Licensure Requirements: All Professions

Physicians | Physician's Assistants | Respiratory Care Professionals | Acupuncturists | Auricular Detoxification Specialists

All persons seeking a medical license or health care certificate are encouraged to read the rules and laws of the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners on Licensure Requirements for their specific profession. All applicants are expected to familiarize themselves with the licensure requirements for their specific profession PRIOR TO filing an application with the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners. The information posted on this web site is intended only as a "quick reference" tool. For any question regarding a specific licensure requirement, please first read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for your specific profession. If your concern is not addressed in the FAQs for your profession, then please read the Rules and Laws that apply to your profession. If you feel your concern is not addressed after turning to these resources, please call us at (404) 656-3913. We will attempt to answer your question.

PHYSICIAN LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS: The Composite State Board of Medical Examiners does not make a distinction, when issuing a medical license, between applicants who attended a qualified medical school or applicants who attended a qualified school of osteopathic medicine. The state of Georgia only has one license type Board for both professions.

The Board may grant a license without examination to licensees of other states if an examination has been taken that we accept. The requirements for licensure are listed below so that you may determine whether you are eligible to apply for a Georgia medical license:

General Requirements Checklist:

A. Submit a completed, Notarized application GMB-A-1 to 8 and GMB-A15, 16, 18 and 19;

B. Three(3) letters of reference (using the forms provided to you in your application packet);

C. Self-query Report from the National Practitioner Data bank;

D. Examination Scores;

E. Certification of post-graduate training;

F. Original, unaltered Medical School transcript for both U.S. and International graduates;

G. Verification of out-of-state licensure status for all states where you hold or have held a temporary, training, provisional or permanent medical license;

H. A current résumé ‚ explaining any time gap in detail;

I. Verification of malpractice claims and supporting documentation.

International Medical School Graduates Additional Items Needed:

A. Copy of your original, permanent ECFMG certificate;

B. Notarized copy of your original medical school diploma;

C. Notarized English translation of your medical school diploma, if not in English;

D. Original medical school transcripts sent directly from the school to the Georgia Medical Board;

E. Notarized English translation of your medical school transcripts, if not in English.

If requested, International graduates may be required to provide:

A. Notarized copy of your passport;

C. Names and addresses of ALL clerkships done in the United States;

Fifth Pathway Applicants: Must provide a notarized copy of the Certificate of the Board of Registration.

Fees: Applicants are required to submit an application fee of $400.00 by check or money order made payable to the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners. Applicants may request in writing to be considered for a temporary medical license only when the application is complete and does not require further review by the Licensing Committee. The fee is $100.00 and must be by a separate check or money order made payable to the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners. Please be very careful when considering seeking a temporary license. Fees paid to the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners are non-refundable regardless of whether or not an application is withdrawn, approved, denied or no license issued.

Residency: One year of residence in the US is required except for Canadian medical graduates who hold the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) certification.

Examination: The Board requires a passing score on an examination approved by the Board as follows:

A. United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)

B. Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX taken before June 1, 1985)

C. FLEX Component I and II (FLEX taken after June 1, 1985)

D. National Board of Medical Examiners

E. National Osteopathic Boards Examination

F. Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) for Canadian medical graduates only. In order to use the Canadian examination, both medical education and post-graduate training have to have been done in Canada.

Combined scores from different FLEX administrations between January 1, 1978 and January 1, 1985 are not accepted.

Medical Education: The following are the Board's requirements concerning graduation from medical school:

A. U.S. and Canadian Medical Graduates - Graduation from a medical school approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association.

B. Foreign medical graduates and Fifth Pathway Applicants - Board approval of a medical school is dependent on the date of graduation as follows:

1. On or before July 1, 1985 ‚ School must be approved by the Board as of the date of graduation. Generally this would mean that graduates must be eligible for the ECFMG certification.

2. As of July 1, 1985, only those programs in the US or Canada which meet the Board's criteria are approved.

3. After July 1, 1985, graduates from the medical or osteopathic colleges not approved by the Board may be considered for licensure upon completion of three years of Board approved post-graduate residency training in the US.

