Articles
From the President: Using the right tools to get licenses issued faster
The North Carolina Medical Board advises all physician and PA applicants for a full professional license to expect the process – from submission of the application and fee to issuance of the license – to take about four months.
No one is satisfied with this timeline, including me, my fellow Board Members, and our dedicated staff. Unfortunately, this delay reflects the reality of a rapidly increasing volume of applications over the past decade, without a corresponding increase in licensing staff.
One of my top priorities as Board President is to improve the speed and efficiency of our licensure process. That’s why I’m pleased to share that NCMB has asked state lawmakers to adopt a reform already in place in several other states: licensure by endorsement, which allows the Board to recognize professional licenses issued by other states or U.S. territories.
Licensure by endorsement permits a licensing board to issue a license more quickly, understanding that the board that currently licenses the medical professional has already verified their credentials and fitness to practice. As I write this, several states offer some version licensure by endorsement. If the NC Medical Board Licensing Efficiency Act is adopted, North Carolina will join them.
Having licensure by endorsement in place in North Carolina could help thousands of physicians and PAs seeking licensure in our state to get their licenses much, much faster than our current licensure pathways allow. This would benefit hospitals, health systems, medical practices, and other organizations that rely on timely onboarding of medical professionals. It would also help North Carolina patients, many of whom face long waits for medical appointments due to provider shortages in certain specialties or geographic areas.
At the same time, NCMB is working to improve its existing licensing processes. Last year, our Licensing team developed a series of reports to measure key aspects of the license review process. These efforts help us identify where delays occur and guide improvements. In January, we appointed NCMB’s first-ever Licensing Chief, charged with driving innovation, efficiency, and results.
I’m confident that NCMB can become even faster and more efficient while upholding our high standards for safety and quality. After all, helping medical professionals get to work serving patients is in everyone’s best interest.
No one is satisfied with this timeline, including me, my fellow Board Members, and our dedicated staff. Unfortunately, this delay reflects the reality of a rapidly increasing volume of applications over the past decade, without a corresponding increase in licensing staff.
One of my top priorities as Board President is to improve the speed and efficiency of our licensure process. That’s why I’m pleased to share that NCMB has asked state lawmakers to adopt a reform already in place in several other states: licensure by endorsement, which allows the Board to recognize professional licenses issued by other states or U.S. territories.
Licensure by endorsement permits a licensing board to issue a license more quickly, understanding that the board that currently licenses the medical professional has already verified their credentials and fitness to practice. As I write this, several states offer some version licensure by endorsement. If the NC Medical Board Licensing Efficiency Act is adopted, North Carolina will join them.
Having licensure by endorsement in place in North Carolina could help thousands of physicians and PAs seeking licensure in our state to get their licenses much, much faster than our current licensure pathways allow. This would benefit hospitals, health systems, medical practices, and other organizations that rely on timely onboarding of medical professionals. It would also help North Carolina patients, many of whom face long waits for medical appointments due to provider shortages in certain specialties or geographic areas.
At the same time, NCMB is working to improve its existing licensing processes. Last year, our Licensing team developed a series of reports to measure key aspects of the license review process. These efforts help us identify where delays occur and guide improvements. In January, we appointed NCMB’s first-ever Licensing Chief, charged with driving innovation, efficiency, and results.
I’m confident that NCMB can become even faster and more efficient while upholding our high standards for safety and quality. After all, helping medical professionals get to work serving patients is in everyone’s best interest.