Georgia Medical License

Georgia Medical Board: A Guide to Licensing

The Georgia Composite Medical Board is responsible for licensing healthcare practitioners, monitoring medical practice, including educating the public. The Board is a diverse body, led by 15 members selected by the Governor and ratified by the State Senate. It includes 13 physicians and two public representatives who are Georgia citizens unaffiliated with the medical field. Additionally, a physician assistant participates in an advisory capacity. These members serve four-year terms, ensuring that various geographic areas of Georgia are represented.

The Georgia Medical Board has broad responsibilities. It not only licenses medical physicians (MDs), doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physician assistants (PAs), and a variety of other medical professionals, but it also establishes medical practice laws for the entire state. The Board verifies that approximately 59,000 healthcare practitioners, including acupuncturists and medical geneticists, satisfy severe practice guidelines. Importantly, however, it does not oversee podiatrists, chiropractors, or other specified health professionals, who are regulated by the Office of the Secretary of State instead.

In 2022, the Board saw a significant uptick in activity, processing 6,948 initial licensure applications—a sharp increase from previous years. It also assessed over 3,215 advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prescription procedures and processed 26,861 renewal applications, demonstrating Georgia’s expanding need for healthcare services.

The Board is backed by the state government and meets monthly, usually on the initial Thursday. While these meetings are accessible to the public, some sessions may be restricted for confidentiality reasons. Each Board member also serves on various committees, which help impact decisions that are ultimately adopted by the entire board. These committees serve a vital part in the Board’s management, ensuring that each issue is thoroughly studied before reaching a final decision.

Georgia Composite Medical Board Committees

Here’s a closer look at the key committees that ensure the Board’s directives are met effectively:

• Investigative Committee 

This committee, which consists of five members of the board and four clinical directors, looks into initial complaints, investigation results, and claims of medical misconduct. After analyzing the evidence, the committee proposes steps for the whole Board to consider, which might range from disciplinary sanctions to other resolutions.

• Physician Licensing Committee 

This group also includes five Board members who evaluate each physician’s qualifications to practice in Georgia. They set the standards for licensure and practice, meticulously review all non-routine applications, and, if necessary, conduct interviews with applicants each month. The committee is pivotal in shaping policies for the application process and guiding staff on handling complex cases, besides aiding in the development of rules for physician licensure.

• Wellness Committee 

Another team of five Board members, the Wellness Committee, oversees cases that could impact a practitioner’s ability to practice or return to practice. They meet with practitioners, their advocates, and treating physicians to assess each situation thoroughly. The committee determines if there are any disciplinary actions or practice restrictions needed and keeps a list of approved treatment programs. They also review requests from treatment facilities.

• Rules Committee 

Comprising all Board members, this committee is tasked with creating rules that govern the performance of all healthcare practitioners regulated by the Board. Their objective is to aid the Board in defining and ensuring the ongoing competence of licensees throughout their professional lives.

• Public Outreach Committee 

This group, composed of two board representatives and three members of the public, is dedicated to strengthening the Board’s communication with the public. They examine and recommend improvements to the Board’s webpage to make information accessible and clear to members of the public.

• Advisory Committees 

The Board also includes nine advisory committees, each featuring professionals from the community and at least two Board members. These committees focus on specific areas of healthcare:

• Acupuncture
• APRN Protocol
• Cosmetic Laser Practitioner
• Genetic Counselor
• Orthotist & Prosthetist
• Pain Management Clinic
• Perfusion
• Physician Assistant
• Respiratory Care Professional

Staff and an Attorney General’s Office representative attend each committee meeting to address any questions that committee members may have. These committees play an important role in providing informed recommendations to the whole Board for approval.

Georgia Medical License Application Process

All applications are submitted via the Board’s online site. It’s critical to answer every query completely and honestly. If you respond positively to the questions — provide a clear explanation and upload any necessary supporting paperwork, such as records from the court or board proceedings, directly through the site.

The Georgia Composite Medical Board (GCMB) is moving towards a paperless system, so avoid mailing any documents. 

Application Review and Finalization Process

1. Completion: After receiving all essential papers, your application is deemed complete.
2. Quality Assurance: The completed application is subjected to a secondary evaluation, which can take up to a week, to guarantee compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
3. Approval: If no concerns arise, the application gets accepted and a license is issued.
4. Board Review: Applications that raise concerns are brought before the Board at the next meeting. Issues that commonly trigger a review include:
   • Repeated failures of USMLE Step 3
   • More than 30 months of inactive clinical practice
   • Criminal convictions
   • Impairment issues
   • Disciplinary actions
   • Malpractice incidents
   • DEA restrictions
   • Other unique concerns.

By following these steps and ensuring all your documentation is accurate and complete, you can streamline your path to obtaining a medical license in Georgia.

