Medical Doctor (MD)

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Medical Doctor (MD)

New License for Medical Doctor – Unrestricted

Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Initial Licensing Requirements, Process, Fees, Statutes and Administrative Rules for a Medical Doctor Unrestricted.

Requirements
General Requirements

Applicants to become a licensed Medical Doctor must meet either the requirements for Licensure by Endorsement or Licensure by Examination to proceed with the application process.

LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT

For Licensure by Endorsement, the requirements are as follows and can be found in Chapter 458.313 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 both of the following:

  • Passed all parts of a national examination (NBME, FLEX, or USMLE) and
  • Licensed in another jurisdiction and actively practiced medicine in another jurisdiction for at least two of the immediately preceding four years; or passed a board-approved clinical competency examination within the year preceding filing of the application or; successfully completed a board approved postgraduate training program within two years preceding filing of the application.

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 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 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

Effective July 1, 2012, section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, provides 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.

Health Care Fraud, Disqualification for Licensure, Certificate, or Registration

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides 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:
    1. 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;
    2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
    3. 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.
Background Screening

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.

General Information

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 info@flboardofmedicine.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.

Process

Section 456.013(1)(a), Florida Statutes provides that a licensure application and application fee are valid for one year. Application fees are non-refundable.

To practice medicine in the state of Florida, you must have a valid Florida medical license. The licensing process involves the collection of credentials from the applicant and from other sources. Once all materials are submitted, an application specialist will review them; however, it may be necessary for the application specialist to request additional information. Our goal is to review materials as quickly as possible, but we must be thorough.

You can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with your application packets (medical school transcripts, residency certificates, etc). We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application, so please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter. Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.

Please email questions or comments to our office at info@flboardofmedicine.gov.
We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Submit your application, supporting documentation, and applicable fee payment, to the following address:

Department of Health/ HMQAM
P.O. Box 6330
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6330

Receiving your application and logging in your check usually takes about 7-10 days. Once the application is logged in, it is then forwarded to the board office.

NOTE: The reason you must use the above address is because of the fees you must enclose.
Mail additional documentation or anything without a fee to the following address:

Department of Health
Medical Quality Assurance/Board of Medicine
HMQAM
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN #CO3
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253

All documents must have your name as listed on your application to ensure materials reach your application in a timely manner.

Again, 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. 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.

Section 456.013(1)(a), Florida Statutes provides that a licensure application and application fee are valid for one year. Application fees are non-refundable.

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.

Fees

Application fee:

$350.00 (non-refundable)

Initial license fee:

$355.00

NICA fee:

$250.00 or $5,000.00 (please read information at www.nica.com)

NICA Partnership Brochure

Dispensing Practitioner fee:

$100.00 (optional, this fee is for selling pharmaceuticals in your office)

If you are in a residency or fellowship at the time of certification (approval), you may pay a reduced license fee.   As a result, your license will reflect an “in-training” status.  Reduced Fees:

  • Application fee: $350.00 (non-refundable)
  • Initial license fee: $205.00
  • NICA fee: Exempt (please read information at www.nica.com)

To receive the fee reduction your training director must send a letter addressed to the Florida Board of Medicine verifying dates of your training.

NOTE: “in-training” status will not limit your practice to training; license issued will be an unrestricted medical license.

Make certified checks or money orders payable to: “Department of Health” (DOH); or pay by credit card when applying online.

Statutes and Rules

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

456.013 Department; general licensing provisions
458.311 Licensure by examination
458.313 Licensure by endorsement
458.331 Grounds for disciplinary action
456.035 Address of record
456.039 Designated health care professionals; information requirement for licensure
456.048 Financial responsibility requirements for certain health care practitioners
456.0635 Medicaid fraud; disqualification for license, certification, or registration
458.320 Financial responsibility

Florida Administrative Code

64B8-1.007 List of approved Forms
64B8-2.001 Definitions
64B8-3.002 Applications, Certification, Registration, and Licensure Fees
64B8-4 Licensure
64B8-5.001 Examinations
64B-2.001 Practitioner Profile
64B8-12.001 Financial Responsibility applicability
64B8-12.005 Financial Responsibility procedures
64B8-12.007 Financial Responsibility exemptions for persons not practicing in Florida; Change of status

Before practicing medicine in Florida, read Chapter 456, 458, and 766.301-.316 Florida Statutes (F. S.), and Rule Chapter 64B8, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C). You must know and comply with the laws and rules as they pertain to your professional practice. Laws and rules are subject to change at any time. For updated information refer to the following web-sites www.leg.state.fl.us (Florida Statutes) and www.flrules.org/(Florida Administrative Code).

License by MOBILE Endorsement

Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Requirements, Process, Fees, Statutes and Administrative Rules for a Medical Doctor by Endorsement.

Requirements

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;

    OR

    An applicant for a profession that does not require a national examination or national certification is eligible for licensure if the applicable board, or the department if there is no board, determines that the jurisdiction in which the applicant currently holds an active, unencumbered license meets established minimum education requirements and, if applicable, examination, work experience, and clinical supervision requirements are substantially similar to the requirements for licensure in that profession in this state.

