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Permanent Licensure

Eligibility for Permanent Licensure

A permanent license allows an M.D. or D.O. to practice medicine and surgery in Iowa. Eligibility requirements are found in Chapter 9.3.

• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Hold a medical degree from an educational institution accredited by the LCME or the AOA;
• If the applicant does not hold a medical degree from an institution approved by the board, the applicant shall meet one of the following requirements:
• Hold a valid certificate issued by the ECFMG;
• Have successfully completed a fifth pathway program established in accordance with AMA criteria;
• Have successfully passed either a basic science examination administered by a U.S. or Canadian medical licensing authority or SPEX, and have successfully completed three years of postgraduate training in a program approved by the board, and submitted evidence of five years of active practice without restriction as a licensee of any U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction; or
• Have successfully passed either a basic science examination administered by a U.S. or Canadian medical licensing authority or SPEX and hold board certification by a specialty board approved by ABMS or the AOA, and submit evidence of five years of active practice without restriction as a licensee of any U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction.
• Have successfully completed one year of postgraduate training in a hospital-affiliated program accredited by the ACGME, AOA, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. A graduate of an international medical school shall have successfully completed 24 months of such training.
• Have passed one of the multi-part licensure examinations:
• USMLE
• NBME
• FLEX
• NBOME
• COMLEX
• LMCC

 

Expedited Endorsement

Expedited endorsement is a process where the board can issue a license based on the acceptance of an applicant’s core credentials that have been primary source verified by another jurisdiction’s licensing board. 
Core credentials are those documents that demonstrate the applicant’s identity, medical training and practice history.  This includes but not limited to the certification of medical education, medical school diploma, medical school transcript, dean’s letter, examination history, ECFMG certificate, fifth pathway certificate, and post-graduate training verification.
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for permanent licensure could qualify for expedited endorsement if they meet all of the following requirements.

• Hold at least one permanent U.S. state/jurisdiction or Canadian medical license.
• Hold an unrestricted license in every jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed.
• Have no formal disciplinary actions, or active or pending investigations by a board, licensing authority, medical society, professional society, hospital, medical school, federal agency, or institution staff sanctions in any state, country or jurisdiction.
• Hold current specialty board certification by an ABMS or AOA specialty board.  Lifetime certification is excluded.
• Have been in continuous active practice during the past five years.  Time spent in post-graduate training is not considered continuous active practice. 

Applicants who meet these criteria do not have to submit the certification of medical education, medical education transcript, copy of diploma, verification of post-graduate training in the application process. 

Important Information Regarding USMLE and COMLEX

Applicants who have taken more than ten years to complete all three steps of the USMLE or COMLEX and are not specialty board certified by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or American Osteopathic Specialty Boards, should contact Amy Van Maanen, Director of Licensure, at 515-281-6492. Applicants in this situation do not meet the licensure requirements and will need to request a waiver to administrative rule 653 IAC-9.4(2)e(1). Discussion with a staff person prior to applying may assist in determining whether to submit an application to the Board.

Fees

Click here to check the fee for a permanent license application.

How to Obtain an Application

Download the application and forms off this website.

Permanent License Application Cycle

If the applicant does not submit all materials, including a completed fingerprint packet, within 90 days of the board office's last documented request for further information, the application shall be considered inactive. The board office shall notify the applicant of this change in status.

To reactivate the application, an applicant shall submit a non-refundable reactivation fee, and update credentials. If the reactivation fee is not received within 90 days from the date the applicant was notified of the inactivation, the application will be withdrawn.

An applicant whose application was withdrawn must reapply and submit a new non-refundable application fee, a new application, documents and credentials.

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