Medical license
Encyclopedia
In most countries, only persons with a medical license bestowed either by a specified government-approved professional association or a government agency
are authorized to practice medicine
. Licenses are not granted automatically to all people with medical degree
s. A medical school graduate must receive a license to practice medicine before he or she can be called a physician
in a legal sense, a process that usually entails testing or examinations by a medical board. The medical license is the documentation of authority to practice medicine
within a certain locality.
In the United States
, medical licenses are usually granted by each individual state. Only those with medical degrees from schools listed in the AVICENNA Directory for medicine or the FAIMER International Medical Education Directory
are permitted to apply for medical licensure.
The licensure process for most physicians will take 3 to 6 months due to the extensive background checks, educational, training, and historical primary source verifications which are required. One solution which many physicians have utilized is to use an expediting service. These services typically handle the set up, proofing, and submission of the applications to the various medical boards. Most will also submit and follow up with all third party, direct source verifications.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
are authorized to practice medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. Licenses are not granted automatically to all people with medical degree
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
s. A medical school graduate must receive a license to practice medicine before he or she can be called a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
in a legal sense, a process that usually entails testing or examinations by a medical board. The medical license is the documentation of authority to practice medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
within a certain locality.
United States of America
The Federal Government does not grant licensure, but allows a medical doctor with a valid license in ANY state to practice in Federal facilities- so a doctor at the local VA may have a license from a state far away, and no license to practice in the State he/she is actually in. The practice of "tele-medicine" has made it common for doctors to consult or interpret images and information from a distant location. Most states have special licensure for this.In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, medical licenses are usually granted by each individual state. Only those with medical degrees from schools listed in the AVICENNA Directory for medicine or the FAIMER International Medical Education Directory
International Medical Education Directory
The International Medical Education Directory is a public database of worldwide medical schools. The IMED is published as a joint collaboration of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research...
are permitted to apply for medical licensure.
The licensure process for most physicians will take 3 to 6 months due to the extensive background checks, educational, training, and historical primary source verifications which are required. One solution which many physicians have utilized is to use an expediting service. These services typically handle the set up, proofing, and submission of the applications to the various medical boards. Most will also submit and follow up with all third party, direct source verifications.