Obtaining Your Texas Medical License
A Brief Guide
By Katri Typpo, M.D July 2004
Edited – Sujit Iyer M.D., September 2005
Edited - Kristin Koush M.D., October 2007
Edited – Melodie Allison, C-TAGME July 2010
This guide was initially written by Dr. Katri Typpo in 2004 when she was a PL3, after she went through the
process of obtaining her Texas medical license. She found herself confused about all of the steps
involved. Obtaining a medical license in the state of Texas is a complicated and lengthy process and can
take 6-9 months or longer. This guide has since been updated several times to reflect the changes that
have been made in the process and is only meant to serve as an overview. Go directly to the Texas
Medical Board website (www.tmb.state.tx.us) for detailed and current information.
It is wise to get started early because you will need to contact your medical school, the USMLE, and
many other satellite services. Additionally, the American Board of Pediatrics now requires all applicants
for the Pediatric Board Examination hold an active unrestricted medical license prior to sitting for the Pedi
Boards - www.abp.org
“Applicants requesting admission to a certifying examination must have a valid (current), unrestricted license to
practice medicine in one of the states, districts or territories of the United States or a province of Canada or
unrestricted privileges to practice medicine in the United States Armed Forces. If licenses are held in more than one
jurisdiction, all licenses held by a physician should meet this requirement.
A waiver of the license requirement will not be granted. Temporary and training licenses are not acceptable to meet
the licensure requirement. “
Deadline to submit a copy of your full unrestricted license to the ABP is October 1 st. There are no exceptions.
The registration deadline for the Pediatric Boards is in February for the following October exam.
If you plan to take your boards the immediately following residency, you should begin the license process
sometime during 2nd year.
This guide is written for graduates of U.S. Medical Schools. For those who are international graduates,
the process is much more complicated and prolonged. There are additional pieces of information
graduates of international medical schools will need to obtain. The TMB website (www.tmb.state.tx.us)
has information for international grads.
1. Take USMLE Step 3 as soon as you can
The majority of our residents will sit for USMLE Step 3. Make sure that you have taken USMLE
Step 3 by the time you begin the application process. You will need your scores in order to start
your licensure application. The website to register for Step 3 is http://www.fsmb.org/. Click on
“Examination Services” on the left and then to register online, look for Texas under the states.
Once you register and pay the registration fee, they will send you a 3-month contiguous block of
time in which you can take the 2-day test. Residents should schedule this test during scheduled
time off (ie vacation, holiday, or days off from the ER). The current cost for the USMLE Step 3
exam is $705. For COMLEX Step 3: http://www.nbome.org. The fee for COMLEX Step 3 is $675
2. Texas Medical Board License Application
The application for a new physician license in the state of Texas can be completed and submitted
online. Go to the TMB website at www.tmb.state.tx.us and click on “Services for Healthcare
Professionals” on the left and then to “Physician Applicants”. Read the information about “Before
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You Apply” and the eligibility requirements. When you are ready to complete the online
application, know that there is no “Save” feature, so it is important to have all of your documents
available, your credit card to pay the application fee ($885) and a bit of time to spend completing
the entire form.
Some things you will need to complete the online application:
 Your social security number
 Your Training Permit Number - www.tmb.state.tx.us
 The following information relative to your work history (professional affiliations for the last
ten years and all U.S. and Canadian post-graduate training)
 type of position (for example - intern, resident, fellow or staff)
 name of the department in which you trained or held privileges
 name of the hospital where the training/affiliation took place –Only list
Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine as only one site is
required.
 address of the hospital where the training/affiliation took place (6621
Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77030)
 phone number for the department where the training/affiliation took place
(832-824-1170)
 start date of the training/affiliation end date of the training/affiliation
The application includes a list of “yes” or “no” questions related to professional, educational,
disciplinary, and personal information. It is recommended that you answer these questions as
honestly as possible. If you are unsure how to answer a question, discuss your individual
situation with Dr. Ward or Melodie Allison.
Even after you’ve submitted the online form, there will still be forms for you to print, download,
and have signed. Print out the “Supplemental Documentation Checklist” available online to keep
track of what you need to send in to complete the application.
This allows you to check each item off as you complete it. It may take quite a while to obtain all
of your documents as you are depending upon other people to process this information. All
supplemental forms you will need are in one area on the website under “Additional Licensure
Forms”.
Some of the supplemental information you will need to collect and have sent or send yourself to
the TMB are:
1. Alternate Name Documentation: If you have changed your name anywhere along the way
from USMLE to your medical school diploma to now, you will need to obtain documents such as a
marriage license, etc. to send to the TMB.
