In some jurisdictions, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact facilitates obtaining a license to practice medicine. Doctors serious about their job should become acquainted with the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. When entering the medical workforce, several states only require one active license.
To locate a locum tenens employment, you must have a medical license from another state. Obtaining a license has always had a high barrier to entry and a significant expense. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which went into effect in 2017, has been a much-needed answer for medical professionals who want to practice in more than one state. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact was created to expedite the licensing process in various jurisdictions (IMLC). Several states have joined forces under this agreement to make professional medical licensure easier.
If a doctor already holds a license from one of the participating states, obtaining a second license to practice medicine in the United States is simple. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact does not supersede or replace the Medical Practice Act of a state. Instead, it is an alternate licensing method that tries to decrease the strain on the healthcare system caused by a scarcity of medical practitionersÂ
How does the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Benefit you?Â
With the IMLC certified medical professionals from one member nation can freely practice their specialty in any other country within its borders. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) enables physicians to apply for licenses in many jurisdictions by submitting a single application to the Compact rather than to each state individually. Applicants can save substantial time and resources by just having to finish the application procedure in one location by applying for a medical license in one state through the Compact. The Compact currently has 29 members (including D.C. and Guam).Â
How does the IMLC operate? Â
An eligible physician chooses a member state as their State of Principal Licensure (SPL) and applies to the state medical board with a single application. After validating the physician’s credentials and eligibility, the SPL sends a letter of qualification (LOQ) to the IMLC Commission. After that, the doctor can pick which states to apply for their medical license. The IMLC Commission sends the LOQ and fees to the appropriate state boards. In addition to the state(s) license cost, the Compact fee is $700. Â
Once the application is approved, the physician gets licenses from each state where they intend to practice. Because there is only one application, the operation is much more efficient, and there are fewer roadblocks. Licenses are still issued state-by-state, as they have historically been. According to the IMLC Commission, nearly 80% of U.S. physicians meet the qualifying criteria for Compact licensure. Â
It is critical to understand that the $750 IMLC application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. To determine eligibility, submit the IMLC application for a Letter of Qualification from your SPL, and complete the state-specific supporting documents. Licensing organizations can charge up to $500 for the first state and $250 for each additional state. Â
