How to Get a Texas Physician Medical License in 6 “Simple” Steps!
Are you considering applying for a Texas Physician License?
The Texas Medical Board has one of the most difficult State Medical License processes in the USA. It is a paradox though because the verification work load is light in comparison to many other Medical Boards. What the Texas Medical Board lacks in primary source verification requirements, it makes up for in complex Bureaucracy. With the State of Texas Medical Boards, there are two separate processes which have to be cleared in order to receive your Texas Physicians License.
Determine your eligibility for a Texas Physicians License.
The first step to geting your Texas Physicians license is called the CIC-Screen process. Once an application is submitted to the Texas Medical Board, the verifying sources are then requested, pursued, and delivered to the Texas Medical Board. After receiving the required verifications, the application is then forwarded to the Licensure Department of the Texas Medical Board. Once the Licensure Department receives the application from CIC-Screen, the “Licensure Investigator” reviews the application and Applications.
Understanding and ensuring you meet your boards’ eligibility requirements prior to completing the application will save you hours time, hundreds of dollars and the possibility that you will be required to make an appearance in front of the Board.
- Graduation from an accredited allopathic medical school
- American & Canadian Graduates – 1 year of postgraduate training
- International Graduates – 2 years of postgraduate training, in the same specialty
- Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, and III within seven (7) years of passing the first step; 10 years if you are specialty board certified by an ABMS or BOS board, or have practiced under a Texas FTL for 1 year.
- International Graduates – Specialty board certification by AMBS or BOS Board.
- Demonstration of current clinical competency by –
- Being licensed in another jurisdiction and have actively practiced medicine in another jurisdiction for at least two of the immediately preceding four years, or
- Passing a board-approved clinical competency examination within the year preceding filing of the application, or
- Successful completion of board approved postgraduate training program within two years preceding filing of the application, or
- Passing 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 or
- Be 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.
Completing the Application
The Board provides online and paper versions of the application. To avoid delays, it is recommended that you complete the online application. Allow one to two hours to complete the application. You should spend a few minutes reviewing the application so you know what to expect. A sample application can be reviewed here.
Most questions are fairly routine. However, there are a number of questions dealing with adverse or non-routine situations.
If you answer “Yes” to any questions related to any adverse actions, the Board will require a written explanation and documentation. The type of documentation the Board will require varies, but at the least, they will require –
- Documents detailing the action and recourse taken by the adjudicating authority
- Orders, resolutions, and satisfactions related to the action
- The Board could request any transcripts of depositions, interviews or meeting minutes
Question #6 – Criminal History
You must disclose any conviction, guilty plea, nolo contendere or no contest to any felony or misdemeanor, other than minor traffic offenses. Any DUI is required to be reported.
The criminal background check is comprehensive, so practice “Full Disclosure”. Failing to report an offense will likely require an appearance before the Board and possibly license denial. “My attorney told me not to report” is not a defense accepted by the Board.
If you answer yes to this question you must include –
- A written explanation of the event to include the precipitating factors, any pleas or verdicts, and how penalties or sentences were satisfied.
- The arrest report.
- All court documents.
- Complete & submit Form R.
Submit the Texas Physician Medical License Application and Pay the Fees
- The fee for physician licensure in Texas is $817.00. The entire fee must be submitted before your application can be assigned and processed. This fee does not include the registration fee, which is due and payable upon issuance of your permanent license.
- If you are applying for a Full Texas Physician Medical License, the registration fees for 12 months with be $283.24 or $469.24 for 24 months.
- An additional processing fee of $50 will be charged to those licensees who choose to register through a paper form, when an online option is available. If an online option is not available (ex: license is delinquent or suspended at the time of registration) the additional processing fee will not be required
- Senate Bill 807, allows for the waiver of application fees for any military service member, military spouse or military veteran. There is no current reduced registration fee.
Credential Verification Requests
As part of the Texas Physician Medical License process, the Board will require a number of your credentials be verified. All of the verification’s will need to be sent from the credential holders directly to the Texas Medical Board.
Verifications required
- Medical School Verification Form*
- Postgraduate Training Verification Form*
- Verification of ALL medical licenses ever held
- Exam Scores*
- ECFMG*, if applicable
- 5th pathway verification letter, if applicable
*If you are having your FCVS packet sent to the Board, you will not need to request these
You may send copies of the following directly to the Board –
- NPDB
- DD-214 or NGB-22, if applicable
A couple of days after you request your medical school and training verifications, you should call and confirm receipt of your request. Make sure to ask about turn around time for completion and then follow up again to confirm the verifications were completed and forwarded to the Board.
