Pennsylvania Medical License

Doctors are our heroes. Being a doctor means having one of the most influential and prestigious professions and becoming an authority in your community. But it’s not always about the easy and positive things and the benefits you get when you become a doctor, no.

It’s all hard work for years, hundreds of sleepless nights, risks, and fears during your entire career. We know well that it’s hard to become a licensed doctor.

That’s why the rules are really tough when it comes to licensure issues. If you’re just about to start your medical career in the State of Pennsylvania or if you are already a doctor and you need to get a medical license, continue reading this article and find which phase describes you better.

We are here to help you arrange your steps so the process will not be too complicated for you.

Before applying for a license: how to become a doctor in the State of Pennsylvania?

• Start with your education. Get a Bachelor’s degree from a university or college program that is accredited by the state and its length is four years. Note that at this stage it is better to take courses in pre-medicine programs.
• Once you have earned your Bachelor’s degree, you can apply to sit for the MCAT – Medical College Admission Test in the State of Pennsylvania. It is a necessary test that is used to find out the abilities of the candidate in the medical field. If you can pass this test with a good score, you can be enrolled in a university or college medical program.
• When you enter a medical school in Pennsylvania, the education here usually takes four more years. This includes two years of lab and classroom study, after which two years of practice in a clinical setting follow. At this stage, you practice medicine only under supervision.
• After finishing your practice, you will need to complete a residency program. This kind of program usually lasts 3-7 years. It depends on what specialty you have chosen. You can already start practicing medicine when you have completed the first year of your residency program.

How do I apply for a license in Pennsylvania?

When you are done with the residency program, you are ready to apply for licensure. Professional licensure is a necessary process regulated by the State of Pennsylvania to protect public health and safety from fraud.

To apply for a licensure process, you first need to visit the website for the Pennsylvania Department of State. Then select the board and start filling in your details, uploading necessary files, etc. After filling in the application you need to pay the fee and then submit it.

Wait for a response to the email address you have provided. You can get updated information about your application status on the same website.

How long does it take to get a medical license in Pennsylvania?

In fact, there are two main ways to get a medical license – accredited and unaccredited. If you have graduated from a school in the United States or Canada, you can apply for a license through an accredited application.

If you have graduated from an international school outside the United States or Canada, then you will apply using the unaccredited application. Getting a medical license after you submit your application usually takes less than 4-5 months.

Of course, this also depends on some circumstances, including missing documents or taking examinations, exams and background check results, etc.

Do I need to renew my medical license in Pennsylvania?

Once you are a certified doctor in the State of Pennsylvania, you need to know that you have to renew your license continuously. The medical licenses, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State website, expire on December 31 of every even-numbered year. There is an exception for the Medical Doctor – training licenses.

Is it important for a doctor to be licensed in the State of Pennsylvania?

Choosing a doctor is one of the hardest and most responsible cases, whether you are going to see a doctor for prevention or if you have some health issues. For safety and good health, it is always better to know in advance whether the doctor is licensed or not.

When the doctor is licensed, it is obvious that he has a good educational background and is experienced enough to help others. The licensure is important also because some unethical practitioners of medicine can harm people or take fraudulent steps.

As the licensure process is always regulated by the State, one can be sure that all the important steps are taken to protect public health and safety.

How can I check if the physician is licensed?

To be sure that the doctor is licensed or his license is in good standing, you need to check his credentials. We have made a simple and convenient search tool which can be found above. You have to enter some details about your physician to get full information on his educational background.

Check his license status, the board which gave him the license, etc. Be sure you enter the correct details to find the right specialist.

Can the Pennsylvania medical license be transferred to another state?

What if you have passed the whole process of getting licensed in another state and now you have migrated to another state? See, 28 states in the USA are currently accepting applications for multi-state licensure. These 28 states are in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

It means that the licensure process is a lot simpler here if you are already licensed in other states which are also a part of the Compact. The remaining 22 states are not members of the compact. For example, the State of Pennsylvania has passed the legislation to become part of the compact. Unfortunately, that process has been delayed.

This means that any kind of problems and questions are still regulated by the state. You can also find more information about joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact on the official websites of the state governments.