Apply online for a physician license (MD or DO) in Iowa.
Iowa Board of Medicine does not accept third party applications. Applicants must fill out their own application.
Overview
We use two online application systems for those that are applying for permanent, administrative, resident, special, or temporary licenses.
- Application Part 1 - Uniform Application
- Application Part 2 - State Specific Addendum
Applicants can complete the parts of the application in either order, but both have to be completed to move forward with an application.
Paper applications are not accepted.
The same two systems are also used for those applying for reinstatement of a permanent Iowa medical license or an administrative medicine license that has been inactive for over 12 months.
Application Part 1 - Uniform Application - Required
The "Uniform Application for Physician State Licensure" or "UA" is used for all physician license applications. The UA benefits physicians by reducing redundancy in filling out multiple applications when applying for licensure in multiple states, thus increasing portability. Physicians will be able to apply to multiple states by filling out the UA once, then directing it to multiple states.
This will leave only the state-specific instructions and addendums of the application to be completed. This application is located at the Federation of State Medical Boards’ website.
- Select the Iowa Board of Medicine.
- Download AND read the instructions completely. This document provides instruction specific to Iowa. The information is important and subject to change at any time. Failure to read the instructions may result in a delay in license issuance.
Federation Credentials Verification Service
The Federation of State Medical Boards offers and promotes a service called Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS). This service involves a separate application for creating a reusable profile of primary source verified credentials. The FCVS application is NOT a licensure application, and FCVS is NOT required by the Iowa Board of Medicine, though it is accepted.
Application Part 2 - State Specific Addendum – Required
Complete the state specific application addendum at board’s online services website.
- Create an account.
- Write down your log in email address and your user id (there is a format example advised for ease of future log-ins, i.e. application renewal, account updates, password resets).
Fees
Physician Application Fees
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Permanent License ($450/application, $45/background check) |
$495.00 |
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Administrative Medicine License ($450/application, $45/background check) |
$495.00 |
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Resident License ($100/application, $45/background check) |
$145.00 |
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Special License ($300/application, $45/background check) |
$345.00 |
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Temporary License ($100/application, $45/background check) |
$145.00 |
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For Fee Waiver for Federal Poverty Level Thresholds and Fee Waiver Policy, use this link |
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Physician Renewal Fees |
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Online Renewal of Permanent or Administrative Medicine License (2 year) |
$450.00 |
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Permanent or Administrative Medicine License (2 year) via paper application |
$550.00 |
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Permanent or Administrative Medicine License Renewal for Active Duty Military Physicians |
$0.00 |
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Resident Extension |
$25.00 |
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Special License (1 year) |
$200.00 |
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Temporary License |
$50.00 |
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Late Fee for each month of grace period (permanent and administrative medicine license) |
$100.00 |
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Late Fee for resident license |
$50.00 |
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Inactive Fee (to place license in inactive status) |
$0.00 |
Physician Verification Fees |
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Certified License Verification to other state medical boards for permanent, administrative, resident, special, or temporary licenses, per request (this type is required by all state medical boards) |
$30.00 |
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Non-Certified License Verification for permanent, resident, special, temporary licenses |
$15.00 |
|
Certified Statement of Exam Scores |
$45.00 |
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Certified Statement of Exam including history or additional documents |
$55.00 |
Physician Reactivation of Application Fees |
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Permanent and Administrative Medicine License |
$150.00 |
Physician Reinstatement Fees |
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Reinstatement of Inactive License (under 12 months) for permanent and administrative medicine licenses |
$550.00 |
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Reinstatement of Inactive License (over 12 months) for permanent or administrative medicine licenses ($500/application; $45/ background check) |
$545.00 |
Physician Duplicate Fee |
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Duplicate Wall Certificate or Renewal Card (all license types) |
$0.00 |
Physician Licensure through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact |
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Application for Letter of Qualification (Paid to Interstate Commission) |
$700.00 |
|
Permanent Iowa License Issued through the Compact (Paid to Interstate Commission) |
$450.00 |
Miscellaneous Fees
Copy of Application - $20.00
Copy of Administrative Rules - $0.00
Returned Checks - $25.00
Board Ordered Monitoring (quarterly) - Up to $300.00
Online Transaction Surcharge - $7.00
Timing
The Iowa Board of Medicine strives to provide timely service during the licensure process.
Due to residency application increase our busiest time of the year is March through July. The Board anticipates a longer than usual processing time and response time.
Licensure staff attempt to return phone calls or e-mails within one (1) business day. Staff review applications in the order they are received.
Once the application has been reviewed, applicants will be notified via e-mail from their reviewer with instructions on how to submit outstanding materials or view amendments needed to complete the application. Please note your reviewers contact information will be on the email. This individual will be your point of contact regarding your license moving forward.
Applicants who have had difficulties or issues during their education, training or career will take longer to review and may require a review by the Board’s Licensure Committee, which will be determined in the final review process. Applicants who have not practiced medicine in the U.S. or Canada within the past three years from the date the application is submitted will require a review by the Licensure Committee.
The Board holds regularly scheduled meetings in: February, April, June, July, September, October and December of each year. Specific dates of the meetings change each year.