  3. Must have actively practiced the profession for at least three years during the four-year period immediately preceding the date of submission of this application.
  4. Must not have ever been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, unless the applicant successfully appealed to have the report removed.
  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.
  7. Must meet the financial responsibility requirements of section 456.048, Florida Statutes, or the applicable practice act, if required for the profession for which you are applying. The following professions must demonstrate compliance with financial responsibility as part of licensure.
    Acupuncturist (ch. 457) Chiropractic Physician (ch. 460) Licensed Midwife (ch. 467)
    Medical Doctor (ch. 458) Podiatric Physician (ch. 461) Certified Nursing Assistant (ch. 464)
    Osteopathic Physician (ch. 459) Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (ch. 464) Anesthesiologist Assistant (ch. 458, 459)
  8. Refer to section 456.0145(2)(c), Florida Statutes, for licensure ineligibility criteria.
  9. Professions requiring Livescan screening are listed below.
    Medical Doctor (ch. 458) Nurse – LPN, RN, APRN (ch. 464) Anesthesiologist Assistant (ch. 458, 459)
    Osteopathic Physician (ch. 459) Athletic Trainer (ch. 468, Part XIII) Certified Nursing Assistant (ch. 464)
    Chiropractic Physician (ch. 460) Massage Therapist (ch. 480) Orthotist, Prosthetist, and Pedorthist (ch. 468)
    Podiatric Physician (ch. 461) Physician Assistant (ch. 458, 459)
  10. Practitioner Profiling: Sections 456.039 and 456.0391, Florida Statutes, require certain practitioners to furnish specific information for publication on the Department of Health’s website.
    Medical Doctor (ch. 458) Chiropractic Physician (ch. 460) Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (ch. 464)
    Osteopathic Physician (ch. 459) Podiatric Physician (ch. 461)

 

Process

Applicants must complete the following steps:

  1. Contact the state board(s) in which a license is held to request that license verification be sent to Florida. If the state has an online verification including disciplinary actions, we will accept the online verification.
  2. Request national examination scores from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).
  3. Apply online at flhealthsource.gov, pay applicable fees, and upload any necessary supplemental documentation.
  4. If applicants have any affirmative answers in the criminal, personal, or disciplinary sections of the application, submission of a personal statement and supporting documentation can be uploaded with the online application.
  5. Please allow up to 10 business days for initial review of a new application. All applications and document submissions are reviewed in the order they are received. After your application is reviewed, any deficiencies will be communicated to you in writing by Board staff. To expedite processing, please submit all required supporting documentation with your application along with all requisite fees. If you are having documentation submitted by another entity on your behalf, please use the Board office’s mailing address below to ensure delivery.
  6. When all requirements are met, a license will be issued to qualified applicants within seven days pursuant to section 456.0145(2)(e), Florida Statutes.

    Department of Health
    Board of Medicine
    4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-03
    Tallahassee, FL 32399-3256

Fees
Application fee (non-refundable): $350
Initial licensing fee: $350
Unlicensed activity fee: $5
NICA fee (choose one NICA designation):
NICA Exempt $0
NICA Non-Participating $250
NICA Participating $5,000
Total $705 plus appropriate
NICA fee

 

Statutes and Rules

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

Florida Administrative Code

New Limited License

Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Initial Licensing Requirements, Process, Fees, Statutes and Administrative Rules for a Limited License Medical Doctor.

Requirements
General Requirements

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.

Effective July 1, 2012, section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, provides 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.

Health Care Fraud, Disqualification for Licensure, Certificate, or Registration

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides 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:
    1. 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;
    2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
    3. 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.
Background Screening

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.

General Information

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 info@flboardofmedicine.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.

Process

Section 456.013(1)(a), Florida Administrative Code, provides that a licensure application and application fee are valid for one year.  Application fees are non-refundable.

To practice medicine in the state of Florida, you must have a valid Florida medical license. The licensing process involves the collection of credentials from the applicant and from other sources. Once all materials are submitted, an application specialist will review them; however, it may be necessary for the application specialist to request additional information. Our goal is to review materials as quickly as possible, but we must be thorough.

You can help expedite the application process by including all relevant materials with your application packets (medical school transcripts, residency certificates, etc). We will mail you a deficiency letter approximately 30 days after receiving your application, so please refrain from contacting our office until after you have received your initial deficiency letter. Time spent on the telephone impacts time available for staff to process applications.

Please email questions or comments to our office at info@flboardofmedicine.gov.
We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.

Submit your application, supporting documentation, and applicable fee payment, to the following address:

Department of Health/ HMQAM
P.O. Box 6330
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6330

Receiving your application and logging in your check usually takes about 5 business days. Once the application is logged in, it is then forwarded to the board office. NOTE: The reason you must use the above address is because of the fee you must enclose.

Mail additional documentation or anything without a fee to the following address:

Department of Health
Medical Quality Assurance/Board of Medicine
HMQAM
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN #CO3
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253

All documents must have your name as listed on your application to ensure materials reach your application in a timely manner.

Again, 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. 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 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.

Fees

Fully retired or semiretired in all jurisdictions and will use the Limited License for Non-compensated practice.

The application fee is waived

Fully retired in all jurisdictions and will use this Limited License for compensated practice.

Application fee:

$300.00

Initial license fee:

$355.00

NICA fee:

$250.00 or $5,000.00
(please read information at www.nica.com)

NICA Partnership Brochure

Dispensing Practitioner fee:

$100.00
(optional, this fee is for selling pharmaceuticals in your office)

Make certified checks or money orders payable to: “Department of Health” (DOH); or pay by credit card when applying online.

Statutes and Rules

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

456.013 Department; general licensing provisions
458.311 Licensure by examination
458.317 Limited license
458.331 Grounds for disciplinary action
456.035 Address of record
456.039 Designated health care professionals; information requirement for licensure
456.048 Financial responsibility requirements for certain health care practitioners
456.0635 Medicaid fraud; disqualification for license, certification, or registration
458.320 Financial responsibility

Florida Administrative Code

64B8-1.007 List of approved Forms
64B8-2.001 Definitions
64B8-3.002 Applications, Certification, Registration, and Licensure Fees
64B8-4 Licensure
64B8-5.001 Examinations
64B-2.001 Practitioner Profile
64B8-12.001 Financial Responsibility applicability
64B8-12.005 Financial Responsibility procedures
64B8-12.007 Financial Responsibility exemptions for persons not practicing in Florida; Change of status

Before practicing medicine in Florida, read Chapter 456, 458, and 766.301-.316 Florida Statutes (F. S.), and Rule Chapter 64B8, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C). You must know and comply with the laws and rules as they pertain to your professional practice. Laws and rules are subject to change at any time. For updated information refer to the following web-sites www.leg.state.fl.us (Florida Statutes) and www.flrules.org (Florida Administrative Code).