Post-graduate/residency training requirements (for all applicants):

A. US Medical School Graduates must complete one (1) year of post-graduate/residency training in the US in a program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

B. Canadian Medical Graduates must complete one (1) year of post-graduate/residency training in a program approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada(RCPSC), ACGME, or AOA.

C. International Medical School Graduates and Fifth Pathway applicants who graduate from medical school:

1. On or before July 1, 1985 must complete one (1) year of post-grad/residency training in the US in a program approved by the ACGME.

2. After July 1, 1985 must complete three (3) years of training in an ACGME approved program.

D. ECFMG certification - International Medical Graduates are required to have ECFMG certification unless they were licensed in another state before March 1, 1958. Fifth Pathway applicants are exempt from this requirement for ECFMG certification, but you must pass the ECFMG qualifying examination with a score of 75 or above and provide proof to the Board.

PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS: The requirements for Board approval of a Physician's Assistant are the following:

A. Be of good moral character as demonstrated by two (2) acceptable references from licensed physicians other than from the applying supervising physician, who are personally acquainted with the work of the applicant;

B. At the option of the Board, the Physician's Assistant (Applicant) and the supervising physician may be required to appear for a personal interview;

C. Completion of training in a Board approved Physician's Assistant program; with two (2) or more years of academic years of didactic and clinical experience in health care field appropriate to the task of Physician's Assistant, or an equivalent Board approved program;

D. The curriculum of an approved program of training must provide adequate instruction in the basic sciences underlying the medical practice to provide the trainee with an understanding of the nature of disease processes and symptoms; abnormal tests, drug actions, etc. Applicants are urged to read Rule 360-5-.03 in its entirety.

E. Submit a passing score on an examination approved or administered by the Board for which the applicant is eligible. The certification examination administered by the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA), or its successor, or, the certification examination administered by the National Commission for Certification of Physician's Assistants (NCCPA), or its successor.

F. A "Basic Job Description" for the proposed Physician's Assistant. This job description shall be signed by the Physician's Assistant and the supervising physician. [(Please refer to Rule 360-5-.03(2)(c).]

G. Submit an application fee of $200.00 by check or money order made payable to the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners.

RESPIRATORY CARE PROFESSIONALS LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS: The requirements for certification are listed below so that you may determine whether you are eligible to apply for a Respiratory Care Professional Certification. Potential applicants are cautioned to read the rules and laws of Georgia pertaining to the certification of Respiratory Care Professionals and to contact the Medical Board if you have questions regarding your eligibility.

General Requirements:

A. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age;

B. A current résumé ‚ explaining any time gap in detail;

C. Must be of good moral character;

D. Must provide an original letter of recommendation, signed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of Georgia, who serves as a medical director or advisor under whom the applicant practices at the time of application;

E. Must be credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care at the technician entry level;

F. Submit an application fee of $75.00 by check or money order made payable to the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners.

G. Out-of-state trained applicants must provide verification of licensure status from the state or states in which they were previously licensed.

A temporary Respiratory Care Professional (RCP) certificate is allowed under the Respiratory Care Practice Act. The law allows for two types of temporary permits. They are as follows:

1. A twelve (12) month temporary permit is issued to those applicants who are licensed or certified in another state and where the state has the same or equal requirements for licensure or certification as the State of Georgia (e.g., graduation from an approved program and passing the National Board for Respiratory Care examination ‚ NBRC exam).

2. An eighteen (18) month temporary permit is issued to those applicants who are recent graduates of an approved school and have not taken and passed the NBRC exam. The permit is valid only until 18 months from the date of graduation ‚ not the date of issuance of the permit. Under the law, you have 18 months from the date of your graduation to pass the NBRC exam. If your permit expires and you have not passed the NBRC exam, you MAY NOT apply for an extension or a permanent license UNTIL you have passed the NBRC exam.

3. There is no additional application fee for receiving a permanent Respiratory Care Professional Certificate.

ACUPUNCTURISTS: The requirements for licensure as an Acupuncturist in Georgia are listed below so that you may determine whether you are eligible to apply. Potential applicants are cautioned to read the rules and laws of Georgia pertaining to the licensure of Acupuncturists and to contact the Medical Board if you have questions regarding your eligibility. The requirements are as follows:

1. Be at least 21 years of age and of good moral character.

2. The application fee to become a Licensed Acupuncturist is $300.00. Payment must be made by check or money order and should be made payable to the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners.

