Special License (M.D. or D.O.)

Department of Health and Human Services

About

A special license specifically limits the licensee to practice at the medical college and at any health care facility affiliated with the medical college.  The board may grant a special license to a physician who is an academic staff member of a college of medicine if that physician does not meet the qualifications for a permanent license. The physician should be held in high esteem for unique contributions they have made to medicine, and will make by practicing in Iowa. The board will consider granting and renewing a special license on a case-by-case basis.

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

Who Applies A physician who is appointed an academic staff member of a college of medicine if that physician does not meet the qualifications for a permanent license. The physician should be held in high esteem for unique contributions they have made to medicine, and will make by practicing in Iowa.

When To Apply Upon appointment as an academic staff member at a college of medicine in Iowa.

Initial Requirements Appointed academic staff at a college of medicine; Be a physician in a medical specialty; Present evidence of holding a medical degree from an educational institution that is located in a jurisdiction outside the United States or Canada and that is listed in the Directory of Medical Schools published by the World Health Organization; Have completed at least two years of postgraduate education in any jurisdiction; Have practiced for five years after postgraduate education; Demonstrate proficiency in English by providing a valid ECFMG certificate or verification of a passing score on TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language administered by the Educational Testing Service; Be licensed in a jurisdiction outside the United States or Canada and present evidence that any licenses held in any jurisdiction are unrestricted.

Duration Not more than one year and may be renewed annually.

Processing Time Approximately 45 days.

Fee Structure Initial Application: $345 Renewal: $200

Renewal Requirements Completed renewal application and fee and a letter from the dean of the medical college that addresses the individual's unique contribution to the practice of medicine in Iowa, how the anticipated contribution will serve the public interest of Iowans, and the need for renewal of the license. CME requirements: Evidence of 20 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education (CME). 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 Exam not required.

Additional Information The license is not designed for physicians in regular faculty positions that could be filled by a physician qualified for permanent licensure in Iowa or for the purpose of training the physician who receives the license, such as participating in a fellowship of any kind.

Services Provided

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Contact Information
Dakota Allison
Address
Iowa Board of Medicine
400 SW 8th Street, Suite C
Des Moines, IA 50309