Florida Board of Medicine general statutes require that you must have a valid Florida medical license to practice medicine in Florida.

If you have been named in any malpractice suits, or have answered “yes” to any of the questions in the application, anticipate the possibility that additional information be requested.

You can check the status of the application by clicking the “Check Status” link. Once you have submitted your application, it will take up to 10 days before the information on your status is up to date. You will need to know your File ID number and your date of birth to access the information. Your File ID number will be given to you once you start the application

We recommend that you do not make any commitments based upon expectation of licensure until you are actually licensed.  Some applicants suffer significant costs by signing mortgages and committing to a start date prematurely.

Read instructions before and while you complete the application.  Failure to do so may result in delays in processing your application.

One application is not accelerated at the expense of another, particularly if there is a premature commitment to start practicing medicine.  All applicants are handled equally and fairly.  The application process may take between two to six months to complete depending on your credentials.  You will not be able to start work until you have been granted a full medical license.

Applicants can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with their application packets (medical school diploma, residency certificates, etc).  We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application.  Please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter.  E-mail contact is more efficient.  Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.  Please direct questions or comments to BOM_InitialApps@flhealth.gov.  We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Licenses will not be issued without the background check results and will be issued in date order.

When issuing licenses, we have a strict policy of fairness.  One application will not be accelerated at the expense of another.  All applications will be handled equally and fairly.  Also, the less time reviewers spend responding to duplicate e-mails and telephone calls, the faster applications can be reviewed.  The standard procedures for the reviewers are:

Return phone calls within 24 hours.
Check mail within one week from receipt date.
Respond to e-mails within one week.

It could take up to 10 business days to issue your license after completion of your application. It will take approximately 7 business days to receive your license in the mail after issuance. To view your license before receiving the actual license in the mail, click LOOKUP. Your license number will appear on the web site 24 to 48 hours after it is issued.

Federal Credentials Verification Services (FCVS) will primary source verify and provide a copy of the medical school transcript(s), medical school diploma, medical school verification, name change document(s), national examination score report, ECFMG certificate, and ECFMG verification.  For more information about FCVS, visit their website at www.fsmb.org/licensure/fcvs.

Note:  If you have not completed the FCVS certification process prior to applying for license in Florida it could take longer to receive your Florida license.

The State of Florida operates under Chapter 286, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law.”  This law requires that board meetings are public.  All information that you provide to the Department is public record and shall be open to public inspection as required by 119.07 F. S., except financial information, examination records, and patient records.

Personal Appearances before the Credentials Committee or the Board of Medicine may be required for a variety of reasons: e.g., malpractice, medical education, postgraduate training, disciplinary actions, etc.  If an appearance is required, we will notify you by mail including the date, time, location, and reason(s) for the appearance.  The Credentials Committee meets in conjunction with the full Board of Medicine meetings. In order for the Committee members to review all the information that is provided for this committee, other committee meetings at the same time, and for the full board meeting, a deadline for applications must be established and respected. The cut off for a complete application to be considered is six (6) weeks prior to the committee meeting. All Board and Committee meetings dates, click Meetings.

Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a literal translation.  Acceptable translators are: An employee of a professional translating company, a member of a professional translation company, a member of the American Translators Association, a faculty member of the modern languages or linguistics department of a United States college or university.  Translations must be prepared on letterhead paper or bear the translator’s certification seal. All information appearing on the original document must also appear on the translation each time it appears on the original document.  This includes pre-printed information.  For example, the letterhead of the university, titles, etc.

All stamps and seals must be translated if legible.  If not legible, state that it is not legible and cannot be translated.

All signatures and photos must be identified.

All numbers must be translated unless they appear as follows:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.  If they do not appear on the document as they do above, they must be accurately transcribed.

Any other information on the document must be translated.

Note:  Translations prepared in international countries often have certifications on the translation.  If a certification is in a language other than English, it must also be translated.  Omissions or errors will cause a delay in the application process.

