About the Author

Author: Justin Nabity

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Medical Licensing

Steps to Get Licensed with the North Carolina Medical Board

Youโ€™ve dedicated your entire life to the practice of medicine. There were countless exams, exhausting training schedules, and times the process seemed endless.

Now thereโ€™s only one thing standing between you and being a physician:

Getting licensed.

The North Carolina Medical Board makes getting your medical license simple. They provide clearly laid-out checklists and an easy-to-use online portal.

And if youโ€™re strategic, youโ€™ll be fully licensed to practice health care in just four months.

So to find out what youโ€™ll need before applying for your North Carolina medical license and the steps youโ€™ll take along the way, keep reading.



What You Need to Do Before Applying

The prerequisites for applying to the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) are very similar to those of other state medical boards.

If you attended a legitimate medical school program, aced your exams, and completed your post-grad training, this process should be simple.

Hereโ€™s what youโ€™ll need before applying for your license:

Using FCVS to Speed Up the Process

One trick to speeding up document submission is signing up for Federation Credentials Verification Services.

The FCVS will store all your physician credentials and help you avoid sending individual documents to the NCMB.

This includes documents like:

  • Birth certificate or passport
  • NBME exam history release forms
  • Medical school diploma
  • Fifth Pathway certificate
  • GME completion certificate

Once youโ€™re ready to send these documents, select โ€˜North Carolinaโ€™ as the receiving board so theyโ€™re delivered electronically through the NCMB portal.

Though itโ€™ll cost you an extra $375, using FCVS does have its perks.

You can speed up the time it takes the North Carolina Medical Board to receive all your documents and also apply to several boards at once without the headache.

Getting your FCVS account squared away does take months, so plan for this step early.

Want to apply for a medical license in another state? Physicians Thrive offers even more step-by-step guides to help you.

A Couple of Critical Notes

Thankfully, the NCMB doesnโ€™t approve or deny medical school education.

As long as you attended a legitimate medical school and have proof of such, thatโ€™ll fulfill your education requirements!

There are also a handful of forms you or your supervisors and institutions must complete and submit as part of the application process. You can see everything required on the North Carolina Medical Boardโ€™s full application page.

Submitting these forms to the NC Medical Board is straightforward.

All required proof or documents are submitted electronically, either through the NCMB portal or sent to license@ncmedboard.org by the party who completed the form.

Your online profile with the NCMB will reflect received forms once they are processed.

The Forms, Proof, and Documents Youโ€™ll Need to Provide

If youโ€™re not using FCVS to streamline the application process, then youโ€™ll have to be more diligent when it comes to sending your proof and documents to the Board.

Hereโ€™s aย glance at the formsย or proof youโ€™ll need:

Proof of Residency

If you live in the United States, you must provide the North Carolina Medical Board with a color copy of your birth certificate or passport.

Non-U.S. citizens must provide alternative proof of legal residencies, such as a green card or alien registration card.

Name Change Documentation

This is only necessary if your current legal name differs from your birth certificate or passport.

You can use your marriage license or divorce decree as proof of your name.

Medical Education Proof

Your medical school dean or chair must complete the verification of medical education (and CME) forms.

This form must include an official university seal upon submission.

Postgraduate Training Verification

A copy of this form must be completed by every institution you fulfilled some or all your postgraduate training at.

Proof of Licensing Exams

You must prove to the North Carolina Medical Board that youโ€™ve passed the appropriate exams for licensure, which include:

  • COMLEX
  • FLEX
  • NBOME
  • NBME
  • State written exam
  • USMLE

These must be sent directly from the testing agency, and you must have completed your exams within three attempts.

No exceptions.

Medical School Transcripts

Not all applicants have to submit medical school transcripts.

You only have to send in your medical school transcripts if you were a student at more than one school during your tenure. (Or completed fewer than four years.)

Two Reference Forms

You must have two licensed physicians complete reference forms on your behalf. These physicians cannot be related to you.

You do not download or send the reference forms yourself.

Instead, you will list your references in the North Carolina Medical Boardโ€™s online application. Once entered, the Board contacts each reference directly with instructions on how to complete the form.

Each reference submits their completed form electronically to the North Carolina Medical Board.

You can monitor the status of each reference submission through your online application portal.

Foreign Applicant Requirements

If youโ€™re a foreign applicant, there are a few extra hoops you have to jump through before getting licensed in the United States.

The additional documents you must provide are a current ECFMG certificate or an ECFMG exam score transcript (for 5th Pathway applicants).

Get in contact with the ECFMG to arrange the delivery of your Certification Status Report to the North Carolina Medical Board.

A Fifth Pathway verification form may also have to be completed by your program director and sent directly to the board.

Related: 3 Ways For Foreign-Born Physicians to File for a J-1 Waiver

Getting Another Type of License

Perhaps youโ€™re already licensed in another state or are seeking a different type of license in the State of North Carolina.

If thatโ€™s the case, your other options include:

Be sure to do your due diligence and complete the appropriate forms and applications for the type of license you desire.

That way, you wonโ€™t accidentally complete the wrong form.

Are you still paying for all those years of education? Here are 10 Options For Paying Off Med School Loans.

Similar: How to Get Your Medical License


Filling Out Your Application for the North Carolina Medical Board

North Carolina Medical Board application

The North Carolina Medical Board license application is simple in one sense:

Itโ€™s nearly entirely online!

Letโ€™s review how to complete the application and discuss a few tips to reduce your stress during this tedious process.