Processing Times

Florida law provides that an initial application must be reviewed within 30 days. Below is the average number of days at which we are currently processing.

Apply Online / Return to Login

To apply online visit MQA Services Portal to create an account or return to your account by clicking the button below.

Renew Your Limited License – Compensated

Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and Continuing Medical Education (CME) for a Limited License Medical Doctor (Compensated).

Requirements
General Requirements

The department will renew your license upon receipt of:

  1. Completed Renewal application (Mailed by the Department of Health)
  2. Evidence that you have practiced medicine or have been on the active teaching faculty of an accredited medical school for at least two years of the immediately preceding four years*
  3. Required fees (renewal and background)
  4. Verification of Employment Letter from an approved area of critical need facility
  5. Verification of your current status relating to prescribing controlled substances for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain
  6. Completed Financial Responsibility Form
  7. Updated practitioner profile. To review and approve your practitioner profile, log into MQA Online Services and select ‘Review, Update & Confirm Profile’.
  8. Login to complete Physicians Workforce Survey
  9. Confirmation of required continuing education hours reported into the continuing education tracking system, CE Broker.

* If you have not actively practiced medicine for at least two years of the immediately preceding four years, the board shall require you to successfully complete a board-approved clinical competency examination prior to renewal of your license. The board has approved the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States (SPEX) as the board-approved clinical competency examination that must be completed prior to renewal of the license. For the purpose of this section, “actively practiced medicine” means the practice of medicine by physicians, including those employed by any governmental entity in community or public health, as defined in Chapter 458, Florida Statutes, including physicians practicing administrative medicine.

To ensure you receive notification from the department regarding the renewal, you must have on file with the department your current mailing address. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to become active or inactive before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Licensees requesting to reactivate their license from inactive or retired status are required to pay additional fees and comply with specific continuing education requirements. Please contact the board office at info@flboardofmedicine.gov to request your reactivation requirements.

A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate the competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.

Dispensing Registration

If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs to your patients, you are required to renew your registration at the same time you are renewing your medical license. If you are no longer interested in dispensing medicinal drugs, you can cancel your registration by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register, you can complete the registration process at the time you are renewing your license by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application and paying the dispensing registration fee. The registration fee will be in addition to your renewal fee.

Military Exemption

If you are a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who was in good standing with the board at the time of becoming active and was entitled to practice or engage in the practice of medicine in Florida, you may be eligible to be exempted from renewal requirements for the duration of active duty, and for a period of six months after discharge, but not practicing the profession in the private sector for profit.

If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you may be eligible to be exempted from licensure renewal requirements, but only in cases of absence from the state because your spouses’ duties with the Armed Forces.

Volunteer Health Services Exemption

If you volunteer 160 hours of medical services to the indigent residents of Florida with incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level during the previous biennium, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.

Public School Health Volunteer Exemption

If you volunteer your services in public schools for a minimum of 80 hours a year or if retired, at least 400 hours a year, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.

Member of the Florida Legislature Exemption

If you are a member of the Legislature, the requirements for biennial renewal of your license shall stand continued and extended without the requirement to apply for renewal with the board or department and such license shall be an active status license throughout the period that you are a member of the Legislature and for a period of 60 days after you cease to be a member of the Legislature; however, at any time during your legislative term of office and during the 60 days after your term ends, you may file a completed application that shall consist solely of:

  1. A renewal fee of $250 for each year your license was continued and extended since the last otherwise regularly scheduled biennial renewal year and each year during which the renewed license shall be effective until the next regularly scheduled biennial renewal date.

  2. Documentation of completing 10 hours of continuing medical education credits for each year from the effective date of your last renewed license until the year in which you apply for renewal.

  3. Compliance with practitioner profile requirements in s. 456.031(1)(a)1-8 and (b), and (4)(a), (b), and (c).

Process
Renewal Process

As a medical doctor with a limited license (compensated), you will be required to RENEW BY MAIL.

Your license will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, January 31 of each even year.  At least 90 days before your license expires, the department will mail you a renewal application to your last known address of record. You will have until midnight on the day your license expires to renew. Failure to renew an active license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew active before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Failure to renew your license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status and a delinquent fee will be assessed in addition to the renewal fees. Failure by a delinquent licensee to become active before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Dispensing Registration

If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs, you can renew your registration by paying the registration fee when you renew your medical license.  If you are no longer interested in dispensing medicinal drugs, you can cancel your registration by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register, you can complete the registration process at the time you are renewing your license by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application and paying the dispensing registration fee. The registration fee will be in addition to your renewal fee.

Military Exemption

To receive an exemption from the renewal requirements, please provide a copy of your orders which provides the beginning and end date of your current enlistment or a copy of your spouse’s orders.  If you are a Commissioned Officer, you may provide a letter from your commanding officer that reflects the length of your contract with a beginning and end date to fulfill this requirement.

Volunteer Health Services Exemption

Online renewal is not available at this time for practitioners requesting this exemption.  To receive an exemption from the biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%), you will be required to submit a letter certifying the total number of uncompensated health care service hours volunteered during the renewal cycle along with your renewal application.

Member of the Florida Legislature Exemption

No action is needed; however, at any time during your legislative term of office and during the period of 60 days after your term ends, you may file a completed renewal application as described under the renewal requirements tab.

Information for requesting a Name Change

Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. Please submit a request including your full name as it appears on your license, profession, license number, your new name, your date of birth, the last four digits of your social security number, and your signature. Attach supporting documents, which must be one of the following:

  • a copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court
  • a divorce decree showing the name change
  • a court order showing the name change (Adoption, legal name change, federal identity change)

Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document. A social security card is not considered legal documentation.