The holder of a public psychiatry certificate may use the certificate to work at any public mental health facility or program funded in part or entirely by state funds.  For Certificate as a Medical Doctor Public Psychiatry, the requirements are as follows and can be found in Chapter 458.3165 F.S.:

• Be a graduate of an Allopathic US Medical School of a school recognized and approved by the US Office of Education (AMG) and completed at least one year of approved residency training

OR

• Be a graduate of an allopathic international medical school (IMG) and have a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

OR

• Be a graduate who has completed the formal requirements of an international medical school except the internship or social service requirement, passed parts I and II of the NBME or ECFMG equivalent examination, and completed an academic year of supervised clinical training (5th pathway) and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

AND

• Board-certified psychiatrist
• Licensed to practice medicine without restriction in another state

Effective January 1, 2013, applicants for initial licensure must use a LiveScan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.

Applicants can use any FDLE approved LiveScan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department.  If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. For more information, FAQs, and a list of all approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at: https://www.flhealthsource.gov/background-screening and click on the Livescan Service Providers tab.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Applicants with Health History

Applicants who answer “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application are required to submit the following documentation to the board office:

Self-Explanation – Applicants must submit a letter in your own words explaining the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s). Include a description of all treatments and diagnoses you have received for any condition(s)/impairment(s) you are/have been treated for. Include all medications prescribed and all physicians/counselors that have provided treatment.

Physician(s) Letter – Applicants must submit a statement from your treating physician(s)/counselor(s) for each condition you are/were being treated for and whether or not you are currently able to safely practice Medicine. The physician’s statement should include all DSM IIIR/ DSM IV, Axis I, II, and III diagnoses.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Medicine has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Medicine for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

The Florida Board of Medicine general statutes require that you must have a valid Florida medical license to practice medicine in Florida.

If you have been named in any malpractice suits, or have answered “yes” to any of the questions in the application, anticipate the possibility that additional information be requested.

You can check the status of the application by clicking the “Check Status” link.  Once you have submitted your application, it will take up to 15 days before the information on your status is up to date.  You will need to know your File ID number and your date of birth to access the information.  Your File ID number will be given to you once you start the application.

We recommend that you do not make any commitments based upon expectation of licensure until you are actually licensed.  Some applicants suffer significant costs by signing mortgages and committing to a start date prematurely.

Read instructions before and while you complete the application.  Failure to do so may result in delays in processing your application.
One application is not accelerated at the expense of another, particularly if there is a premature commitment to start practicing medicine.  All applicants are handled equally and fairly.  The application process may take between two to six months to complete depending on your credentials.  You will not be able to start work until you have been granted a full medical license.

Applicants can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with their application packets (medical school diploma, residency certificates, etc).  We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application.  Please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter.  E-mail contact is more efficient.  Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.

Please direct questions or comments to BOM_InitialApps@flhealth.gov.
We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Licenses will not be issued without the background check results and will be issued in date order.

When issuing licenses, we have a strict policy of fairness.  One application will not be accelerated at the expense of another.  All applications will be handled equally and fairly.  Also, the less time reviewers spend responding to duplicate e-mails and telephone calls, the faster applications can be reviewed.

The standard procedures for the reviewers are:

Return phone calls within 24 hours.
Check mail within one week from receipt date.
Respond to e-mails within one week.

It could take up to 10 business days to issue your license after completion of your application.  It will take approximately 7 business days to receive your license in the mail after issuance.  To view your license before receiving the actual license in the mail, click LOOKUP. Your license number will appear on the web site 24 to 48 hours after it is issued.

Federal Credentials Verification Services (FCVS) will primary source verify and provide a copy of the medical school transcript(s), medical school diploma, medical school verification, name change document(s), national examination score report, ECFMG certificate, and ECFMG verification.  For more information about FCVS, visit their web-site at www.fsmb.org/licensure/fcvs/.

Note:  If you have not completed the FCVS certification process prior to applying for license in Florida it could take longer to receive your Florida license.

The State of Florida operates under Chapter 286, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law.”  This law requires that board meetings are public.  All information that you provide to the Department is public record and shall be open to public inspection as required by 119.07 F. S., except financial information, examination records, and patient records.

Personal Appearances before the Credentials Committee or the Board of Medicine may be required for a variety of reasons: e.g., malpractice, medical education, postgraduate training, disciplinary actions, etc.  If an appearance is required, we will notify you by mail including the date, time, location, and reason(s) for the appearance.  The Credentials Committee meets in conjunction with the full Board of Medicine meetings. In order for the Committee members to review all the information that is provided for this committee, other committee meetings at the same time, and for the full board meeting, a deadline for applications must be established and respected. The cut off for a complete application to be considered is six (6) weeks prior to the committee meeting. All Board and Committee meetings dates, click Meetings

Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a literal translation.