Georgia Physician Licensure Types

Georgia has various categories of physician licensing, each adapted to distinct requirements and conditions. We’ve gathered an overview of what each licensing category includes:

• Full License: It is the regular medical license required to practice medicine in Georgia.
• Inactive Status: For those who wish to maintain your license but do not intend to perform medical procedures in Georgia, you may petition for inactive status. This requires submitting an application and the applicable fee. Remember, you cannot practice medicine with an inactive license.
• Administrative: This license type is for those who will not be performing surgeries, writing prescriptions, or practicing clinical medicine.
• Institutional: Issued under special circumstances to international medical graduates employed by certain institutions in Georgia, this license allows limited practice scoped by specific rules and is jointly awarded to both the physician and the institution.
• Interstate Medical Licensure Compact: This is for physicians licensed through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, facilitating quicker licensure across state lines.
• Volunteer-in-Medicine: Aimed at physicians who wish to work unpaid with public or nonprofit organizations serving indigent patients in underserved areas, this license is for purely voluntary medical practice.
• Physician Teacher: For licensed physicians from other states or countries coming to Georgia solely to teach or demonstrate medicine at a Board-approved medical college or its affiliated clinic.
• Educational Training Certificate: If you’re licensed in another state or country and coming to Georgia for educational training that involves patient care, you’ll need to apply for this certificate. This covers participation in medical education training, conferences, clinics, workshops, or courses.
• Temporary and Provisional Licenses: These license types are no longer offered by the Board.
• Temporary Postgraduate Training Permit: Essential for those participating in postgraduate medical training programs in Georgia, unless already licensed to practice in the state.
• Emergency Practice Permits: Issued only during a state of emergency declared by the Governor of Georgia, these permits are for physicians needed urgently.

Each license type has its specific requirements and limitations, ensuring that every medical professional can find the appropriate pathway to practice medicine in Georgia according to their qualifications and the 

How to Get a Georgia Medical License

Embarking on a medical career in Georgia involves a series of critical steps to secure your license. Start by setting up and accessing your online account on the GCMB portal. Here, you’ll upload all necessary documents. For any updates or additional documents after your initial submission, send them via email to [email protected], ensuring the applicant’s full name is in the subject line for easy reference.

Documents Required:

1. Specific Power of Attorney Form

If you’re appointing a third party such as hospitals or recruiters to assist with your application, this form is required. It must be signed by you, notarized, and include the third party’s contact information to comply with state confidentiality laws.

2. CV/Resume

Upload a detailed chronological record of your clinical practice, education, employment history, and any employment gaps. Highlight the dates of your last clinical practice to give the board a comprehensive view of your professional background.

3. Affidavit of Applicant

This form must be completed in full, attached with a current color passport photo, signed, and notarized. The clarity of the notary seal in the scanned PDF is crucial. This document helps verify your qualifications for licensure as required by Georgia law.

4. Citizenship Affidavit

Required to verify legal status and identity. It must be authorized, notarized, and accompanied by at least one safe and verified document, such as a driver’s license or U.S. passport. Ensure there are no alterations such as whiteouts or strikeouts. Expired documents or improper submissions will delay the process.

5. Certification of Postgraduate Training Form

Directly sent from your GME program, this form should indicate the current and expected completion dates of your training. It must include either the hospital seal or a notary seal visible on the scanned copy. Any corrections must be initiated by the authorizing individual; the use of correction fluid or tape is not permitted.

6. Medical Licensing Examination Score Transcript

Transcripts must be emailed directly from the examination authority to GCMB. The board requires official transcripts to be sent by the organization that administered your exams, like the USMLE, FLEX, or COMLEX-USA.

7. Reference Form

Three signed and dated reference forms from licensed physicians familiar with your practice for more than six months should be sent directly from their business addresses to the Board. Formal letters of reference are not acceptable substitutes as the form includes specific questions required by the Board.

8. Malpractice Questionnaire Form

Required for each malpractice case you’ve been named in. Complete a separate form for each incident, provide detailed summaries of your involvement, and attach corresponding legal documentation. This comprehensive approach ensures the Board has all necessary information to assess any past issues.

9. National Practitioner Data Bank Self-Query Information (NPDB)

A self-query is mandatory if you have held any prior licensure. It checks for any disciplinary actions or malpractice payments reported to the NPDB. The results must be included with your application and provide a comprehensive history of any relevant events.

10. Official License Verification(s)

Verifications from all jurisdictions where you’ve held a license must be sent directly to the GCMB. Verifications through VeriDoc are accepted except for Kentucky licenses, which must come directly from the Kentucky Medical Board.

Georgia Medical License Requirements

To qualify for a Georgia medical license you must provide:

1. Legal Status Verification

Confirm that you’re legal in the USA as a citizen, legal resident, or qualifying alien under federal regulations.

