Full License Applications for Physicians
Most physicians who wish to practice medicine in North Carolina obtain a full medical license. There are multiple license applications to choose from, depending on the individual applicant’s circumstances.
To avoid delays, please take the time to read each license application description to ensure you select the correct application type for you.
Applications, documentation supporting licensure, and the application fee are good for one year. Once an application has expired, the applicant must reapply. Please allow four to six months for licensure.
Full license application
- Application most often used by applicants for a physician license.
- NOT appropriate for international medical school graduates (IMGs) or ANY physician applicant using an FCVS profile. These applicants MUST use the full license application using FCVS (immediately below).
- Applicants must first establish an account using the Licensure Gateway.
Full license application using FCVS
- Application required for most international medical school graduates (IMGs) and physician applicants using an FCVS profile.
- Applicants should NOT submit this application until their FCVS profile is complete.
- IMGs that meet the eligibility requirements for the expedited license (immediately below) may apply using that application type.
Expedited full license application
Roughly 15 percent of all physician applicants qualify for this license application type
- Available ONLY to physician applicants who meet strict eligibility requirements, permitting NCMB to issue a license without the need to review the full range of documentation required by other full license applications.
- Applications from physicians who do not meet the eligibility requirements directed to reapply using the correct application type. Applying for the expedited license without meeting the eligibility requirements will delay the licensure process.
- International medical graduates may use this application type provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
Military relocation license
- Available to physicians who are military service members or the spouse of a military service member who is relocating to North Carolina on military orders. View the eligibility requirements here.
- Military relocation license holders may request to have their license converted to a full license at no cost as long as that request is made within the first year of licensure.
- The licensee is required to notify the Board when the military orders locating them in North Carolina have ended.
Reactivation of NC physician license
- Physicians previously licensed in NC but have had the license made inactive within the past calendar year.
- NOTE: If the license was made inactive more than one year ago OR as a result of disciplinary action, the applicant MUST use the reinstatement application immediately below.
Reinstatement of NC physician license
- Physicians previously licensed in NC who have been inactive for more than one year must submit this application OR were made inactive as a result of disciplinary action must submit this application.