Alabama Medical License

The Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners: A Guide to Licenses, Permits & Renewals

The Alabama Board and Commission serve as the pivotal state regulatory bodies overseeing medical practice. Their primary goal is to protect the safety and well-being of every patient in Alabama.

The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners is committed to ensuring that new and experienced medical professionals and physician assistants achieve high standards. It issues and renews licenses, including those required for prescribing prohibited medications. Furthermore, the Board aggressively analyzes complaints against healthcare practitioners and, when appropriate, takes disciplinary action. In partnership with the Alabama Board of Nursing, it also certifies practice arrangements between physicians and trained nurse practitioners or nurse midwives.

Meanwhile, the Medical Licensure Commission focuses on safeguarding public health. It grants initial and renewed medical licenses and steps in to adjudicate formal complaints against physicians. This commission is key in determining the suitable disciplinary actions if needed.

The number of Doctors of Osteopathy licensed increased in 2023, most likely due to growing graduation rates from Alabama’s osteopathic colleges. Limited licenses were also on the rise, mostly for physicians enrolled in residency programs, implying that the state’s residency offers may expand.

The Alabama Physician Workforce Act of 2023

The Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Physician Workforce Act in 2023, taking a critical step toward addressing the state’s chronic medical professional shortfall. This statute intends to increase the number of accessible physicians and guarantee that all Alabama citizens, no matter where they happen to live, have access to high-quality medical care.

This legislation addresses the critical demand for more healthcare professionals by enacting proactive strategies for recruiting and retaining physicians across the state. It recognizes the difficulties experienced by rural and neglected communities, where a shortage of medical experts might impede access to important healthcare services.

Bridge Year Graduate Physician Permit 

This unique initiative permits recent medical school graduates who are yet to start their residency to operate under the supervision of experienced physicians. These “bridge year graduate physicians” gain valuable hands-on experience while providing needed services. At the end of the year, the medical supervisor evaluates the graduate’s performance and may recommend them for residency position.

Reduced Postgraduate Training Requirement 

The act reduces the required postgraduate training for graduates from non-accredited medical schools from three years to two. This change helps new doctors enter the field faster, increasing the healthcare workforce more rapidly.

Elimination of the “Ten Year Rule”

Previously, licensure applicants needed to have passed a licensing examination or achieved board certification within the last ten years. The new law reduces the time constraint, but candidates still have to pass a recognized test, such as the USMLE or COMLEX.

The Alabama Physician Workforce Act of 2023 is a significant step forward in the state’s efforts to guarantee that all citizens have access to competent medical experts. Alabama is taking significant measures to increase healthcare access and minimize physician shortages by streamlining the process to licensure and expanding possibilities for recent graduates.

Alabama Medical License Requirements

Navigating the process to earning a medical license in Alabama requires comprehending a set of precise and thorough rules that assure all practicing physicians fulfill high levels of medical education and proficiency.

Medical Education Requirements

Graduates must have attended medical schools that have been recognized by either the American Medical Association’s Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association. Graduates of non-accredited institutions must have their school included in the WHO or IMED databases at the time of graduation and receive ECFMG certification.

Certain international medical schools, like Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago or St. Christopher’s College, are specifically noted either for additional documentation requirements or outright non-approval due to various factors.

Postgraduate Requirements

Graduates of authorized institutions must undergo at least a year of postgraduate residency program approved by numerous major medical organizations in North America. To be eligible for licensure, graduates of non-accredited colleges must undergo two years of this residency training, ensuring they fulfill high professional requirements.

Examination Requirements

Candidates must complete one of the recognized medical licensure exams, which include the USMLE, COMLEX, and the Medical Council of Canada’s test.

For individuals who are not specialty board-certified, Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the USMLE have to be completed within seven years, with a maximum of three attempts per step. Those with a specialization or a Ph.D. earned from an authorized university face different deadlines and attempt criteria, reflecting their added training and competence.

Recent Clinical Practice

Physicians who have not been in practice clinically for two years or more must participate in a reentry program approved by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners to make sure they are up to speed on current medical practices.

Legal Presence and Background Checks

All candidates must demonstrate their legal permission to work in the United States and pass a criminal record check, ensuring that just competent and legally compliant persons are permitted to practice.

Provisional Approval for Residents

Residents who satisfy all conditions except the completion of their postgraduate studies may be granted temporary permission, pending the submission of good documentation of completed training.