What Youโ€™ll Need to Complete the Application

First things first, youโ€™ll need to make an account on the North Carolina Medical Board’s online portal.

But your computer set-up is also crucial for a smooth process.

Youโ€™ll need a reliable computer and a modern web browser to complete the application through the NCMB portal.

Most forms are completed and submitted electronically, so a printer is rarely necessary.

Be sure to specify whether youโ€™re using FCVS at the beginning of the application to ensure youโ€™re completing the right application.

What Details Theyโ€™ll Ask You For

Your application to join the North Carolina Medical Board runs the gamut when it comes to the types of information youโ€™ll have to provide.

It includes everything from high school until today.

Some of these critical topics or details youโ€™ll be grilled on include:

  • Personal information (your full name, mailing address, email address, etc.)
  • Questions about your medical school & post-graduate training
  • History of complaints, reprimands, and disciplinary action
  • Illegal drug use, convictions, and charges (all instances of arrests)
  • Malpractice suits and charges brought against you by the North Carolina Medical Board in the past.

Any questions that you answer โ€œyesโ€ to will require explanation on the lines beneath.

That includes revealing dates and charges for crimes (including marijuana) or explaining all disciplinary actions taken against you (the behavior and consequence).

Provide detailed answers. Your explanation might be enough to explain your case and prove to the licensing board members that you’re the right candidate.

Related: Why Physicians Need Malpractice Tail Coverage

Completing the Applicantโ€™s Oath

During the Verification Step of the application, you will be asked to complet the Applicantโ€™s Oath.

This used to be a separate 2-page form that required a notary. Now you must simply check some boxes that you are certifying everything is true and correct, and then electronically sign your name.

Youโ€™ll also need to attach a recent color photo of yourself showing the front of your face.

Itโ€™s that simple!

Pay the NCMB Application Fee

Your application is essentially on hold until you pay the necessary fees.

The North Carolina Medical Board only accepts credit card payments.

Once you pay your application fee and submit your application, you can sign in through the NCMB portal to check your application and document status.

Youโ€™ll log in using the credentials you created when starting your application.


What Comes Next

Now that youโ€™ve gotten the documents and medical license application squared away with, only a few small steps remain.

Take a look at what your next steps will be.

Getting Fingerprinted

All applicants must complete fingerprinting as part of the licensure process.

Most applicants complete fingerprinting electronically. Out of state applicants who cannot access live scan services may request fingerprint cards by contacting fpc@ncmedboard.org.

Applicants using fingerprint cards must mail the completed cards to the NC Medical Board following Board instructions.

NCMB
PO Box 20007
Raleigh, NC, 27619

If you live in North Carolina, youโ€™re eligible for live scan prints instead.

You can get printed at your local police station or law enforcement agency with your Applicant Information form in-hand.

Whether youโ€™re in or out-of-state, you must send your Electronic Authority to Release form to the NCMB at license@ncmedboard.org to allow the Board to process your fingerprints.

Changing Your Application

Panic will ensue if you realize you made an error on your submissions.

Maybe you sent the wrong medical school transcript or failed to explain the 30-day gap in your medical training thus far.

Not to worry!

As soon as you notice your mistake, notify the licensing board via email.

Be sure to follow up on any change youโ€™d like to make to your application with the necessary documents or explanations to update your file with the NCMB.

For security purposes, you cannot make these updates over the phone.

Similar: How to Get Licensed with New Mexico’s Medical Board


Approximate Timeline For Licensure
North Carolina medical license timeline

Youโ€™ll have a year from the day you begin your online application to submit all required documents to the licensing board.

The whole licensing process usually takes four months.

Yet, a six-month wait isnโ€™t unheard of if you apply between March and August due to the increase in residencies during that time.

Luckily, there are a few ways to ensure the smooth processing of your application.

To avoid delays:

  • Double-check that all open fields on your application are completed.
  • Complete fingerprinting requirements promptly, whether electronically or by card if required.
  • Check the portal regularly to confirm documents have been received and processed.
  • Include your full name and file ID number where appropriate.
  • If using FCVS, give yourself a few monthโ€™s buffer for your application.

A four-month timeline is more realistic if you begin gathering the required documents months before you need to apply!


Fees to Expect

Your license to practice medicine in the State of North Carolina doesnโ€™t come without additional costs.

As a brand new licensee, extra charges include:

  • A $400 application fee
  • A $375 fee for your FCVS registration (optional, but recommended)
  • A $38 fingerprinting fee
  • A $2 donation to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB)

The total cost for licensure is typically around $440, not including optional FCVS fees.

Or itโ€™ll cost you $815 if you decide to use FCVS to simplify the process.

After obtaining your license, you’re going to want income protection. Read our guide to Disability Insurance for Physicians to learn more.

Conclusion

Thereโ€™s no way to cut corners or skip steps when looking to get your license with the North Carolina Medical Board.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process a bit, like:

  • Opting to use FCVS to store your credentials, helping to avoid sending each individual document to the review panel
  • Notifying your references ahead of time to let them know that youโ€™re applying and to be prepared to write a reference
  • Gathering your required documents in the few months before you hope to be licensed by

Thereโ€™s no doubt that the application process is long and tedious.

But if you follow the process to a โ€œTโ€ from day one, you should have your medical license in hand within four short months.

Ready to sign a new contract? Contact Physicians Thrive to do a full contract review with a licensed attorney and expert financial planner.

Subscribe to our email newsletter for expert tips about finances, insurance, employment contracts, and more!