Please Note: The last four digits of the SSN are requested as required by DOH Policy Number DOHP 385-LS05-12 Name Changes for Existing Licensees, which was established for security purposes due to past instances of fraudulent activity.

Fees

Note: If you were initially licensed in 2013 or later, you may see a reduction of $24 in your renewal fee.

If renewing BEFORE your license expires, your fees will be:

Active to Active $389.00*
Inactive to Inactive $150.00
Active to Inactive $389.00
Inactive to Active $639.00*
Active to Retired $55.00
Inactive to Retired $55.00

If renewing AFTER your license expires, your fees will be:

Active to Active $749.00*
Inactive to Inactive $510.00
Active to Inactive $849.00
Inactive to Active $1,338.00*
Active to Retired $515.00
Inactive to Retired $515.00

If renewing 120 day Notified Delinquent, your fees will be:

Active to Active $1,104.00*
Inactive to Inactive $635.00
Active to Inactive $874.00
Inactive to Active $1,354.00*
Active to Retired $770.00
Inactive to Retired $540.00

* If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs to your patients in the regular course of your practice, you can renew your dispensing registration by paying the additional $100.00 registration fee, along with the appropriate renewal fee indicated above.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register when you renew your medical license, indicate your request for registration to dispense medicinal drugs by checking the appropriate box on the renewal form and submit a $100.00 registration fee, along with the appropriate renewal fee indicated above.

Statutes and Rules

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

458.317 Limited Licenses
456.013 Department; general licensing provisions
456.031 Requirement for instruction on domestic violence
456.033 Requirement for instruction for certain licensees on HIV and AIDS
456.035 Address of record
456.036 Licenses; active and inactive status; delinquency
456.038 Renewal and cancellation notices
456.039 Designated health care professionals; information requirement for licensure
456.048 Financial responsibility requirements for certain health care practitioners
456.0635 Medicaid fraud; disqualification for license, certification, or registration
458.319 Renewal of license
458.3191 Physician survey
458.320 Financial responsibility
465.0276 Dispensing practitioner
766.1115 Health care providers; creation of agency relationship with governmental contractors.
766.1116 Health care practitioner; waiver of license renewal fees and continuing education

Florida Administrative Code

64B8-13.005 Continuing Education for Biennial Renewal
64B-2.001 Practitioner Profile
64B-9.001 Biennial Licensing
64B8-12.001 Financial Responsibility applicability
64B8-12.005 Financial Responsibility procedures
64B8-12.007 Financial Responsibility exemptions for persons not practicing in Florida; Change of status
64B8-13.001 Criteria for license renewal
64B8-13.005 Continuing education for biennial renewal
64B8-13.0051 Delinquent status license
64B8-3.003 Renewal fees
64B8-3.006 Dispensing fee
64B8-3.009 Unlicensed Activity fee

Renew Your Limited License – Volunteer

Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and Continuing Medical Education (CME) for a Limited License Medical Doctor (Volunteer).

Requirements
General Requirements

The department will renew your license upon completion of the following:

  1. Completed Renewal application (Mailed by the Department of Health)
  2. Evidence that you have practiced medicine or have been on the active teaching faculty of an accredited medical school for at least two years of the immediately preceding four years*
  3. Notarized Fee Waiver Affidavit for Volunteer Status
  4. Verification of Employment Letter from an Approved Area of Critical Need Facility
  5. Completed Financial Responsibility Form
  6. Updated practitioner profile. To review and approve your practitioner profile, log into MQA Online Services and select ‘Review, Update & Confirm Profile’.
  7. Login to complete Physicians Workforce Survey
  8. Verification of your current status relating to prescribing controlled substances for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain
  9. Confirmation of required continuing education hours reported into the continuing education tracking system, CE Broker.

* If you have not actively practiced medicine for at least two years of the immediately preceding four years, the board shall require you to successfully complete a board-approved clinical competency examination prior to renewal of your license. The board has approved the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States (SPEX) as the board-approved clinical competency examination that must be completed prior to renewal of the license. For the purpose of this section, “actively practiced medicine” means the practice of medicine by physicians, including those employed by any governmental entity in community or public health, as defined in Chapter 458, Florida Statutes, including physicians practicing administrative medicine.

To ensure you receive notification from the department regarding the renewal, you must have on file with the department your current mailing address. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to become active before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Licensees requesting to reactivate their license from inactive or retired status are required to pay additional fees and comply with specific continuing education requirements. Please contact the board office at info@flboardofmedicine.gov to request your reactivation requirements.

A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate the competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.

Dispensing Registration

If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs to your patients, you are required to renew your registration at the same time you are renewing your medical license. If you are no longer interested in dispensing medicinal drugs, you can cancel your registration by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register, you can complete the registration process at the time you are renewing your license by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application and paying the dispensing registration fee. The registration fee will be in addition to your renewal fee.

Military Exemption

If you are a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who was in good standing with the board at the time of becoming active and was entitled to practice or engage in the practice of medicine in Florida, you may be eligible to be exempted from renewal requirements for the duration of active duty, and for a period of six months after discharge, but not practicing the profession in the private sector for profit.

If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you may be eligible to be exempted from licensure renewal requirements, but only in cases of absence from the state because your spouses’ duties with the Armed Forces.

Member of the Florida Legislature Exemption

If you are a member of the Legislature, the requirements for biennial renewal of your license shall stand continued and extended without the requirement to apply for renewal with the board or department and such license shall be an active status license throughout the period that you are a member of the Legislature and for a period of 60 days after you cease to be a member of the Legislature; however, at any time during your legislative term of office and during the 60 days after your term ends, you may file a completed application that shall consist solely of:

  1. A renewal fee of $250 for each year your license was continued and extended since the last otherwise regularly scheduled biennial renewal year and each year during which the renewed license shall be effective until the next regularly scheduled biennial renewal date.

