To start your medical practice in New York, you must get a New York medical license by meeting the state’s eligibility requirements.
Your professional license will last a lifetime unless it’s revoked, suspended, or canceled due to misconduct. However, you must renew or register it every two or three years to continue practicing medicine.
If you already have your license and the expiration date of your registration is near, learn the step-by-step guide to the New York State medical license renewal process.
Key Takeaways
- New York medical licenses last a lifetime but must be renewed every 2-3 years.
- No CME hours required for physicians, but other healthcare professionals may need them.
- Renewal process involves online registration, professional conduct questions, and fee payment.
- Renewal fees vary by profession; for physicians, the fee is $600.
Table of Contents
How to Renew Your New York Medical License
Here’s a comprehensive guide to renewing or re-registering your medical license in New York.
Be Eligible for Registration Renewal
Before you can renew your New York medical license, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you have no more than five months left before your current registration period, OR did your registration period end less than four months ago?
- Will you use a valid credit card for your renewal transaction?
- Did you have your seven-character PIN (Personal Identification Number) from the registration renewal notice sent to you?
If your answer to all these questions is “yes”, you can renew your professional license with the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions and proceed to the next step.
If your answer is “no” to any of the questions, you must request a renewal application via the New York State Department.
Meet the Requirements
The State of New York has no required number of continuing medical education credit hours for physicians and physician assistants.
However, hours for continuing medical education vary for some healthcare professionals. For example, pharmacists practicing in New York must complete a minimum of 45 contact hours (at least 23 live) in each three-year registration period.
Depending on your profession, you may need to complete a continuing education requirement to renew your medical license.
The State of New York imposes little to no requirements for renewing your license. Your initial license application already asked for most of your medical education and experience. This includes your completed medical school record from an accredited institution, postgraduate training, and other supporting documentation.
Register Your New York Medical License Online
To renew your medical license online, go to the Registration Renewal page of the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions.
Once you’re on the page, carefully read the reminders and instructions to avoid inconveniences with your current registration. Then, log in by providing your profession, license number, and PIN for your renewal notice.
Note that your license number consists of six digits and doesn’t use any letters and dashes. If you don’t know your number, you can check the New York State Education’s verification search page.
Meanwhile, you can find your PIN on the top-left portion of your renewal document. This PIN is unique to your professional license and is case-sensitive, so be careful when entering it into the portal.
After logging in, you can renew or activate your current license status and update your personal information, like the address, if needed.
You can also opt for a professional photo identification card.
Answer Questions on Professional Conduct
All licensed practitioners in New York must behave and conduct themselves professionally. To maintain good and moral conduct among medical professionals, answering questions on potential misconduct is part of the medical licensing process, both for the initial and renewal applications.
The questions refer to instances of convictions, charges, or disciplinary actions. If you answer any of the misconduct questions, you must briefly explain the action and situation and list other states where you hold a license to practice medicine.
However, the required documents may vary depending on your misdemeanor. For example, being subjected to misconduct charges in any state requires you to submit a copy of each action’s disciplinary charges and decisions.
Meanwhile, you must also submit proper documentation if you’re reporting child abuse identification or infection control training.
Depending on your answers, the Department may request additional information. They will then review your application before issuing your license for the new registration period.
Pay the Renewal Fee
Paying the registration fee is the last step in completing your online renewal application. The website will direct you to the payment page, enabling you to pay via Visa, American Express, or MasterCard.
The online registration process only accepts credit card payments. In some cases, the Department accepts checks or money orders payable to the New York State Education Department.
Meanwhile, the required fees vary per profession. Check out the Fees Chart from the Office of the Professions for a complete list of the expenses.
Here’s a quick overview of the renewal fees for select medical professionals in New York.
| Profession | Continuing Education | Renewal Fee | Total Renewal Fee |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists (RN) | $30 | $30 | |
| Dentistry | $45 | $242 | $287 |
| Medicine | $600 | $600 | |
| Medical Physicists | $345 | $345 | |
| Nurse Practitioners | $35 | $35 | |
| Pharmacists | $45 | $179 | $224 |
| Physical Therapy | $45 | $179 | $224 |
| Physician Assistants | $45 | $45 | |
| Psychologists | $50 | $179 | $229 |
Depending on your profession and requirements, additional fees may include:
- Professional Photo ID Card: $30
- Examination Rescore: $20
- Examination Review: $25
- Verification of Grade/Transcript: $20
- Verification of Licensure (Written): $10
After paying, you can save and print your transaction record.
Wait for Your Renewed New York Medical License
After submitting your renewal application online and paying the fee, it can take up to three business days to process your request.
Note that your application will be reviewed, especially if you answered “yes” to any of the misconduct questions.
If there are no concerns with your application, you will receive your registration certificate through the address on your record. You may then continue practicing medicine in New York.
However, the New York State Education Department will notify you if they can’t process your application for any reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions?
Under the New York Board of Regents’ direction, the State Education Department is a licensing authority that manages professional regulation and issues a professional license through the Office of the Professions.
Appointed New York State board members assist the Office of the Professions in medical licensing matters.
Is the Online Registration Renewal Secure?
Yes! The New York State Education Department Office of the Professions website is secure thanks to Verisign’s SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption. It ensures that a third party can’t intercept your information.
The application page is also programmed to time out if it detects 30 minutes of inactivity.
What If I Can’t Find the PIN in the Registration Renewal Notice?
You may use the Office of the Professions’ PIN Retrieval System, submit your concern via a contact form, or open a live chat if you need assistance.
You must provide your name, profession, license number, and last four digits of your social security number.
Who Do I Contact If I Experience Technical Difficulties During My Medical License Renewal?
For any technical problems, you may reach the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions via the contact form.
Get Hassle-Free Assistance for Medical License Registration Renewal
Getting your pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or physician license renewal is straightforward. However, some people might find it challenging to accomplish this, especially for busy medical professionals.
If you don’t have time to renew your license or find the process confusing, consider getting a licensing assistance service to ensure you renew your license correctly and promptly.
Getting a consultant can also help you navigate this process if you report any misconduct from your previous years.
If you need help renewing your New York medical license, feel free to talk to Physicians Thrive’s Consultants today! Our consultants can guide and assist you in completing your requirements on time.