2. Birth Certificate or Passport: Make a copy of either document to send in to the Board.
3. Dean’s Certification (Form D): Print out Form D, send it to your med school and ask that they
send it back to you in an envelope with an official signature across the flap. Once you get this
back from your medical school, then send it to the TMB yourself with your other documents.
4. Examination Transcripts: Request your exam transcripts from USMLE at
http://www.usmle.org/scores/scores.htm and have them sent directly to the TMB. There is a $50
fee from the USMLE to do this.
5. National Practitioner Data Bank and Health Integrity Data Bank Reports: Go to the
website at www.npdb-hipdb.com and perform a self-query. This will cost $16. NPDB will send
you the form to complete that has to be notarized. Have them notarized then send back to
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NPDB.. Melodie, Lindsey and Courtney are notaries in the house staff office. NPDB will send the
completed self query back to you in a sealed envelope. DO NOT OPEN. This must be sent with
your other documents directly to the TMB in the sealed envelope.
6. Verification of Postgraduate Training (Form L) : This form is located in the Pedi resident
SharePoint file. Go to TCH intranet. In the top right corner select teams. Then select Clinical –
Pedi residents. Choose forms located under documents, and then choose verification. Complete
the top portion ONLY. E-mail this to Lindsey Heaton in the house staff office –
lnheaton@texaschildrens.org Dr. Ward will complete the form and sign the back flap of the
envelope. Lindsey will have the envelope for you to pick up to send with all other documents to
TMB. Dr. Peacock and Holly will complete for Med/Peds. If you have trained at any other
programs (transferred to our program) you must have that program complete a Form L also.
3. What is the FCVS?
The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) is a service created by the Federation of
State Medical Boards to streamline the credentialing and licensing process. FCVS is not a
requirement for Texas licensure and is in no way a guarantee of licensure or of an expedited
application process in Texas. FCVS will be of the greatest benefit to an applicant who is applying
from a school that will not issue multiple sets of documents or will be applying to several other
states in addition to Texas. The Federation of State Medical Boards collects information regarding
an applicant's identity, medical education, postgraduate training, licensure examination history,
ECFMG certification, and board action history. This information is verified by the FCVS and
maintained as a primary source record of a physician's credentials. FCVS will send a standard
portfolio to state boards, hospitals, managed care plans, or professional societies at the
applicant's request. The website for the FCVS is the FSMB website under the subheading
“credentialing services.” You will find it at www.fsmb.org. It is a very informative website with
online applications and answers to all your questions about the FCVS.
To FCVS or not to FCVS?
This depends greatly on how much time you have before you need your license. It may take 8-12
weeks of processing time to complete your FCVS portfolio. This is in addition to the possible 6-9
months it may take to get your license. FCVS then forwards this information to the TMB at your
request. You also will have to pay for this service. It is currently $295 for the initial application if
done online. It then costs $90 to send out future portfolios. It may be worthwhile, depending on
your future plans, to have a permanent centralized portfolio available. You need to think this over
and look over the website. Keep in mind that you do not need to use the service to apply for your
Texas license and most of our program’s residents do not use FCVS.
4. Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting services will be provided by Integrated Biometric Technology (IBT) for a fee of
$44.20, payable directly to IBT. Results of the fingerprinting will be sent directly to TMB both from
the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Records and the Federal Bureau of Investigation .
Applicants in Texas will make an appointment for a live scan (a process that captures fingerprints
without the use of ink), at locations throughout the state of Texas. Applicants must have their
board issued 6-digit ID number and a “FAST Pass” to register.”
Go to the TMB site and click the link to the FAST pass from the information page about
fingerprinting. Follow the directions on how to register for the fingerprinting session.
5. Jurisprudence (JP) Exam
The TMB will notify you thru LIST that your application is complete and you may now sit for the
Jurisprudence Exam. Register online at Prometric (www.prometric.com) to take the exam. The
exam is 2 hours long and results are immediate. The current cost is $80. Passing score is 75.
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There are several study guides that are available. Three options include:
1) Texas Medical Jurisprudence Manual and Companion TMJ Study Guide - Texas
Medical Association ($169 plus $10 shipping)
2) The Texas Medical Jurisprudence Exam, revised for 2010, published by UTMB – Matthews
Medical bookstore, cost $100 or order from web site www.utmb.edu/imh
3) Borrow one of the previous options from someone in your class or the chief’s office. Chief’s
currently only have 2008 edition but have requested 2010.