Acceptable translators are:

• An employee of a professional translating company
• A member of a professional translation company
• A member of the American Translators Association
• A faculty member of the modern languages or linguistics department of a United States college or university.

Translations must be prepared on letterhead paper or bear the translator’s certification seal. All information appearing on the original document must also appear on the translation each time it appears on the original document.  This includes pre-printed information.

For example, the letterhead of the university, titles, etc.

All stamps and seals must be translated if legible.  If not legible, state that it is not legible and cannot be translated.

All signatures and photos must be identified.

All numbers must be translated unless they appear as follows:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.  If they do not appear on the document as they do above, they must be accurately transcribed.

Any other information on the document must be translated.

Note:  Translations prepared in international countries often have certifications on the translation.  If a certification is in a language other than English, it must also be translated.  Omissions or errors will cause a delay in the application process.

The Department of Health shall issue a certificate authorizing a physician who holds an active and valid license to practice medicine in another state or a Canadian Province to provide expert testimony in this state, when the physician submits to the department:

• A complete registration application containing the physician’s legal name, mailing address, telephone number, business locations, the names of the jurisdictions where he/she holds an active and valid license to practice medicine, and the license number or other identifying number issued to the physician by the jurisdiction’s licensing entity; and
• An application fee of $50.

The Department of health shall approve an application for an expert witness certificate within 10 business days after receipt of the completed application and payment of the application fee if the applicant holds an active and valid license to practice medicine in another state or a province of Canada and has not had a previous expert witness certificate revoked by the board.

An expert witness certificate is valid for 2 years after the date of issuance. There is no renewal for an expert witness certificate; however, you can re-apply for a new certificate if your certificate has expired or will expire within 30 days. The expert witness certificate authorizes the physician do only the following:

• Provide a verified written medical expert opinion as provided in s. 766.203, Florida Statutes.
• Provide expert testimony about the prevailing professional standard of care in connection with medical negligence litigation pending in this state against a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, Florida Statutes.

An expert witness certificate does not authorize a physician to engage in the practice of medicine as defined in s. 458.305, Florida Statutes.

A physician issued an expert witness certificate who does not otherwise practice medicine in this state is not required to obtain a license or pay any licensure fees, including, but not limited to, a neurological injury compensation assessment.

An expert witness certificate shall be treated as a license in any disciplinary action, and the holder of an expert witness certificate shall be subject to discipline by the board.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Applicants to become a Limited License Medical Doctor must meet all of the following requirements to proceed with the application process:

• Must have been licensed to practice medicine in any jurisdiction in the United States for at least 10 years and intends to practice only pursuant to the restrictions of a limited license.

• If it has been more than 3 years since active practice was conducted by the applicant, the full-time director of the county health department or a licensed physician, approved by the board, shall supervise the applicant for a period of 6 months after he or she is granted a limited license for practice, unless the board determines that a shorter period of supervision will be sufficient to ensure that the applicant is qualified for licensure. Procedures for such supervision shall be established by the board.
• The recipient of a limited license may practice only in the employ of public agencies or institutions or nonprofit agencies or institutions meeting the requirements of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which agencies or institutions are located in the areas of critical medical need as determined by the board. Determination of medically underserved areas shall be made by the board after consultation with the Department of Health and statewide medical organizations; however, such determination shall include, but not be limited to, health professional shortage areas designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Applicants for initial licensure must use a LiveScan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.

It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the service provider, the board office will not receive your fingerprint results, so it is extremely important to use the correct ORI when having your fingerprints scanned.

Applicants can use any FDLE approved LiveScan service provider to submit their fingerprints. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the service provider and ensuring the results are reported to the Department.  If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider. For more information, FAQs, and a list of all approved Livescan service providers please visit the Department’s website at: https://www.flhealthsource.gov/background-screening and click on the Livescan Service Providers tab.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, requires that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Applicants with Health History

Applicants who answer “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application are required to submit the following documentation to the board office:

Self-Explanation – Applicants must submit a letter in your own words explaining the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s). Include a description of all treatments and diagnoses you have received for any condition(s)/impairment(s) you are/have been treated for. Include all medications prescribed and all physicians/counselors that have provided treatment.