Qualifications for a Bridge Year Graduate Physician Permit

• Applicants must be graduates of a medical school certified by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
• A score of 70% or higher is necessary for one of these three exams: USMLE Steps 1 and 2, COMLEX, or LMCCE.
• Applicants must have applied for and not been granted admission into a postgraduate or residency training course in the year after their medical school graduation.

The Alabama Medical Board may waive the requirement to have requested a residency in the initial year post-graduate for applicants who are otherwise qualified and are a maximum of two years removed from their medical college graduation.

This authorization allows fresh graduates to start practicing medicine with supervision, filling the gap between academic success and official residency training. 

IMLC License

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) simplifies the procedure for physicians to receive licenses in numerous states, providing a more efficient path to practice medicine in different locales.

State of Principal Licensure (SPL) Eligibility 

To be eligible for licensure through the IMLC, you must:

• Hold a full, unrestricted medical license in a member state of the Compact, which will be your State of Principal Licensure (SPL).
• Additionally, meet at least one of the following criteria related to the SPL:
  • Your primary residence is in the SPL.
  • You practice medicine in the SPL for at least 25% of your time.
  • Your employer is located in the SPL.
  • You use the SPL for your U.S. Federal Income Tax purposes.

To maintain your eligibility within the Compact, you need to keep your SPL status active. You can change your SPL to another Compact state after initial qualification, provided that the new state is also a participant in the Compact.

Note, that as of August 2024, the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners is not authorized to act as an IMLC State of Principal License (SPL). The Board promises to provide more information as it comes available.

General Eligibility Requirements 

Beyond having an SPL, you must meet these general criteria:

• Graduate from an approved medical school or one recognized in the International Medical Education Directory.
• Complete a graduate medical education program approved by the ACGME or the AOA.
• Complete each component included in the USMLE, COMLEX-USA, or comparable test with a maximum of three attempts.

Other qualifications include no prior disciplinary proceedings, no criminal record, and no record of controlled drug punishments.

This Compact greatly reduces the regulatory cost for physicians seeking to extend their medical practice across state boundaries, fostering more accessibility and mobility in healthcare delivery.

Alabama Medical License Application Process

The procedure of acquiring a medical license in Alabama is rigorous and contains many critical phases to guarantee that only competent persons are permitted to practice medicine in the state.

• The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners begins by accepting applications from aspiring physicians. Before providing Certificates of Qualification (COQs) to qualified candidates, the board thoroughly checks that all statutory prerequisites are satisfied.
• Once an applicant is deemed qualified and a COQ is granted, the Medical Licensure Commission takes over. This body reviews the qualifications of the applicants and, generally within one week of the COQ issuance, grants the official medical licenses.
• Concurrently, the Board processes applications for Alabama Controlled Substances Certificates (ACSCs), which are mandatory for physicians intending to order, dispense, or prescribe controlled substances.
• After securing an ACSC, physicians must apply for a state-specific Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration.
• Additionally, ACSC holders are required to register with the Alabama Prescription Drug Monitoring Databank to further ensure the responsible handling of controlled substances.

Application for a Bridge Year Graduate Physician Permit

Applicants seeking a Bridge Year Graduate Physician Permit have to submit a Board-approved application, any required extra paperwork, and a $200 nonrefundable application fee. Candidates must also go through a criminal record check, which entails submitting a full set of prints and a nonrefundable fee.

Limited Licenses

Alabama offers limited licenses for specific situations such as working within residency or fellowship programs, serving as a visiting or specialty professor at a medical college, or being employed at a state mental or penal institution.

How to Get an Alabama Medical License

Obtaining an Alabama medical license can be initiated through the Federation of State Medical Boards’ Uniform Application.

• Begin by completing the Federation of State Medical Boards’ Uniform Application.
• Once the application is accepted, you will get an email with instructions regarding how to proceed.

Applicants can monitor the status of the application and get updates via the Check Pending Application online page. This enables continuous tracking of your application’s development.

• After completion, your application status will update to “Pending Board Meeting,” and the date it will be considered will be listed.
• If the Board approves your application (status changes to “Approved Pending MLC”), the next steps include paying for your license and optionally applying for a state controlled substances registration. These can be done via the Licensee Portal even before final approval is granted.
• The Medical Licensure Commission will evaluate your application at its next meeting. It should be noted that a license number will not be granted until the appropriate cost is obtained.

Following initial acceptance, you have a mere six months to submit an application and pay for the license until your certificate of competency expires.

• Applicants who fail to receive approval will be contacted by letter and given further information. Once accepted, you will get a wall certificate in the mail. Additionally, the Licensee Portal allows you to print a wallet-sized certificate.