3. Provide proof of certification by National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

4. Provide proof of completion of a Clean Needle Technique Course and Practical Examination (CNT) approved by CCAOM.

5. Provide proof Liability Insurance in the amount of $l00,000/$300,000.

6. Before any person licensed to practice acupuncture who has less than one year of postgraduate clinical experience may practice on his/her own, such person, must engage in one year of active practice under the supervision of a licensed acupuncturist who has had a minimum of 4 years of active licensed clinical practice. This supervising acupuncturist may be licensed in Georgia or any other state or country with licensing requirements substantial equal to Georgia's requirements and may accumulate the required four years of active licensed clinical practice in any combination of states so long as the licensing requirements are equal to Georgia's.

7. Provide three (3) letters of reference, one (1) of which must be from a physician where applicant has been practicing or a physician familiar with your practice, and 2 letters from practicing acupuncturists who are familiar with your practice.

8. Verification of licensure from any state where licensed (inactive/active).

9. Acknowledgement of having received and read the rules and laws relating to acupuncture.

10. A current résumé ‚ any time gap must be explained in detail.

THE BELOW LISTED REQUIREMENTS EXPIRE BY LAW ON JULY 15, 2001. To qualify for a license, applicants must comply with either (a) or (b) as listed below AND, in addition, comply with (c). After July 15, 2001, all applicants must comply the certification requirements in Item 3 as referenced above.

11. Any applicants for a license to practice acupuncture who do not meet requirements stipulated in Item 3, but meet ALL other requirements for licensure, may be eligible to practice acupuncture if they meet the requirements listed below:

(a) Have a minimum of l,000 hours of training and experience in acupuncture; have a registered business in this state (show proof of business license, and proof of training) who have performed acupuncture for at least three of the last five years;

(b) or, have a minimum of 2,500 hours of training and experience in acupuncture and have a business in this state, (show proof of business license and proof of training) performing acupuncture for at least one of the last 5 years (have employer complete the Verification of the Practice of Acupuncture Form);

(c) Take and pass the examination administered NCCAOM (upon authorization of the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners to sit for the examination.) The NCCAOM will be giving a special administration of its examination on October 8, 2000. The deadline for applying for this examination date is September 8, 2000. NCCAOM will be accepting applicants who meet the qualifications as outlined in the Acupuncture Act. However, if you pass the exam based on the Georgia requirements, you will not be considered NCCAOM certified. If you meet the standards required by the NCCAOM and you pass the exam you will be considered NCCAOM certified. (Please contact the NCCAOM directly for their certification requirements.) To apply, complete the enclosed form in its entirety and mail to the Composite Board with the fees as listed.

(d) A verification of Acupuncture Practice Form completed by the employer must be submitted to comply with 11 (a).

AURICULAR DETOXIFICATION SPECIALISTS: The requirements for licensure as an Auricular Detoxification Specialist in Georgia are listed below so that you may determine whether you are eligible to apply. Potential applicants are cautioned to read the rules and laws of Georgia pertaining to the licensure of Auricular Detoxification Specialist and to contact the Medical Board if you have questions regarding your eligibility. The requirements are as follows:

A. Be at least 21 years of age and of good moral character;

B. The application fee to become a Licensed Auricular Detoxification Specialist is $200.00;

C. Provide proof of certification by National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA);

D. Provide proof of completion of a Clean Needle Technique Course and Practical Examination (CNT) approved by CCAOM or NADA;

E. Provide three (3) letters of reference one (1) of which must be from a physician or practicing acupuncturists with whom applicant has been practicing or a physician familiar with your practice and 2 letters from practicing acupuncturists who are familiar with your practice.

F. Verification of licensure from any state where licensed (inactive/active). (Please provide the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners with the name, address and telephone number of the state board where you are (were previously) licensed to practice acupuncture.)

G. Acknowledgement of having received and read the rules and laws relating to auricular (ear) detoxification therapy;

H. A current résumé ‚ any time gaps in your résumé must be explained in detail.

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