Take the JP exam as early in the process as the TMB allows, as your application cannot be
considered for full licensure until you do so.
6. The Interview
Good news - there is no longer the requirement for U.S. Medical School grads to travel to Austin
for the personal interview. Unfortunately, if you are an international graduate, you will still be
required to appear in Austin. Check with the TMB to confirm what documents you will need to
bring with you.
7. The Temporary License
You will receive notification to apply for your temporary license after you pass the Jurisprudence
Exam and your application is deemed complete. It does not have a number but it is a license to
practice medicine in the state of Texas. Sign the Affidavit sent to you and submit the $107 fee to
receive the temporary license. IMPORTANT: A temporary license will not be accepted by the
American Board of Pediatrics to sit for your boards.
8. Your Texas State License
The TMB meets 6 times a year to review the applications for physician licensure in the state of
Texas. They may approve your application or ask for further documentation. After the meeting,
you can call or look yourself up on the TMB website to obtain your license number. You will
receive your license in the mail after the meeting.
IMPORTANT: After you receive your license, you then need to REGISTER it. You MUST do this
within 90 or you may have to pay a penalty or worse, be required to undergo the whole process
again! The fee to register your license is prorated based on what cycle you come up in. See fees
on following page. The TMB randomly selects new licenses to be granted for 6, 12, or 24-month
periods of time. This is to stagger the renewal process for the Board. After the first expiration, all
subsequent periods of renewal will be for 2 years and the fee will be $809 for 2 years.
9. DPS number
After you receive your temporary license, you may apply for a Texas Controlled Substance
Registration Number from the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Registration information can
be found at www.txdps.state.tx.us then choose controlled substances on the top right menu. To
registers please send an e-mail to tppcsr@txdps.state.tx.us or call 512-424-2188. They will e-mail
you the application. You must complete the paper application and mail to DPS. A registration fee
of $25 will be required for the initial issuance of the registration and for each subsequent renewal
payable only by check or money order. Credit cards are not accepted for DPS registration!
Our current chief residents said this was the most difficult step as there is no online registration.
Plus they do not take credit cards. Time line is 4-6 weeks to receive DPS even though the web
site states less.
10. DEA number
You need to have your DPS number before you may apply for your DEA number. There is an
online application at http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/. Look for it under “Diversion Control and
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Prescription Drugs” and “Registration”. The fee is $551 and it takes 3-4 weeks to receive your
DEA number.
Be Aware - Once you have your medical license you can no longer use the hospital DEA. Which
means you cannot write for controlled substances. You will need to have your attending or
another member of your team write for controlled substances until your DEA is issued and
arrives.
11. Fees
Below are the estimated total of the fees you may have to pay for the whole licensure process.
Some fees you may not have to pay; i.e. if you didn’t use the FCVS. Other fees might include
those to obtain a certified diploma from your medical school or name-change documents. Keep
in mind that some jobs after residency may reimburse you for all, some, or none of these fees.
It’s a good idea to find out. Always keep your receipts.
USMLE STEP 3:
FCVS
$705
$295
$ 90 to send additional profiles
$885
$ 50 for USMLE score reports
$ 16 for the NPDB/HIPD self query report
$ 44 for Fingerprinting
$ 85 for the JP book
$107 for your Temporary License
$ 80 for the Jurisprudence Exam by Prometric
$ 25
$551
TMB
DPS
DEA
TOTAL:
$2933 without registration of full license
Once the TMB has issued you an official license number, you will have 90 days to register and activate
your license. Failure to register will result in penalty fees, and after one year, license cancellation.
The Board assigns the first registration period. These vary in length from 6 to 24 months. First time
registration fees are prorated accordingly and range from $369.25-$813.00. After this registrations will be
two years in length and will be due on the same day each time. The current fee for subsequent
registrations is $809.00 every two years.
Texas Medical Board - Meetings
2010
2011
2012
Feb 4-5
Feb 3-4
Feb 9-10
Apr 7-9
Apr 7-8
Apr 12-13
Jun 3-4
Jun 2-3
Jun 7-8
Aug 26-27
Aug 25-26
Aug 30-31
Oct 28-29
Nov 3-4
Nov 29-30
Good luck with the process. Remember to start early, keep organized and remain in frequent contact
with the agencies involved. If you have questions, contact the Texas Medical Board or ask in the
Housestaff Office. This guide can also be found at www.bcmpeds.org. Choose House Staff Education
and then choose Preparing for the future: license, fellowship, and job applications
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