2. Complete Application

Submit a properly completed application, together with the required costs. This contains reliable and current data as needed by the Board.

3. Evidence of Good Moral Character

Provide reference forms that are current and valid for six months from the date of signature, attesting to your moral and ethical standing.

4. Verification of Prior Licensure

Submit proof of any medical licenses you have held in any state or jurisdiction to demonstrate your previous medical practice standings.

5. Examination Scores

Provide passing grades for needed exams, which may include:

• USMLE Steps 1–3 and FLEX are required for licensure.
• The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
• Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam (COMLEX)
• Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX)

Depending on the circumstances, such as a hiatus in practice or past disciplinary measures, the Board may demand the Special Purpose Examination (SPEX) or similar Board-approved competency evaluation.

6. Medical Education Verification:

Official transcripts, with a certified English translation if necessary, must detail your attendance dates and the grades received to verify your educational background.

7. Postgraduate Training Verification:

Demonstrates completion of required training:

• One year for graduates from medical schools in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
• Three years for graduates from medical schools not recognized by the Board.

8. Additional Requirements for Foreign Graduates:

Foreign medical school graduates need to provide ECFMG certification unless previously licensed in another state before March 1, 1958. Additionally, they must successfully complete an AMA-approved Fifth Pathway program and achieve a qualifying score on the ECFMG examination.

Processing Time for Georgia Medical License

The Georgia Composite Medical Board states that the medical license process should take four to six weeks to finish, assuming no difficulties. Once your application has been fully completed, you will be notified in writing of the original decision and the date the Medical Board will go over it at their next meeting.

However, reality might occasionally deviate from reality. Many applicants report delays, noting that their communications often go unanswered for extended periods. In general, the process of acquiring a medical license in Georgia takes three to five months, from submission to final approval. While the board strives to meet their anticipated timetable, it is prudent to plan for any delays and be active in keeping tabs on your application progress in order to traverse the process as easily as possible.

Georgia Medical License Cost

You must submit your application together with supporting documentation to the Composite Medicine Board (GCMB) and submit a $500 non-refundable application fee.

To receive a medical assistant permit, you must meet certain prerequisites and pay specific fees. The first step is to graduate from a program for physician assistants and complete the PANCE examination. Following that, you may submit the paperwork to the GCMB and make payment of a $300 non-refundable fee for the application.

Requirements for Georgia Telemedicine Licensure

To submit an application for a telemedicine license, the applicant must already have a complete and unrestricted license for performing medicine in another state, as per Rule 360-2-.01. The Georgia Medical Board decides whether to provide a telemedicine license based on each application’s merits. If your license is restricted or revoked by another state’s licensing body, you must notify the Georgia Medical body immediately. If the application to obtain a telemedicine permit is refused, you will not be able to dispute the decision in the conventional sense, but you may appear before the Board to talk about it.

A telemedicine license limits you to providing services remotely. Physical interaction with patients located in Georgia is not permitted under this license unless it involves an emergency situation. You must maintain patient records according to the standards outlined in Rule 360-3-.02(16), ensuring all 

Possessing a telemedicine license prevents you from physically treating patients in Georgia or applying for a GA DEA authorization, as the DEA deems a telemedicine license limited.

If you ever want to change your Telemedicine License for a Full Medical License, go to your online profile, pick the conversion possibility, and pay the $200 cost to start the process.

Georgia Medical License Lookup

To verify a medical license in Georgia use the Composite Medical Board’s online license verification tool. You need to Visit the Composite Medical Board’s website, navigate to the license verification section, and enter it directly into the search field.

Georgia License Verification Submission for Professionals

If you need to submit verification of a license held in another U.S. state, territory, or Canadian province, it must be sent directly from the licensing board to GCMB at [email protected], with the subject line including the applicant’s name. For easier submission, verifications can be facilitated through VeriDoc. Visit www.veridoc.org for more information.

If you have never held a medical license, no verification is required.

Georgia Medical Licensing Service

Obtaining a license to practice medicine in Georgia may be difficult owing to the extensive application procedure and the need to meet all state licensing standards. We specialize in aiding healthcare professionals with the licensing process, offering important support and direction at every stage of the application. You do not have to go through the medical license application procedure alone. Our team of specialists has extensive knowledge and expertise in license requirements and can help you complete your application correctly and successfully.

We can help physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in completing their applications more quickly.

Our services include but are not limited to:

• Eligibility check and professional history research
• Professional completion of the application
• Submission of all credential verifications requested
• Verification tracking and follow-up
• Assigned licensing specialist
• Progress updates and detailed instructions

We are devoted to delivering excellent service and ensuring that the process goes swiftly and smoothly. So why wait? Let us help you expedite your path to practicing medicine in.