Welcome to the North Carolina Medical Board

Welcome to the North Carolina Medical Board and congratulations on your licensure! We are committed to providing you with tools that will help you be successful in your practice (and hopefully avoid any regulatory issues). The Board has compiled several resources to help you learn about and stay informed on a variety of Board policies and practice specific topics. We suggest you bookmark this page and visit it when you need to. If you have any questions, send us an email or give us a call at 1-800-253-9653.

Getting Started

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Learn more about the Board

The Board consists of 13 members – 11 appointed by the Governor and two appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendations of the Speaker and President Pro Tempore. Eight of the 13 are licensed physicians, one is a licensed physician assistant (PA), one is an approved nurse practitioner (NP), and three are members of the public with no financial or professional interest in a health service or profession.

All Board members serve three-year terms. State law limits members to serving two full, consecutive terms on the Board. 

View the current Board.

Board FAQs

The licensee information page

Plus (click or tap to expand) + What is the licensee information page?

Each licensee has a public facing licensee information page that is found on the Board's website via the Licensee Search function. 

Plus (click or tap to expand) + How do you access and edit your Licensee Information Page?

You can access and edit your licensee profile by logging into the Licensure Gateway

Once logged in, you can add practice information, educational credentials, certifications, area(s) of practice, memberships, honors, awards, academic appointments and publications, and more.

Licensees are encouraged to make use of the many optional categories of information and to also upload a photo.

Plus (click or tap to expand) + What are you obligated to report to the Board?

Under NC law, licensees are required to report certain information to the Board. This includes:

  • Certain criminal convictions
  • Regulatory actions
  • Malpractice 
  • Adverse privileging actions

Additionally, G.S. § 90-5.4 requires licensees to report sexual misconduct with a patient, fraudulent prescribing, drug diversion or theft of any controlled substance by a licensee of the Board.

Refer to the Guide to Reporting Adverse Information for more details.

Practicing in North Carolina

Laws and Rules

Medicine is a complex and rapidly changing field governed by an ever-increasing web of laws and administrative rules. To help licensees stay on top of applicable statutes and regulations, we have gathered key laws and rules in this section.

Plus (click or tap to expand) + North Carolina Medical Practice Act

The Medical Practice Act is chapter 90 of the NC General Statute on medicine and allied health occupations. Chapter 90 is the law that governs the practice of medicine in the state of North Carolina. 

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Rules

The rules of the NC Medical Board are created through the Office of Administrative Hearings and are part of the North Carolina Administrative Code, chapter 32, title 21, Occupational Licensing Boards and Commissions. The Office of Administrative Hearings maintains its own electronic catalog of administrative rules. OAH’s website includes a complete historical account of the rules, which includes repealed rules, as well as a chronological history of amendments. Visit OAH’s version of the NCMB rules by clicking on the links below.

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Position Statements

The North Carolina Medical Board’s (“Board”) position statements are interpretive statements that attempt to define or explain the meaning of laws or rules that govern the practice of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners licensed in North Carolina. The categories are listed below and you can find them here.

  1. Introduction
  2. Patient-Licensee Relationships
  3. Privacy, Confidentiality, & Medical Board Records
  4. Prescribing
  5. Guidance on Procedures and Treatments
  6. Caring for Patients at End-of-Life
  7. Licensees & the Health of the Community
  8. Professional Self-Regulation
  9. Professional Working Relationships
  10. Fees & Charges

Staying Current

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Change of Address/Name

All licensees are required by law to keep current home, practice, and email addresses on file with the Board. Licensees should update this information with the Board within 60 days of any changes. Click here to learn more.

Plus (click or tap to expand) + CME requirements and resources

CME Requirements for: 

  1. Physicians (at least 60 hours of Category I CME completed over a three-year cycle)
  2. Physician Assistants (at least 50 hours of Category I CME completed over a two-year cycle)

CME FAQs

Staying Connected

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Board Notices

Board notices are published on the home page of our website and are to alert licensees on a variety of topics including rule discussions, public health alerts, and various licensee obligations.

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Topics in depth

Topics in depth are a collection of guides and other resources with detailed information about specific topics related to NCMB policies and other select subjects.

Plus (click or tap to expand) + The Forum newsletter

The Forum is the flagship publication of the Board and is produced bi-monthly in a digital format. The Forum covers a variety of topics of interest and is the primary way the Board shares news, policies, health-related subjects, and disciplinary actions.

Plus (click or tap to expand) + MedBoard Matters podcast

Medical regulation is an important but complicated topic. The MedBoard Matters podcast highlights important issues in medicine and medical regulation and can help our licensees stay more informed in an easy-to-digest format. Our top 5 podcasts are listed below.

  1. Patient dismissals: Preserving patient welfare when cutting ties
  2. Don't be fooled by licensing board scams
  3. Clinicians’ critical role in protecting children from abuse
  4. Cultural Competence in Medicine
  5. Signing a death certificate: Why it matters

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Videos

The Board publishes videos on our website and to our YouTube channel.

Check out our video on the 2023 Annual Report.

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Presentations and/or webinars

The Board is pleased to provide speakers to address professional audiences on a variety of topics. Click link to request a speaker.

General Information/Current Initiatives

  • Responsible Opioid Prescribing
  • Supervision of Advanced Practice Providers
  • Avoiding License Application Issues
  • Avoiding Regulatory Problems
  • Licensee Addiction/Abuse

Plus (click or tap to expand) + FAQs

Staying Healthy

Plus (click or tap to expand) + Wellness Resources

Thriving, healthy medical professionals are those best suited to provide high quality patient care. In that spirit, the Board has compiled resources for licensees that explore the diverse topic of clinician wellness. Find them listed here.

Need Help Immediately?
Dial 911 or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit them online.

North Carolina Professionals Health Program