Processing Time for Alabama Medical License

The average time to obtain a medical license typically spans two to three months, as stated by the licensing board. However, this duration may extend due to various factors that can complicate the process. For instance, any gaps in documentation, missing or incomplete forms, or delays in receiving required verifications can significantly prolong the timeline.

Alabama Medical License Cost

Obtaining and maintaining a medical license in Alabama incurs various costs at different phases of the procedure. The procedure starts with a $60 Universal Application Fee via the Federation of State Medical Boards, with a $175 Board Application Fee. Applicants must additionally pay $65 for a required criminal background check. Once authorized, a $75 fee is necessary to obtain the medical license. 

For individuals who need to prescribe restricted drugs, the Alabama restricted drugs Certificate costs an extra $150. 

For limited scope of practice, such as those enrolled in residency or fellowship programs, the first Certificate of Qualification and license issuing costs are $175 and $75, respectively. Renewing a limited Certificate of Qualification costs $15, while renewing the limited license itself costs $300.

Alabama Medical Board License Renewal

To keep their licenses in Alabama, both doctors and physician assistants must attend continuing education courses. All permissions expire on December 31st of each year. The renewal period begins on October 1 and ends on December 31. There is a courtesy period till January 31st, after which the late charge applies. Licenses remain valid till midnight on January 31st.

Starting in October, notifications will be sent to the email address that is connected with your record to ensure timely renewal.

Each year, a minimum of 25 hours of continuing medical education (CME) is needed. This involves at least four hours of training or instruction on prescribing controlled medications, which must be performed in a board-approved course.

To use the Prescription Drug Monitoring Databank and prescribe restricted medications, you must first have a current registration. Additionally, a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration is required for prescribing restricted medications.

Alabama Telemedicine License

Physicians who give telehealth treatment to patients in Alabama must have a valid, active medical license. However, some exemptions apply:

• Physicians licensed in another state or D.C. may be exempt from needing an Alabama license if their telehealth services are sporadic—less than ten days in a calendar year or to fewer than ten patients.
• Services provided in consultation with an Alabama licensed physician are exempt if they are limited to ten days per year or if they involve care provided to a patient being transported into Alabama.

Patients who have received telehealth services for the same ailment more than four times in a 12-month period without resolution must be seen in person within that time frame or referred to someone who can.

Prescriptions for medications or prohibited substances can be issued via telemedicine if the physician is allowed under federal and state legislation, provided that:

• The telehealth consultation includes live audio or video communication.
• The physician has held an in-person appointment with the patient during the past year.
• The prescription for a valid medical reason that has been verified within the previous year.

Alabama Medical License Lookup

Nurses can use the official, free online license search site. Details such as license type, licensing status, expiration date, and disciplinary status may be obtained by inputting the license number, initials, or social security number. Certified nursing aides may also be verified through the Nursing Aide Registry, which provides information such as license status, date of expiration, and abuse findings.

Physician assistants and physicians can use the free and official online license search site by entering their license number, initials, or business name to get information including the original license date, license expiring date, status, and disciplinary proceedings.

You can search by entering the last name and first name, or just the license number. Partial entries are also accepted to help you find the information quicker. To narrow down the search results, you can type directly into the “Filters” section located under each column heading.

The search results will display: 

• The licensee’s name, license number, the dates the license was issued and when it expires, and the medical school attended including dates.
• You’ll also see details about any controlled substances certificates (ACSC/QACSC), including issuance and expiration dates.
• The type of practice and location as provided by the licensee, and details of collaborative practices with CRNPs/CNMs and registrations of PAs/AAs to physicians are shown.
• Any disciplinary actions are noted with a “yes” next to “Public file,” which can be downloaded. Disciplinary actions against physicians are maintained as a permanent record.

Patient complaints, malpractice case details, ongoing investigations, and full addresses and birth dates are withheld for security purposes remain confidential.

The information from the licensee search is considered primary source verified, except for the practice specialty and location details.

Alabama Medical Licensing Service

As a healthcare provider, your time is better spent serving patients than navigating the difficulties of medical licensure. This is where MedicalLicensing.com steps in. We provide complete and specialized services for obtaining or maintaining medical licenses in all states, including original applications, renewals, verifications, and expedited licensing.

Our devoted team of specialists understands state-specific licensing procedures and is dedicated to ensuring that your application is excellent and filed on time. With MedicalLicensing.com, you may avoid administrative problems and concentrate completely on your profession.