Full License

Application Checklist

Eligibility Requirements

Medical Education Requirements

Graduation from a college/school of medicine:

Accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the American Medical Association.
Accredited by the American Osteopathic Association.
Non accredited if approved by Board, applicant obtains ECFMG certification, and school listed at the time of graduation in WHO or IMED (discontinued in 2015) directory.

Non-approved colleges/schools of medicine:

Universidad Tecnolgica de Santiago, Dominican Republic (UTESA)
Universidad Eugenio Maria de Hostos, Dominican Republic (UNIREMHOS)
St. Christopher’s College, Dakar, Senegal
University of Health Sciences Antigua, St. Johns (Antigua), Dominican Republic

Schools/colleges of medicine requiring additional documentation:

Kigezi International School of Medicine, Uganda, Africa
Universidad Centro de Estudios Tecnologicos, Dominican Republic (CETEC)
Universidad Fedrico Henriquez Carajal, Dominican Republic (UFHEC)
Universidad Centro de Investigacion Formacion Asesona Social, Dominican Republic (CIFAS)
Spartan University (A.K.A. St. Lucia Health Sciences University), Dominican Republic
Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Universidad Mexico American Del Norte, Mexico

Postgraduate Requirements

Graduates of LCME/AOA accredited schools/colleges of medicine must successfully complete one year of postgraduate/residency training in any of the following programs (documentation through FCVS may be accepted):

Listed in the AMA directory of approved residency training programs
Accredited by AOA
Accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada
Accredited by the Committee of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Graduates of non-accredited schools/colleges of medicine must successfully complete two years of postgraduate/residency training in any of the above-listed programs or a program accredited by the Accreditation Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Documentation through FCVS may be accepted.

Graduates of non-accredited schools/colleges of medicine (foreign medical graduates) must also achieve certification given by the Education Council for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or shall achieve a Fifth Pathway Certification and pass the examination administered by ECFMG.

Examination Requirements

Achieve a passing score in any of the following examinations:

Federation Licensing Examination
National Board of Medical Examiners
National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners COMLEX
Licensing Medical Council for Canada Examination
United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) (see below for additional requirements)

Additional Requirements for USMLE

For MD/DO degree only and not specialty board-certified:

Pass Step 3 in no more than three administrations (one additional attempt may be approved upon demonstration of additional education, experience, or training).
Pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 within a seven-year period (determined on calendar year-calendar year basis).
Pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 within a combined total of no more than ten times.
Scores from re-examinations of previously passed Step are not accepted.

For MD/DO degree only and specialty board-certified:

Pass Step 3 in no more than three administrations (one additional attempt may be approved upon demonstration of additional education, experience, or training).
No requirement to pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 within a seven-year period.
Pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 within a combined total of no more than ten times.
Scores from re-examinations of previously passed Step are not accepted.

For the MD/DO degree and Ph.D. degree in LCME accredited institution in a field of biological sciences:

Pass Step 3 in no more than three administrations (one additional attempt may be approved upon demonstration of additional education, experience, or training).
Pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 within a combined total of no more than ten times.
Pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 within a ten-year period (calendar year-calendar year) (Board may approve up to 15 years).

Recent Clinical Practice

Applicants who otherwise qualify for an initial license but who have been absent from clinical practice for two years or more may obtain a license by entering into a reentry agreement with the Board.

See Board Rules, Chapter 540-X-23, for additional information.

Legal Presence and Criminal History Background Check

Successful applicants must demonstrate legal presence in the United States (U.S. citizen, Visa, Work Permit, etc.).

All applicants must undergo a criminal history background check. The online application process contains instructions and necessary forms.

Provisional Approval for Residents

Provisional approval for a certificate of qualification may be given if all requirements have been met except for evidence of completion of the postgraduate training requirement and there are no grounds for denial.

Once the acceptable documentation of completion of postgraduate training has been received, the certificate of qualification will be issued immediately.

Military Special Service License

A temporary license is available to physicians or their spouses who are relocated or stationed in Alabama under official military orders. A physician who is issued a Military Special Service License shall apply for a full certificate of qualification and license within 12 months of the issuance of the temporary license. A Military Special Service License shall expire 12 months after the issuance of the license.

