Mass Medical License

START IN EARLY DECEMBER of senior year.

International medical graduates must have completed 3 years of ACGME, AOA or Canadian accredited postgraduate medical training to be eligible to apply for a full Massachusetts Medical License - please reach out to the chiefs or Ted if you think this might apply to you for further guidance before completing the steps below. More details can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/physician-licensing-fees-and-eligibility-requirements.

*** Effective January 1, 2020, all full license applicants must provide the Board with primary source verification of their core credentials through the FCVS. Applicants must complete both the Massachusetts Full License Application AND have a completed FCVS Physician Profile. Link here: https://www.fsmb.org/fcvs/***

It will take 3 months to process your license application. Delaying your submission will impact all the other credentialing you need to complete for jobs and fellowships thereafter, which can take up to 3 months or more.

**IMPORTANT: The key thing to know about a new MA license is that you have to renew it on your first birthday after you obtain the license, with a 90 day grace period. That means that if you obtain your license fewer than 90 days prior to your birthday, you can wait to renew until your next birthday. So if you obtain the license 4 months before your birthday, you have to renew it in 4 months. But if you obtain it 3 months before your birthday, you renew it in 15 months. Essentially, if your birthday is between when you submit (mid-January) and early June, you should ask the board to hold your application until 90 days before your birthday so that you do not have to renew it too early. Otherwise, it is safest just to apply without having the board hold your application, even though it means you will need to renew relatively soon after applying.

Step-by-Step Practical instructions

  1. SAMPLE LICENSE APPLICATION: Use this license application from Kristan Scott ‘21 as a guide.

  2. Got to he MASS BOARD WEBSITE and select “Apply Online.” You will be prompted to make an online account.

  3. Go to page entitled “Full License Application Checklist” within the full license application. Note there are 3 types of documents to submit to the board:

    1. Documents you have to obtain and send with your application – get these first; it takes the longest.

      • First, fill out the FCVS Physician profile which will include much of the credentialing information required for your license including: exam scores, verification of medical education, etc. Since this verification process takes some time, you should do this FIRST before the rest of your application.

      • Second, ask Anne, Elayne, or Missi (or another US Notary Public) to notarize the following forms for you:

        • Photo form (pdf page 21)

        • CORI Form (pdf pages 22-23)

      • Third, ask Ted or Kate to fill out all three of the following documents at the same time. They will get returned to you in a sealed envelope to include in your application packet:

        • Supervisory Evaluation form (pdf pages 24-25)

        • Certificate of Moral and Professional Character form (pdf page 26)

    2. Documents you fill out and send to the Board with your $600 check, including:

      • Full license application – See SAMPLE LICENSE APPLICATION for details.

        • If you don’t know your NPI, Google it.

        • BCH Business Address: Boston Children’s Hospital, Main Building, CB1110, Housestaff Lounge, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston MA 02115.

        • BMC Business Address: Boston Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, 801 Albany, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02119.

        • Make sure your dates for college, medical school, and residency are accurate and match your transcripts.

        • “Hospital Affiliations and Employment” is usually blank UNLESS you have been an attending elsewhere or have had active staff privileges at any other hospital.

        • Your practice specialty is Pediatrics.

        • Your reason to request a license can be “To practice pediatrics in the state of Massachusetts.”

        • You must complete 3 credits of pain management training at OPIOIDPRESCRIBING.COM. You do NOT need to do anything extra for child abuse training.

      • EHR Proficiency Form (pdf page 19) – Select “Employment with, credentialed to provide patient care at, or in a contractual agreement with an eligible hospital or critical access hospital that has implement an electronic health record;” and sign.

      • 90-Day Form (pdf page 20) – See “**IMPORTANT” note above. Ask a chief if confused.

      • CORI Acknowledgement Form (pdf page 22)

      • Liability Carrier Request Form – You do NOT need to fill this out UNLESS you’ve held a full license in another state or have ever been named in a malpractice case.

        • If you need this, you can find your malpractice face sheet in New Innovations:  My Profile —> My Personnel Records —> Green “Files and Notes” tab —> 2020-2021 Malpractice.

    3. Documents you have to have sent directly to the board – don’t request these until after you’ve sent off your license application packet.

      1. AMA profile:  AMA PROFILE REQUEST SITE

    4. Other documents that do not apply to most people but may apply to you (international grads, anyone who has ever changed their name).

  4. Make a copy of your entire application - this VERY important and might be required by on boarding employers before the official license is granted.

  5. Send in your completed application with the $600 check and sealed envelopes forms.. You will receive email confirmation that your application has been received and can then email back and forth with your personal Licensing Analyst about what needs to be added or corrected.

FAQs

1.     When will I need to renew my license?

The MA Board requires that you renew your license on the first birthday after your new license is issued (even if only a few months have passed since your license was issued)! Afterwards, the license must be renewed every 2 years on your birthday (full license renewal costs $600 but can be done easily online).

2.     When will I receive my full license?

If you’re applying any time after November, the process usually takes ~3 months. At that point, you will receive an email saying your application was approved and a wallet card in the mail. Scan a copy of your wallet card – you’ll need to send this to the ABP for your Boards application, to State and Federal DEAs, and to your institution for credentialing.

3.   What if I've lost my NRP card?

Call 1.800.433.9016 ex 4798.  They should be able to send a verification letter.