Physician(s) Letter – Applicants must submit a statement from your treating physician(s)/counselor(s) for each condition you are/were being treated for and whether or not you are currently able to safely practice Medicine. The physician’s statement should include all DSM IIIR/ DSM IV, Axis I, II, and III diagnoses.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Medicine has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Medicine for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

The Florida Board of Medicine general statutes require that you must have a valid Florida medical license to practice medicine in Florida.

If you have been named in any malpractice suits, or have answered “yes” to any of the questions in the application, anticipate the possibility that additional information be requested.

You can check the status of the application by clicking the “Check Status” link.  Once you have submitted your application, it will take up to 10 business days before the information on your status is up to date.  You will need to know your File ID number and your date of birth to access the information.  Your File ID number will be given to you once you start the application.

We recommend that you do not make any commitments based upon expectation of licensure until you are actually licensed.  Some applicants suffer significant costs by signing mortgages and committing to a start date prematurely.

Read instructions before and while you complete the application.  Failure to do so may result in delays in processing your application.
One application is not accelerated at the expense of another, particularly if there is a premature commitment to start practicing medicine.  All applicants are handled equally and fairly.  The application process may take between two to six months to complete depending on your credentials.  You will not be able to start work until you have been granted a full medical license.

Applicants can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with their application packets (medical school diploma, residency certificates, etc).  We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application.  Please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter.  E-mail contact is more efficient.  Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.

Please direct questions or comments to BOM_InitialApps@flhealth.gov.
We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Licenses will not be issued without the background check results and will be issued in date order.

When issuing licenses, we have a strict policy of fairness.  One application will not be accelerated at the expense of another.  All applications will be handled equally and fairly.  Also, the less time reviewers spend responding to duplicate e-mails and telephone calls, the faster applications can be reviewed. The standard procedures for the reviewers are:

Return phone calls within 24 hours.
Check mail within one week from receipt date.
Respond to e-mails within one week.

It could take up to 10 business days to issue your license after completion of your application.  It will take approximately 7 business days to receive your license in the mail after issuance.  To view your license before receiving the actual license in the mail, click FL DOH MQA Search Portal | License Verification. Your license number will appear on the web site 24 to 48 hours after it is issued.

Federal Credentials Verification Services (FCVS) will primary source verify and provide a copy of the medical school transcript(s), medical school diploma, medical school verification, name change document(s), national examination score report, ECFMG certificate, and ECFMG verification.  For more information about FCVS, visit their web-site at www.fsmb.org/licensure/fcvs.

Note:  If you have not completed the FCVS certification process prior to applying for license in Florida it could take longer to receive your Florida license.

The State of Florida operates under Chapter 286, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law.”  This law requires that board meetings are public.  All information that you provide to the Department is public record and shall be open to public inspection as required by 119.07 F. S., except financial information, examination records, and patient records.

Personal Appearances before the Credentials Committee or the Board of Medicine may be required for a variety of reasons: e.g., malpractice, medical education, postgraduate training, disciplinary actions, etc.  If an appearance is required, we will notify you by mail including the date, time, location, and reason(s) for the appearance.  The Credentials Committee meets in conjunction with the full Board of Medicine meetings. In order for the Committee members to review all the information that is provided for this committee, other committee meetings at the same time, and for the full board meeting, a deadline for applications must be established and respected. The cut off for a complete application to be considered is six (6) weeks prior to the committee meeting. All Board and Committee meeting dates, click Meetings.

Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a literal translation.  Acceptable translators are: An employee of a professional translating company, a member of a professional translation company, a member of the American Translators Association, a faculty member of the modern languages or linguistics department of a United States college or university.  Translations must be prepared on letterhead paper or bear the translator’s certification seal. All information appearing on the original document must also appear on the translation each time it appears on the original document.  This includes pre-printed information.

For example, the letterhead of the university, titles, etc.

All stamps and seals must be translated if legible.  If not legible, state that it is not legible and cannot be translated.

All signatures and photos must be identified.

All numbers must be translated unless they appear as follows:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.  If they do not appear on the document as they do above, they must be accurately transcribed.

Any other information on the document must be translated.

Note:  Translations prepared in international countries often have certifications on the translation.  If a certification is in a language other than English, it must also be translated.  Omissions or errors will cause a delay in the application process.