  2. Documentation of completing 10 hours of continuing medical education credits for each year from the effective date of your last renewed license until the year in which you apply for renewal.

  3. Compliance with practitioner profile requirements in s. 456.031(1)(a)1-8 and (b), and (4)(a), (b), and (c).

Public School Health Volunteer Exemption

If you volunteer your services in public schools for a minimum of 80 hours a year or if retired, at least 400 hours a year, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.

Process
Renewal Process

As a medical doctor with a limited license (volunteering), you will be required to RENEW BY MAIL.

Your license will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, January 31 of each even year.  At least 90 days before your license expires, the department will mail you a renewal application to your last known address of record. You will have until midnight on the day your license expires to renew. Failure to renew an active license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew active before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Failure to renew your license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status and a delinquent fee will be assessed in addition to the renewal fees. Failure by a delinquent licensee to become active before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Dispensing Registration

If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs, you can renew your registration by paying the registration fee when you renew your medical license.  If you are no longer interested in dispensing medicinal drugs, you can cancel your registration by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register, you can complete the registration process at the time you are renewing your license by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application and paying the dispensing registration fee. The registration fee will be in addition to your renewal fee.

Military Exemption

To receive an exemption from the renewal requirements, please provide a copy of your orders which provides the beginning and end date of your current enlistment or a copy of your spouse’s orders.  If you are a Commissioned Officer, you may provide a letter from your commanding officer that reflects the length of your contract with a beginning and end date to fulfill this requirement.

Volunteer Health Services Exemption

Online renewal is not available at this time for practitioners requesting this exemption.  To receive an exemption from the biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%), you will be required to submit a letter certifying the total number of uncompensated health care service hours volunteered during the renewal cycle along with your renewal application.

Member of the Florida Legislature Exemption

No action is needed; however, at any time during your legislative term of office and during the period of 60 days after your term ends, you may file a completed renewal application as described under the renewal requirements tab.

Information for requesting a Name Change

Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. Please submit a request including your full name as it appears on your license, profession, license number, your new name, your date of birth, the last four digits of your social security number, and your signature. Attach supporting documents, which must be one of the following:

  • a copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court
  • a divorce decree showing the name change
  • a court order showing the name change (Adoption, legal name change, federal identity change)

Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document. A social security card is not considered legal documentation.

Please Note: The last four digits of the SSN are requested as required by DOH Policy Number DOHP 385-LS05-12 Name Changes for Existing Licensees, which was established for security purposes due to past instances of fraudulent activity.

Fees

All renewal fees for a medical doctor with a limited license who volunteers their service are waived.

Statutes and Rules

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

458.317 Limited Licenses
456.013 Department; general licensing provisions
456.031 Requirement for instruction on domestic violence
456.033 Requirement for instruction for certain licensees on HIV and AIDS
456.035 Address of record
456.036 Licenses; active and inactive status; delinquency
456.038 Renewal and cancellation notices
456.039 Designated health care professionals; information requirement for licensure
456.048 Financial responsibility requirements for certain health care practitioners
456.0635 Medicaid fraud; disqualification for license, certification, or registration
458.319 Renewal of license
458.3191 Physician survey
458.320 Financial responsibility
465.0276 Dispensing practitioner
766.1115 Health care providers; creation of agency relationship with governmental contractors.
766.1116 Health care practitioner; waiver of license renewal fees and continuing education

Florida Administrative Code

64B8-13.005 Continuing Education for Biennial Renewal
64B-2.001 Practitioner Profile
64B-9.001 Biennial Licensing
64B8-12.001 Financial Responsibility applicability
64B8-12.005 Financial Responsibility procedures
64B8-12.007 Financial Responsibility exemptions for persons not practicing in Florida; Change of status
64B8-13.001 Criteria for license renewal
64B8-13.005 Continuing education for biennial renewal
64B8-13.0051 Delinquent status license
64B8-3.003 Renewal fees
64B8-3.006 Dispensing fee
64B8-3.009 Unlicensed Activity fee

Renew Your License – MD In-Training

Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and Continuing Medical Education (CME) for a Medical Doctor In-Training.

Requirements
General Requirements

The department will renew your license upon completion of the following:

  1. Completed Renewal Application

  2. Required fees (renewal and background screen fees)

  3. Your current primary place of practice address

  4. Login to verify your Practitioner Profile

  5. Login to complete Physicians Workforce Survey

  6. Verification of your current status relating to prescribing controlled substances for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain

  7. Confirmation of required continuing education hours reported into the continuing education tracking system, CE Broker.

Licensed medical doctors in training are renewed by the department in two groups:

Group 1 – current license will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, January 31, 2026

Group 2 – current licenses will expire at midnight, Eastern Time,  January 31, 2027

To ensure you receive notification from the department regarding the renewal, you must have on file with the department your current mailing address. Failure to renew an active license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew active before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Dispensing Registration

If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs to your patients, you are required to renew your registration at the same time you are renewing your medical license. If you are no longer interested in dispensing medicinal drugs, you can cancel your registration by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register, you can complete the registration process at the time you are renewing your license by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application and paying the dispensing registration fee. The registration fee will be in addition to your renewal fee.

Military Exemption

If you are a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who was in good standing with the board at the time of becoming active and was entitled to practice or engage in the practice of medicine in Florida, you may be eligible to be exempted from renewal requirements for the duration of active duty, and for a period of six months after discharge, but not practicing the profession in the private sector for profit.

If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you may be eligible to be exempted from licensure renewal requirements, but only in cases of absence from the state because your spouses’ duties with the Armed Forces.

Volunteer Health Services Exemption

If you volunteer 160 hours of medical services to the indigent residents of Florida with incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level during the previous biennium, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.

Public School Health Volunteer Exemption

If you volunteer your services in public schools for a minimum of 80 hours a year or if retired, at least 400 hours a year, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.

