Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) - Permanent License

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A permanent license allows an M.D. or D.O. to practice medicine and surgery in Iowa.

Code Citation IC 147, 147B, 148, and 272C; IAC 653

Who Applies All individuals intending to practice medicine or surgery in the State of Iowa, except for those who qualify for other professional licensure that allows such practice.

When To Apply After receipt of medical degree, passage of licensing examination, and completion of one year post graduate training. International medical graduates must complete two years of post-graduate training.

Initial Requirements Applicants must graduate from an approved college of medicine and surgery or an approved college of osteopathic medicine and surgery. Applicants must complete one year of post-graduate training in an approved hospital-affiliated program in the U.S. or Canada. If medical education occurred at a foreign medical school, the applicant must possess a current Educational Council Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) certificate. International medical graduates will be required to completed two years of approved continuous progressive training. Applicants must also pass one of the approved licensing examinations.

Duration Two years.

Processing Time Approximately 90 days if application materials are complete.

Fee Structure Initial Application: $495 Online Renewal: $450 Paper Renewal: $550

Renewal Requirements Complete online renewal application and submit fee. CME requirements: Evidence of 40 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education (CME) every two years. A physician who regularly provides direct patient care to actively dying patients in Iowa must complete at least two hours of end-of-life care every five years as part of the Category 1 CME requirement. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.69(3)(b), all physicians whose professional practice regularly involves providing primary health care to children must complete two hours of mandatory reporter training provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) within six months of initial employment or self employment. Such physicians must retake this training every three years thereafter, or may complete a one-hour re-certification before the end of that three-year period to extend certification for an additional three years. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 253B.16(5)(b), all physicians whose professional practice regularly involves providing primary health care to adults must complete two hours of mandatory reporter training provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) within six months of initial employment or self employment. Such physicians must retake this training every three years thereafter, or may complete a one-hour re-certification before the end of that three-year period to extend certification for an additional three years. A physician who provides primary care to both children and adults must satisfy the requirements of section 232.69(3)(b) and section 253B.16(5)(b). A licensee who provides primary health care means all emergency physicians, family physicians, general practice physicians, internists, neurologists, pain medicine specialists, psychiatrists and any other physician who provides primary health care to patients. A licensee who has prescribed opioids to a patient during the previous license period must complete at least two hours of category 1 credit regarding the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, including recommendations on limitations on dosages and the length of prescriptions, risk factors for abuse, and nonopioid and nonpharmacologic therapy options, every five years. A licensee may attest as part of the license renewal process that the licensee is not subject to the requirement to receive continuing medical education credits pursuant to this paragraph, due to the fact that the licensee did not prescribe opioids to a patient during the previous licensure cycle.

Exam Each applicant must have a passing score on a medical licensing examination (USMLE, National Board, FLEX, LMCC, COMLEX, or a qualifying state structured qualifying exam).

Additional Information All individuals intending to practice medicine or surgery in the State of Iowa, except for those who qualify for other professional licensure that allows such practice.