North Carolina Medical License

Table Of Content

To qualify for a North Carolina medical license, applicants must:

Hold an MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school.
Complete at least 1 year of ACGME- or AOA-accredited postgraduate training (international graduates typically need 3 years).
Hold a current, unrestricted medical license in another state (if applying by endorsement), or meet all requirements for initial licensure.
Pass all required licensing exams (USMLE, COMLEX, NBME, or equivalent) within the required timeframes.
Complete ECFMG certification if you are an international medical graduate.
Demonstrate good moral character, with no history of disciplinary action that would impede licensure.

To apply for a North Carolina medical license:

Create an account on the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) Licensure Portal.
Select the appropriate application type:
- Initial Licensure
- Endorsement Licensure
- Resident Training License
Complete the online application and pay the required fees.
Submit all supporting documents, including:
- Verification of medical education
- Postgraduate training verification
- Examination or licensure verifications (via FCVS or direct primary source)
- Birth certificate or passport copy
- Recent passport-style photo
- Fingerprinting and background check documents
Complete a criminal background check (state and FBI).
Provide NPDB self-query results.
Submit evidence of exam scores directly from the testing agency.
Respond promptly to any Board requests for additional documentation.

Physicians licensed in North Carolina automatically receive:

Authority to prescribe non-controlled medications.
Controlled Substance (Schedule II–V) prescribing privileges after obtaining:
- A North Carolina Controlled Substance Registration (CSR).
- DEA registration.

To maintain your North Carolina medical license:

Complete 60 hours of CME every 3 years, including:
- At least 40 hours of Category 1 CME.
All physicians who prescribe controlled substances must complete:
- 3 hours of opioid prescribing CME every 3 years.

The Board may request documentation during renewal.

Typical processing time for the North Carolina Medical License:

Estimated: 4–8 weeks, depending on:
1. Background check completion
2. Receipt and verification of documents
3. FCVS processing time (if used)

Applications may take longer if verification delays occur.

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Check out individual state requirements by clicking the links down below.