Member of the Florida Legislature Exemption

If you are a member of the Legislature, the requirements for biennial renewal of your license shall stand continued and extended without the requirement to apply for renewal with the board or department and such license shall be an active status license throughout the period that you are a member of the Legislature and for a period of 60 days after you cease to be a member of the Legislature; however, at any time during your legislative term of office and during the 60 days after your term ends, you may file a completed application that shall consist solely of:

  1. A renewal fee of $250 for each year your license was continued and extended since the last otherwise regularly scheduled biennial renewal year and each year during which the renewed license shall be effective until the next regularly scheduled biennial renewal date.

  2. Documentation of completing 10 hours of continuing medical education credits for each year from the effective date of your last renewed license until the year in which you apply for renewal.

  3. Compliance with practitioner profile requirements in s. 456.031(1)(a)1-8 and (b), and (4)(a), (b), and (c).

Process
Renewal Process

At least 90 days before your license expires, the department will mail you a renewal notification to your last known address of record. You will have until midnight eastern time on the day your license expires to renew. Failure to renew an active license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew active before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Group 1 – current licenses will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, January 31, 2026. Delinquent licenses that expired on January 31, 2024 become null and void on February 1, 2026.

Group 2 – current licenses will expire January 31, 2027. Delinquent licenses expired on January 31, 2025 will become null and void on February 1, 2027.

Failure to renew your license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status and a delinquent fee will be assessed in addition to the renewal fees. Failure by a delinquent licensee to become active before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

If your license is Delinquent/Active or Delinquent/Inactive you may still renew prior to the renewal deadline. The following actions must be taken prior to renewing your license:

  • Prior to renewing your license, you must report your continuing education (CE) hours to the Department of Health’s tracking system.
  • To renew a delinquent license, you will need to report your CE hours for your current cycle, as well as your previous cycle.
  • If you did not complete CE courses in your last renewal cycle, you may complete them now and report them to the CE tracking system.
  • To report course completion, log onto your MQA Online Account.  From your dashboard, go to “Additional Activities” and select Report CE/CME.

Please note, when renewing your license, a delinquent fee will be assessed in addition to all applicable renewal fees.

Renewal Instructions:

  1. Go to www.flhealthsource.gov and click the “Renew A License” button.
  2. Enter your Personal Identifying Information (PII), then click the Login button.
  3. Confirm or update your MQA Services Account email address, then click the “Continue” button.
  4. You are now in the Dashboard. During renewals, a “Renew My License” option will populate no later than 90 days prior to your license expiration date. (Note: If you do not see the “Renew My License” option, please check back at a later time.)

*** If the “PII Failed” screen displays, click the “Other Login Option” button and enter your existing User ID and password to access your account.***

Dispensing Registration

If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs, you can renew your registration by paying the registration fee when you renew your medical license.  If you are no longer interested in dispensing medicinal drugs, you can cancel your registration by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register, you can complete the registration process at the time you are renewing your license by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application and paying the dispensing registration fee. The registration fee will be in addition to your renewal fee.

Military Exemption

To receive an exemption from the renewal requirements, please provide a copy of your orders which provides the beginning and end date of your current enlistment or a copy of your spouse’s orders.  If you are a Commissioned Officer, you may provide a letter from your commanding officer that reflects the length of your contract with a beginning and end date to fulfill this requirement.

Volunteer Health Services Exemption

Online renewal is not available at this time for practitioners requesting this exemption.  To receive an exemption from the biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%), you will be required to submit a letter certifying the total number of uncompensated health care service hours volunteered during the renewal cycle along with your renewal application.

Member of the Florida Legislature Exemption

No action is needed; however, at any time during your legislative term of office and during the period of 60 days after your term ends, you may file a completed renewal application as described under the renewal requirements tab.

Information for requesting a Name Change

Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. Please submit a request including your full name as it appears on your license, profession, license number, your new name, your date of birth, the last four digits of your social security number, and your signature. Attach supporting documents, which must be one of the following:

  • a copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court
  • a divorce decree showing the name change
  • a court order showing the name change (Adoption, legal name change, federal identity change)

Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document. A social security card is not considered legal documentation.

Please Note: The last four digits of the SSN are requested as required by DOH Policy Number DOHP 385-LS05-12 Name Changes for Existing Licensees, which was established for security purposes due to past instances of fraudulent activity.

Fees

Note: If you were initially licensed in 2013 or later, you may see a reduction of $24 in your renewal fee.

If renewing BEFORE your license expires, your fees will be:

Active to Active $229.00

If renewing AFTER your license expires, your fees will be:

Delinquent to Active $579.00

If renewing 120 days Notified Delinquent, your fees will be:

Delinquent to Active $784.00

* If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs to your patients in the regular course of your practice, you can renew your dispensing registration by paying the additional $100.00 registration fee, along with the appropriate renewal fee indicated above.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register when you renew your medical license, indicate your request for registration to dispense medicinal drugs by checking the appropriate box on the renewal form and submit a $100.00 registration fee, along with the appropriate renewal fee indicated above.

Statutes and Rules

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

456.013 Department; general licensing provisions
456.031 Requirement for instruction on domestic violence
456.033 Requirement for instruction for certain licensees on HIV and AIDS
456.035 Address of record
456.036 Licenses; active and inactive status; delinquency
456.038 Renewal and cancellation notices
456.039 Designated health care professionals; information requirement for licensure
456.048 Financial responsibility requirements for certain health care practitioners
456.0635 Medicaid fraud; disqualification for license, certification, or registration
458.319 Renewal of license
458.3191 Physician survey
458.320 Financial responsibility
465.0276 Dispensing practitioner
766.1115 Health care providers; creation of agency relationship with governmental contractors.
766.1116 Health care practitioner; waiver of license renewal fees and continuing education

Florida Administrative Code

64B-2.001 Practitioner Profile
64B-9.001 Biennial Licensing
64B8-12.001 Financial Responsibility applicability
64B8-12.005 Financial Responsibility procedures
64B8-12.007 Financial Responsibility exemptions for persons not practicing in Florida; Change of status
64B8-13.001 Criteria for license renewal
64B8-13.005 Continuing education for biennial renewal
64B8-13.0051 Delinquent status license
64B8-3.003 Renewal fees
64B8-3.006 Dispensing fee
64B8-3.009 Unlicensed Activity fee

Renew Your License – MD Unrestricted

Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and Continuing Medical Education (CME) for a Medical Doctor.

