What it Takes | Physicians Eligibility for a Florida Medical License

It is important to point out that law is an art, not a science.  Florida law contains basic requirements for obtaining a medical license.  While some criteria like graduating for an accredited school in the U.S. and passing the USMLE may seem clear cut, some applicants have unique situations which make their application problematic.  Doctors from another state who have issues with prior discipline in that state, prior medical malpractice claims, or a criminal background can slow the application process administered by the Florida Department of Health (DOH).

The Florida Physician Medical License is issued by the Florida Medical Board. Florida is one of 17 states that has established separate boards for Allopathic and Osteopathic physicians. The Medical and Osteopathic Boards have different eligibility requirements. We will review the process for a Florida Physician Medical License in this post.

Understanding and making sure you meet eligibility requirements prior to completing the application will save you time and expense.

Generally, an outline of some of the requirements that are applicable in most situations would look like this:

• Graduation from an accredited allopathic medical school

• American & Canadian Graduates – 1 year of postgraduate training
• International Graduates – 2 years of postgraduate training, in the same specialty
• Successfully passing USMLE, NBME, FLEX, or a combination of these exams. The Puerto Rico licensing exam will not satisfy this requirement.
• International Graduates – ECFMG certification
• Demonstration of current clinical competency by –

1. Being licensed in another jurisdiction and have actively practiced medicine in another jurisdiction for at least two of the immediately preceding four years, or
2. Passing a board-approved clinical competency examination within the year preceding filing of the application, or
3. Successful completion of  board approved postgraduate training program within two years preceding filing of the application, or
4. Passing all parts of a national examination (NBME, FLEX, or USMLE) or currently licensed in the U.S. or Canada, and has actively practiced pursuant to such licensure for at least 10 years, has passed a state board or LMCC examination, and passed the SPEX examination, or
5. Be licensed on the basis of a state board exam prior to 1974, and is currently licensed in at least three other jurisdictions in the U.S. or Canada, and practiced pursuant to such licensure for at least 20 years.

Our Law Firm Helps Physicians:

• Understand the process.
• With advice on how to successfully navigate the system.
• With advice on options & strategies for dealing with PRN.
• Develop strategies for addressing criminal background issues or other issues.
• Drafting of necessary documents to supplement your application.
• Prepare for an appearance before the Board of Medicine’s Credentials Committee, if required.

For more information READ https://www.floridahealth careattorney.com/medical-licenses/

Contact the law firm of Howell, Buchan & Strong, Attorneys at Law at 850-877-7776 to set up your FREE no-obligation consultation with an attorney. The state agencies have experienced attorneys on their side. So should you!