Licensing program overview
The North Carolina Medical Board’s licensing process is designed to thoroughly vet each applicant’s credentials and personal history to ensure they meet the high standards for competence and character established by the state of North Carolina.
Applicants are advised to allow approximately four months from submission of an application to issuance of the license. The time to license can take longer during the months of February – August due to the volume of applications being processed.
Find additional information and guidance by clicking the arrows below to expand each section.
Getting started
To begin a license application, applicants must first register for an NCMB Licensure Gateway account. Once login credentials are established, the applicant should select the appropriate application, complete the questionnaire and pay the license application fee. Once this is done, the applicant should ensure they have requested or obtained all required forms and documentation, using the application checklist for their application type as a guide. Applicants should check their status in the gateway. Please allow 15 business days for documentation to be processed.
Fee schedule
Applications and the associated fee are good for one year. If the license is not issued within a year the application will expire. If an applicant chooses to reapply, he or she will be required to resubmit a new application and pay an additional application fee. Click here to view the fee schedule.
NC law requires licensed physicians and physician assistants to renew their license with the Board within 30 days of their birth date, every year and a renewal fee is required. Please note that a licensee’s first renewal is due within 30 days of their NEXT birthday, even if it occurs shortly after the date a professional license is issued to them. License application fees do NOT count towards the first renewal fee.
Selecting the correct application type
Selecting the correct application type is important to processing your application in a timely manner. Physicians and PAs can choose from five different application types – full license application, full license application using FCVS, expedited, military relocation, reinstatement and reactivation. Please review each application description to determine which one is right for you. Click here for Physicians and here for PAs.
Please note: Selecting the wrong application type will delay the licensure process.
Completing the application
All applicants must answer a series of questions aimed at discovering adverse history and other areas of potential concern, including malpractice, regulatory actions, and loss of privileges. A “YES” answer to one or more of these questions may require the applicant to submit certain information, including an explanation of the specific event. The checklist provides an overview of the kinds of information requested in the application.
To avoid errors and omissions, be sure to have details and any necessary documentation at hand when you complete the questionnaire. For a complete list of these questions please click here.
Monitoring the status of your application
Applicants should regularly check the status of their license application on the NCMB Licensure Gateway. A list of required documentation or requests for additional information will be displayed in the portal.
Logging in to the Gateway to check the status of an application is significantly faster than calling or emailing someone in the Licensing Department. It may take two to five business days to receive a return call or email response.
Fingerprint Cards and Criminal Background Check
All applicants are required to submit fingerprint cards to facilitate completion of state and federal criminal background checks. A $38 charge for this is included in the application fee. There are different processes for completing fingerprint cards depending on whether the applicant resides in North Carolina or out of state. Click here to view the fingerprint guidance instructions.
Be advised that it may take 8-10 weeks for law enforcement to process fingerprint cards and complete criminal background checks during the months of April - August. Applicants are advised to complete their fingerprinting soon after paying their application fee to avoid delays.
Criminal Convictions
NCMB reviews all relevant information when deciding whether to issue a license, including any criminal history the applicant may have. When considering criminal convictions, NCMB considers all the factors listed in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 93B-8.1(b1), which are listed here.
If an applicant has been convicted of a crime, NCMB will, upon request review a prior conviction and notify a prospective applicant of their eligibility for licensure in NC before an application is submitted. To request a predetermination opinion, please email your request to license@ncmedboard.org.
If NCMB denies an application in whole or in part because of a criminal conviction or otherwise, the applicant may pursue the appeals process laid out in N.C. Gen. Stat § 90-14.1, which can be reviewed here.
Special license types
Special license types are available for physicians and PAs practicing in specific circumstances (visiting medical faculty, medical professionals in NC to train others in cutting edge techniques, volunteer clinicians). Find special license types by license type in the Physician and PA licensing sections.
About FCVS
FCVS is the abbreviation for the Federation Credentials Verification Service. For a fee, FCVS stores core credentials for physicians and PAs. State medical boards can use FCVS to obtain primary-source verified, education information for those applying for licensure. FCVS offers an alternative to the standard license application process, which requires applicants to request core credentials directly and have them sent to the licensing board. Learn more about FCVS here.
Common reasons for delays
- Selecting the wrong application type
- Missing documentation
- Incorrect or insufficient documentation (i.e. form is missing signatures, sections left incomplete, unsigned, etc.)
- Not responding to requests for information
- Not checking the status online
- Sending documentation to the wrong email address (license@ncmedboard.org is the best way to communicate with staff)
- Insufficient or unclear information on the applicant’s chronology; Applicants are required to explain gaps in work or education of more than four months and should ensure they give a detailed explanation to avoid follow up questions.