This outlines the appropriate requirements for obtaining a license through reinstatement. The Board reserves the right to make whatever additional demands on the applicant for licensure the Board deems appropriate at the time. Below is a summary of what is listed in the rules of Chapter 32 of the North Carolina Administrative Code.

Doctors that held a North Carolina Medical License that has been inactive for more than one calendar year are eligible to reinstate their medical license. This requires the submission of materials, payment of $397.50. Fees submitted are not refundable, and a personal interview may be required.

Submit all materials to:
North Carolina Medical Board, PO Box 20007, Raleigh, NC 27619 (919.326.1100), or
North Carolina Medical Board, 1203 Front Street, Raleigh, NC 27609

Please do not submit photocopies or facsimilies unless specifically permitted.

1. Completed application form.

• CIRCLE the correct answer for all questions and provide DETAILED explanations for affirmative answers.
• A claim form must be completed for each malpractice suit or settlement.  Attach a photocopy of the plaintiff’s complaint and settlement orders for each incident.
• If your name has changed at any time during your life, you will need to list your prior names and submit a copy of legal documentation (marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption papers, etc.) supporting the name change.
• Attach a photograph taken within the past year to the applicant’s oath and have the form notarized.

2. You must secure a report from each state regarding status of licensure. All licenses, active and/or inactive, must be verified. Most licensing agencies charge a fee for this service. The verifications should be sent directly to the NC medical Board. The NC Medical Board accepts license verifications through the veridoc service.

• If you are submitting verification of a Connecticut license as part of this application, you must send the Connecticut release form along with the licensure verification form along with the licensure biography form to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

3. Two recommendations must be from physicians using the physician reference forms. Recommendations must not be from a relative. These forms must be sent from the reference source directly to the NC medical Board.

4. ECFMG: Graduates of foreign medical schools must have a current ECFMG. You will need to contact ECFMG and have a certification status report sent to the NC Medical Board.

Fifth Pathway: Graduates of a foreign medical school, who have completed a Fifth Pathway program, must furnish verification of passing the ECFMG examination and completion of the 5th Pathway Program. You will need to contact ECFMG and have your score transcript forwarded directly to the NC Medical Board. You can obtain a Fifth Pathway Verification Form, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

5. If certified or recertified by an American Medical Specialty Board or American Osteopathic Board, send a photocopy of your certificate with your application.

6. In addition to all other requirements for licensure, an applicant shall submit proof that the applicant has within the past 10 years taken and passed either:

USMLE examination

National Osteopathic Board of Medical Examiners Examination or COMLEX.

SPEX examination with a score of at least 75

COMVEX examination, Osteopathic examination equivalent to SPEX.

Certification or recertification of CAQ by a specialty board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Certificant of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP), Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCP) and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCS).

Completion of GME approved by ACGME, AOA, CFPC or RCPSC.

Submit documentation of 150 hours of practice relevant CME obtained in the past three (3) years.  At least 60 hours shall be in the educational provider-initiated category.  The remaining hours, if any, shall be in the physician-initiated category.  You will need to submit certificates of completion for all CME hours obtained for Category 1.  The NCMB CME log can be used for documenting CME hours for Category 2.

The following are the approved categories of CME:
(1)  Educational Provider-Initiated CME:  All education offered by institutions or organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and reciprocating organizations or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) including:
  (a) Formal courses
  (b) Scientific/clinical presentations or publications
  (c) Enduring Material (printed or electronic materials)
  (d) Skill development
  (e) Performance improvement activities

(2)  Physician-Initiated CME:
  (a) Practice based self study
  (b) Colleague Consultations
  (c) Study initiated by patient inquiries
  (d) Study of community health problems
  (e) Successful Specialty Board Exam for certification or recertification
  (f)  Teaching (professional, patient/public health)
  (g) Mentoring
  (h) Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conference
  (i) Journal clubs
  (j) Creation of generic patient care pathways and guidelines
  (k) Competency Assessment

7. Applicants must submit two completed fingerprint cards for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check. When possible, have different officials complete each card. It is recommended you have your local law enforcement office complete the fingerprinting. An application is not considered complete until a response has been received from the appropriate agency. Expect a minimum of eight weeks for the report to be received. First set of fingerprint cards must be submitted with your NCMB application. Since rejections are common, the SBI has suggested that applicants use lotion or witch hazel on their hands before being fingerprinted. Fingerprint cards are submitted for processing twice a week upon receipt of your application for a license, fingerprint cards, authority for release of information form and the fingerprinting fee. The SBI has suggested that using live scan when available may be a more reliable choice. E-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to request a set of fingerprint cards. 

8. The NC Medical Board staff will request the following documentation on behalf of the applicant.  If staff is unable to obtain this information, the applicant will be contacted and expected to have this information forwarded to the NC Medical Board.

1.  AMA physician profile.
2.  AOA physician profile.
3.  FSMB Board Action Data Bank report.
4.  NPDB/HIPDB report.

9.  Complete the Immigration Status Form.

10. When all applications materials have been received, your file will be forwarded to a staff member for quality assurance review. If the quality assurance review is complete and no additional information is needed, your file will be forwarded to a board member for review to determine whether you will be required to appear for a personal interview. Upon receipt of the board members decision, your license will be reinstated if a personal interview is not required. Interviews scheduled prior to applicant being notified by NCMB staff that the application is complete may be cancelled.

11. If a physician has been away from clinical practice 2 years or longer, they may be required to develop a reentry plan as part of the license application. It is the responsibility of the applicant to be prepared to present a program of re-training or supervision that will establish proof of competency in their chosen area or medicine. Applicants in this category will be required to appear for a personal interview.

Renewal - North Carolina Law requires licensed physicians to renew with the Board within 30 days of their birth date, every year, no matter when the licensed was issued. A renewal fee is required.