Eligibility Requirements:
• Active duty, reserve, or transitioning member of a branch of the US Armed Forces, including National Guard, or the spouse/surviving spouse
• A full unrestricted medical license in another state, District of Columbia, a territory of the US, or a province of Canada
• Graduated from an accredited medical school/school listed in the IMED
• Successful completion of ACGME/AOA-accredited graduate medical education
• Passed a written licensing examination (Examples: USMLE, FLEX, NBME, NBOME, or COMLEX)
• No history of disciplinary action against your medical license, excluding any action related to the non-payment of fees related to a license
• No criminal history
• No suspension or revocation of controlled substances license, certificate, or permit
• Not currently under investigation
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, national, or lawfully present alien

Physician applicant service members must submit proof of one of the following qualifiers at the time of application:
• Active or reserve service member’s official military orders
• Transitioning service member’s DD Form 214 or NGB Form 22

Physician spouse of service member applicant must submit proof of one of the following qualifiers along with a marriage or death certificate at the time of application:
• Active or reserve service member’s official military orders
• Transitioning service member’s DD Form 214 or NGB Form 22

Applicants must also complete the application in its entirety and submit as an attachment via email with a copy of a valid photo ID to the Credentialing Department.

Once your application has been submitted, please allow 10 days for the processing and issuance of the Military Special Service License.

Should you wish to obtain an Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC), you will need to apply electronically through the Licensee Portal. Click the "Apply ACSC" button underneath the "Apply for Registration" heading. Once you have completed the application, you will be able to pay the required fee of $150.

Forms

Forms are provided through the Uniform Application and also provided here:

Application to Review Alabama Criminal History Record Information
Declaration of Citizenship and Lawful Presence of an Alien
Medical School Certification ("Appendix A")
Postgraduate Education Certificate ("Appendix B")

Fees (all fees are non-refundable)

Universal Application Fee: $60
Board Application Fee: $175
Criminal Background Check: $65
License Issuance Fee: $75
Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (optional): $150
Print receipts at the Licensee Portal

Renewal Requirements

All licenses expire on December 31 each year.
Renewal period is Oct 1 - Dec 31 (grace period with an additional charge Jan 1 - 31; license status will remain "active" until midnight on Jan. 31).
Reminder emails are sent to the email address of record beginning in October.
Renewals are accomplished online using the Licensee Portal beginning on Oct. 1.
Be sure the information provided is accurate.
NOTE: All lawful aliens/foreign national licensees must submit annually a Declaration of Citizenship and Lawful Presence of an Alien with documentation prior to license renewal. You will not be allowed to renew online or manually until legal presence documentation has been received and approved.

NOTICE: The licensure CME requirement was waived for all licensees for 2020. Licensees are expected to obtain the annual requirement of 25 AMA PRA Category 1 or equivalent credits during 2021.

Reinstatement

To reinstate an inactive license, download and return a reinstatement application. (includes instructions, rule, and checklist)
The cost to reinstate is up to $850, depending on when you were last active.
A criminal background check with fingerprinting is required. The fee is $65.
Twenty-five Category 1 or equivalent CME credits acquired in the previous 12 months are required.
Applicants who have been absent from clinical practice for two years or more may obtain a license by entering into a reentry agreement with the Board (See Board Rules, Chapter 540-X-23, for additional information).
For reinstatement of a certificate of qualification that was voluntarily surrendered, please contact credentialing@albme.gov.

FAQ

Do you require a test of English language proficiency?

No; however, certain applicants are required to be certified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, and that certification process includes an English language proficiency assessment.

What is “primary source verification”?

The Board verifies certain information as “primary source” verification. This means we must receive the information directly from the issuing source. The application instructions provide further information on primary sources.

Is there a difference between an applicant with the Medical Doctor degree (M.D.) and one with the Doctor of Osteopathy degree (D.O.)?

MDs and DOs are both “physicians” in Alabama. The Commission makes no distinction between the two.

Is there a temporary license issued pending a full license application?

No, Alabama does not offer a temporary license.

I have decided not to move to Alabama and I want to withdraw my application. What should I do? Are the application fees refundable?

You can withdraw your application by providing a written request with a brief explanation. This is a non-disciplinary, non-reportable event. Fees are non-refundable.

I was convicted of a felony ten years ago. Can I still obtain a medical license in Alabama?

While a felony conviction is a ground for denial of a license application, it is not automatic. The Board and Commission judge each application individually and take into account such things as the severity of the offense, the length of time passed since the offense, and activities that occurred after the offense. The Board and/or Commission may wish to interview you in person to obtain further information and ask questions.

I have had an addiction problem in my past. Will this prevent me from obtaining an Alabama medical license?

Not necessarily. It is the Board’s policy to refer any applicant with current health issues to the Alabama Professionals Health Program (APHP) for an evaluation and recommendation. The APHP may endorse the applicant for full licensure with no restrictions, or it may recommend certain restrictions or conditions. The Board and/or Commission may choose to interview applicants with current health issues.