Criminal Background Check
Make this priority!
The results take 6-8 weeks for the Board to receive, often making this the last thing the Board needs to issue your license. Texas will not issue your medical license before they receive the results of your criminal background check.
If you Reside withing the state of Texas
If you are in Texas, or reside out of state but can schedule a time to be in Texas, you may make an appointment for a live scan (a process that captures fingerprints without the use of ink), at locations throughout the state of Texas.
- Schedule an appointment to be electronically fingerprinted by MorphoTrust USA at one of their IdentoGo enrollment centers. You may begin the process now by simply clicking on this link.
- Arrive at your scheduled appointment with your photo identification and fee.
- Your fingerprints will be submitted electronically to DPS and the FBI. You will not receive a printed fingerprint card.
- At the conclusion of your appointment, the MorphoTrust enrollment agent will provide you with an IdentoGo receipt stating that you were fingerprinted.
Hard Copy Fingerprinting – If you reside outside the state of Texas
If you reside outside of Texas and cannot schedule an appointment in Texas for a Live Scan, you must be fingerprinted in ink on a card (only cards provided by the Texas Medical Board are acceptable) at a local law enforcement agency, and must then submit the card directly to MorphoTrust USA to be digitally scanned and processed.
- Request a fingerprint card by contacting the Texas Medical Board at [email protected] if you are an applicant.
- Pre-enroll with MorphoTrust USA to submit fingerprint cards.
- Obtain a copy of your fingerprints by a criminal law enforcement agency on an original FBI APPLICANT fingerprint card. ALL requested information must be provided on the fingerprint card and you and the official taking the fingerprints must sign the card. ONLY CARDS PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD ARE ACCEPTABLE.
- All fingerprints MUST be captured by a law enforcement agency.
- Once you have obtained your fingerprint cards, follow the mail-in directions found on the MorphoTrust. Pre-Enrollment Confirmation Page that you previously printed and completed.
- Wait for a receipt from MorphoTrust USA.
Avoid rejections and reprints
If you submit fingerprints that are not “clean”, the processor will have a difficult time analyzing your prints. This could lead to reprints and the delay of your results. One of the most common reasons for “dirty” fingerprints is dry hands. Use a moisturizing hand lotion a couple of days before you are printed to minimize rejection.
DO NOT fingerprint yourself. Yes, there have been those who have tried, but these fingerprints are ALWAYS rejected.
Malpractice Actions
The Texas Medical Board will require reporting of malpractice actions if –
- There was a judgment issued in a court where the incident of malpractice occurred after November 2, 2004, or
- There was a malpractice incident that results in a payment of over $100,000
For each case that meets the above criteria, the Board will require you to submit –
- A written explanation of the details around each case, including your involvement, the complaint, and the resolution.
- Form S.
- Copies of the initial plaintiff complaint and, either the judgment or settlement order
- Any additional documentation you would like to submit
Numerous malpractice payments might require an appearance before the Board. Generally, malpractice actions are of little consequence IF FULLY DISCLOSED AND DOCUMENTED UPFRONT.
Address Deficiencies Quickly
About one month after you submit the application, you should receive either an email or letter from the processor of your Texas Physician Medical License application. This letter will detail deficiencies that need to be satisfied before your license is issued. This letter will also contain information you will need to check the status of deficiencies through the Board’s online portal.
Many times verification’s are completed incorrectly or are not sent to the Board, making it likely that you will need to follow up with the credential holders again. Consistent follow up with the credential holders, and with the Board, is the single most important step for the issuance of you Texas Physician Medical Licenses.
The Texas Medical Board has one of the most difficult State Medical License processes in the USA. Following these 6 steps can make your Texas Physician Medical License process run smoothy!
CONCLUSION
The Texas Physician Medical License process is known to be lengthy and difficult. Expect to spend numerous hours preparing the application, making the verification requests, following up with your credential holders, and addressing deficiencies on your notices from the Texas Physician Medical Board, but…
What if someone offered to…
- Determine your license eligibility
- Make all credential verification requests
- Follow up with credential holders
- Handle additional Medical Board requests
- Make your license process incredibly simple!
You should probably let them!
Only $597 per State
Discounts available for multiple states, training licenses, and military.
Are you considering applying for a Texas Physician License or have you already applied? What is your experience? Do you have questions? Leave them below and we’ll help!