Requirements
General Renewal Requirements - MD Unrestricted

Group 1 – current license will expire at midnight, Eastern Time, January 31, 2026. Delinquent licenses that expired on January 31, 2024 become null and void on February 1, 2026.

Group 2 – current licenses will expire January 31, 2027. Delinquent licenses expired on January 31, 2025 will become null and void on February 1, 2027.

Any person holding an active license to practice medicine in the state may convert that license to a limited license for the purpose of providing volunteer, uncompensated care for low-income Floridians. The applicant must submit a statement from the employing agency or institution stating that he or she will not receive compensation for any service involving the practice of medicine. The application and all licensure fees, including neurological injury compensation assessments, shall be waived.

The department will renew your license upon receipt of:

  • Completed renewal application
  • Required fees
  • Updated Practitioner Profile. To review and approve your practitioner profile, log into MQA Online Services and select ‘Review, Update & Confirm Profile’.
  • Completed Physician Workforce Survey
  • Completed Financial Responsibility Form

Additional Information:
You may renew online if you have a credit or debit card to complete the transaction. Please note that you can now renew online, print a copy of your application summary and mail it with your cashier’s check or money order to:
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
P.O. Box 6320
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6320

At least 90 days before your license expires, the department will mail you a renewal notification postcard to your last known mailing address of record. You will have until midnight, Eastern Time, on the day your license expires to renew. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

Dispensing Registration

If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs to your patients, you are required to renew your registration at the same time you are renewing your medical license. If you are no longer interested in dispensing medicinal drugs, you can cancel your registration by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register, you can complete the registration process at the time you are renewing your license by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application and paying the dispensing registration fee. The registration fee will be in addition to your renewal fee.

Military Exemption

If you are a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who was in good standing with the board at the time of becoming active and was entitled to practice or engage in the practice of medicine in Florida, you may be eligible to be exempted from renewal requirements for the duration of active duty, and for a period of six months after discharge, but not practicing the profession in the private sector for profit.

If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you may be eligible to be exempted from licensure renewal requirements, but only in cases of absence from the state because your spouses’ duties with the Armed Forces.

Volunteer Health Services Exemption

If you volunteer 160 hours of medical services to the indigent residents of Florida with incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level during the previous biennium, or 800 hours if you are fully retired from compensated practice, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and up to 25% of the continuing education hours required for license renewal. Mandatory continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, medical errors and prescribing cannot be waived.

Public School Health Volunteer Exemption

If you volunteer your services in public schools for a minimum of 80 hours a year or if retired, at least 400 hours a year, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.

Member of the Florida Legislature Exemption

If you are a member of the Legislature, the requirements for biennial renewal of your license shall stand continued and extended without the requirement to apply for renewal with the board or department and such license shall be an active status license throughout the period that you are a member of the Legislature and for a period of 60 days after you cease to be a member of the Legislature; however, at any time during your legislative term of office and during the 60 days after your term ends, you may file a completed application that shall consist solely of:

    • A renewal fee of $250 for each year your license was continued and extended since the last otherwise regularly scheduled biennial renewal year and each year during which the renewed license shall be effective until the next regularly scheduled biennial renewal date.
    • Documentation of completing 10 hours of continuing medical education credits for each year from the effective date of your last renewed license until the year in which you apply for renewal.
  • Compliance with practitioner profile requirements in s. 456.039(1)(a)1-8 and (b), and (4)(a), (b), and (c).
Health Care Price Transparency Exemption

If you post a sign with a schedule of your charges, you may be exempt from paying license fees and completing continuing medical education for one biannual renewal period.   Section 381.026(4) Florida Statutes created provisions for exemption from one two-year reporting cycle of continuing medical education credits and license fees for primary care physicians who post a schedule of medical charges.  This waiver does not include the unlicensed activity fee, background check fee or dispensing fee.  Primary care physicians include medical doctors, osteopathic physicians and advanced registered nurse practitioners who provide medical services commonly provided without referral from another health care provider, including family and general practice, general pediatrics and general internal medicine.

Process
Renewal Process

Renewal Instructions:

  1. Go to www.flhealthsource.gov and click the “Renew A License” button.
  2. Enter your Personal Identifying Information (PII), then click the Login button.
  3. Confirm or update your MQA Services Account email address, then click the “Continue” button.
  4. You are now in the Dashboard. During renewals, a “Renew My License” option will populate no later than 90 days prior to your license expiration date. (Note: If you do not see the “Renew My License” option, please check back at a later time.)

*** If the “PII Failed” screen displays, click the “Other Login Option” button and enter your existing User ID and password to access your account.***

You may RENEW ONLINE if:

  1. You do not need to change your license to an Active Status
  2. You have a credit card/debit card to complete the transaction

You must RENEW BY MAIL if:

  1. You need to change the status of your license to Active
  2. You need to pay using a cashier’s check or money order
  3. You do NOT have a credit card/debit card to complete the transaction.
  4. You need to request a name change

If your license is Delinquent/Active or Delinquent/Inactive you may still renew prior to the renewal deadline. The following actions must be taken prior to renewing your license:

  • Prior to renewing your license, you must report your continuing education (CE) hours to the Department of Health’s tracking system.
  • To renew a delinquent license, you will need to report your CE hours for your current cycle, as well as your previous cycle.
  • If you did not complete CE courses in your last renewal cycle, you may complete them now and report them to the CE tracking system.
  • To report course completion, log onto your MQA Online Account.  From your dashboard, go to “Additional Activities” and select Report CE/CME.

