Resources & Information

The North Carolina Medical Board is made up of 13 individuals, including eight physicians, who are charged with licensing and regulating doctors, physician assistants and certain other medical professionals. The Board’s primary mission is to protect the public. It screens candidates for licensure, issues licenses to qualified professionals, develops rules and positions that guide its licensees and, when necessary, disciplines its licensees.

The Board issues licenses to medical doctors (MDs), doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physician assistants (PAs), certified clinical perfusionists and anesthesiologist assistants, and regulates their practice. It approves the practice of nurse practitioners and clinical pharmacist practitioners and jointly regulates those professions with the NC Board of Nursing and NC Board of Pharmacy, respectively.

The full Board meets every other month in the odd-numbered months (i.e., January, March, May). The Board holds hearings in disciplinary cases in even-numbered months (i.e. February, April, June). The Board’s meeting schedule is published here and meeting agendas and hearing dockets are posted on the site in accordance with open meeting laws, typically 48 hours before a meeting or hearing. Meetings are typically scheduled over three full days (usually Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).

Yes, though certain portions of meetings or hearings may be closed. For example, certain committees of the Board, such as those that discuss investigative matters or pending complaints, are closed to the public. However, many agenda items of interest to the public, such as disciplinary hearings or presentations of settled disciplinary cases, are conducted in open session.

The Board consists of 13 members – 11 appointed by the Governor and two appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendations of the Speaker and President Pro Tempore. Eight of the 13 are licensed physicians, one is a licensed physician assistant (PA), one is an approved nurse practitioner (NP), and three are members of the public with no financial or professional interest in a health service or profession.

Board members may serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.

No. The medical board is an independent agency that regulates the practice of medicine and surgery on behalf of the state of North Carolina. Medical Board employees are not on the state payroll and do not qualify for state benefits or retirement.

No. One hundred percent of the Board’s operating revenue comes from fees paid by its licensees, including license application and annual renewal fees.

Making appointments to visit the Board’s office are encouraged as the Board operates a secure facility. Visitors who arrive unannounced may not be admitted to the building.

Board Meetings and Hearings are open to the public, though some business is conducted in closed session in accordance with state law. Visitors who plan on attending are expected to go through a security check point and sign in at the front desk.

You may use either the Board’s street address or P.O. Box address to send mail to the Board. However, if you are sending a package or overnight envelope via FedEx or UPS, you MUST send it to the street address.

The Board’s mailing address is:

P.O. Box 20007
Raleigh, NC, 27619-0007

The Board’s street address is:

3127 Smoketree Court
Raleigh, NC, 27604