Please note, when renewing your license, a delinquent fee will be assessed in addition to all applicable renewal fees.

A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and has not practiced at least 2 out of the preceding 4 years, and who wishes to reactivate the license, may be required to demonstrate the competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination (SPEX) or by completing other reactivation requirements.

Dispensing Registration

If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs, you can renew your registration by paying the registration fee when you renew your medical license.  If you are no longer interested in dispensing medicinal drugs, you can cancel your registration by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register, you can complete the registration process at the time you are renewing your license by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application and paying the dispensing registration fee. The registration fee will be in addition to your renewal fee.

Military Exemption

To receive an exemption from the renewal requirements, please provide a copy of your orders which provides the beginning and end date of your current enlistment or a copy of your spouse’s orders.  If you are a Commissioned Officer, you may provide a letter from your commanding officer that reflects the length of your contract with a beginning and end date to fulfill this requirement.

Volunteer Health Services Exemption

To receive an exemption from the biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%), you will be required to submit a letter certifying the total number of uncompensated health care service hours volunteered during the renewal cycle along with your renewal application. Online renewal is available if you provide the Certification of Hours letter to the Board at least 30 days prior to renewal of license.

Member of the Florida Legislature Exemption

No action is needed; however, at any time during your legislative term of office and during the period of 60 days after your term ends, you may file a completed renewal application as described under the renewal requirements tab.

Health Care Price Transparency Exemption

Online renewal is not available at this time for practitioners requesting this exemption.  To receive an exemption from paying license fees and completing continuing medical education for one biannual renewal period, you will be required to provide proof of your compliance with Section 381.026(4), Florida Statutes, prior to renewing your license.  Examples of proof may include but are not limited to:

  • A receipt of invoice for the sign with the date paid and the dimension of the sign;
  • A photo of the sign with some reference as to the size include in the photo; or
  • Other official documentation of the size of the sign and its posting in a conspicuous place in the reception area of the provider’s office.

The specific requirements for the sign are listed below:

  • Your sign must be posted in a conspicuous place in the reception area of your office.
  • Your sign must be at least 15 square feet.
  • Your sign must list the 50 most common services provided to an uninsured person paying by cash, check, credit card or debit card.
  • Your sign must be continuously posted for the duration of licensure in Florida when primary care services are provided to patients.
Information for requesting a Name Change

Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. Please submit a request including your full name as it appears on your license, profession, license number, your new name, your date of birth, the last four digits of your social security number, and your signature. Attach supporting documents, which must be one of the following:

  • a copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court
  • a divorce decree showing the name change
  • a court order showing the name change (Adoption, legal name change, federal identity change)

Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document. A social security card is not considered legal documentation. Please Note: The last four digits of the SSN are requested as required by DOH Policy Number DOHP 385-LS05-12 Name Changes for Existing Licensees, which was established for security purposes due to past instances of fraudulent activity.

Fees

Note: If you were initially licensed in 2013 or later, you may see a reduction of $24 in your renewal fee.

If renewing BEFORE your license expires, your fees will be:

Active to Active $379.00*
Inactive to Inactive $149.00
Active to Inactive $499.00
Inactive to Active $629.00*
Active to Retired $55.00
Inactive to Retired $55.00

If renewing AFTER your license expires, your fees will be:

Active to Active $729.00*
Inactive to Inactive $499.00
Active to Inactive $949.00
Inactive to Active $1,079.00*
Active to Retired $505.00
Inactive to Retired $505.00

If renewing 120 day Notified Delinquent, your fees will be:

Active to Active $1,084.00*
Inactive to Inactive $624.00
Active to Inactive $974.00
Inactive to Active $1,334.00*
Active to Retired $760.00
Inactive to Retired $530.00

* If you are currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs to your patients in the regular course of your practice, you can renew your dispensing registration by paying the additional $100.00 registration fee, along with the appropriate renewal fee indicated above.

If you are not currently registered to dispense medicinal drugs and would like to register when you renew your medical license, indicate your request for registration to dispense medicinal drugs by checking the appropriate box on the renewal form and submit a $100.00 registration fee, along with the appropriate renewal fee indicated above.

Statutes and Rules

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

381.026 Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
456.013 Department; general licensing provisions
456.024 Members of Armed Forces in good standing with administrative boards or the department; spouses
456.031 Requirement for instruction on domestic violence
456.033 Requirement for instruction for certain licensees on HIV and AIDS
456.035 Address of record
456.036 Licenses; active and inactive status; delinquency
456.038 Renewal and cancellation notices
456.039 Designated health care professionals; information requirement for licensure
456.048 Financial responsibility requirements for certain health care practitioners
456.0635 Medicaid fraud; disqualification for license, certification, or registration
458.319 Renewal of license
458.3191 Physician survey
458.320 Financial responsibility
458.321 Inactive status
465.0276 Dispensing practitioner
766.1115 Health care providers; creation of agency relationship with governmental contractors.
766.1116 Health care practitioner; waiver of license renewal fees and continuing education

Florida Administrative Code

64B-2.001 Practitioner Profile
64B-9.001 Biennial Licensing
64B8-12.001 Financial Responsibility applicability
64B8-12.005 Financial Responsibility procedures
64B8-12.007 Financial Responsibility exemptions for persons not practicing in Florida; Change of status
64B8-13.001 Criteria for license renewal
64B8-13.005 Continuing education for biennial renewal
64B8-13.0051 Delinquent status license
64B8-3.003 Renewal fees
64B8-3.004 Change of Status fees
64B8-3.006 Dispensing fee
64B8-3.009 Unlicensed Activity fee

Renew Online

To renew online visit the MQA Services Portal by clicking the button below.