How to Get a Missouri Medical License in 2024

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 80% of Missouri lacks a primary care doctor.

If you’ve graduated from medical school and are looking for somewhere to get your career started, Missouri is  place where you can make a difference in people’s lives—whether by working at a hospital or doing locum tenens work. Let’s learn how you can get a Missouri medical license.

Key Takeaways

• Missouri faces a shortage, with 80% lacking primary care doctors.
• U.S. medical graduates need accredited education, training, and pass USMLE or COMPLEX exams.
• International medical graduates require ECFMG certification and verified medical documents.
• Missouri medical licenses take 4-6 weeks to process and renew annually by January 31.

Missouri Medical License Requirements

The Missouri State Board issues the following licenses, each with its own requirements:

1. Physician Licensure for U.S. Graduates

The requirements for licensure as a physician depend on whether you studied medicine in the U.S. or at a foreign school. If you’re a U.S. graduate, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Graduate from an American Osteopathic Association (AOA)- or American Medical Association (AMA)-accredited medical school
• Complete one year of post-graduate training in an accredited residency program
• Pass COMPLEX or USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3, with no more than three attempts per step and no more than seven years of total time taken. The seven-year requirement is waived for MD/PhD candidates
• Undergo a state and FBI background check. Fingerprinting is required as part of this process

You also have to provide your pre-medical transcripts, medical school transcripts, medical diploma copies, details about every medical license held, and hospital affiliation forms along with your application. You can read more about the requirements here.

2. Physician Licensure for International Medical Graduates

If you’re an international medical graduate (IMG), you need to meet the following requirements to get licensure in Missouri:

• Graduate from an ECFMG-certified foreign medical institution.
• Have at least three years of post-graduate training in an accredited residency program.
• Pass USMLE/FLEX, NBME, COMPLEX-USA, or LMCC. IMGs have the same USMLE requirements as U.S. graduates.
• Provide verified licenses, permits, or certificates that you previously held. This must be submitted directly to the Board.
• Have a Social Security number (SSN) when registering for licensure, according to Missouri law (section 324.024). If you’re a foreign citizen and don’t have an SSN, you need to submit your passport number or visa at the time of the application. But you’ll require an SSN when renewing your license.
• Translated and notarized pre-medical and medical school transcripts.

3. Assistant Physician

If you’re applying for licensure as an assistant physician in Missouri, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Have U.S. residency, e.g., submit a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or other document copy.
• Pass USMLE, NBME, NBOME/COMPLEX-USA, or LMCC. For USMLE, you need to pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 within three attempts per step, and in the past seven years.
• Graduate from an accredited medical or osteopathic school.
• Provide transcripts of your pre-medical and medical school, along with verified licenses for every permit, certificate, or license you’ve held previously.
• Submit a hospital affiliation form for every hospital you held active admitting privileges in the U.S. or Canada for five years.
• Pass a state and FBI background check.

You also have to submit a list of all medical and non-medical activities since graduation from your medical program in the past ten years, whether you’re an IMG or U.S. graduate.

Plus, if you’re a foreign graduate, you’ll need to have an SSN when registering. If you don’t, you can register for the initial license using your visa or passport number. However, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration will require you to have an SSN at renewal, which is every January 31.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Missouri Medical License?

It takes around four to six weeks to get your Missouri medical license after you submit your application. This does not include the time it takes you to collect your documents or get them notarized.

You might have to wait for a longer period if you submitted your application between March and July, which are the months with the highest number of applications, or if a Board member wants to learn more about your application.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Missouri Medical License?

Here are the fees for all medical licenses you can get in Missouri:

You need to pay your fee through a bank in the U.S. The Board doesn’t accept checks from international banks.

When Do You Need to Renew Your Missouri Medical License?

While all Missouri medical licenses expire on January 31, the annual term varies according to the license granted. Here’s a summary of renewal periods for each license issued by the Missouri Board of Healing Arts:

How to Get a Medical License in Missouri?

Now that you understand the requirements, fees, and timeline for getting a medical license in Missouri, you need to complete your application form. You’ll need to:

1. Fill in your personal information—This includes your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, gender, and contact details.
2. Add your practice information—This includes the type of practice you’re currently involved in, such as intern, resident, private, or faculty.
3. List all your licensure history—This includes all the states, territories, and countries where you currently hold or have held a medical license, permit, or certificate. Each state board or licensing authority needs to send verification for each license to the Board.
4. Mention your education and examinations—You need to mention all pre-medical and medical schools attended, including dates of attendance, location, name, degree awarded, and the date of the degree. You also need to provide details about your medical licensing exams, such as USMLE, FLEX, NBME, or COMPLEX-USA.
5. List your postgraduate training—This includes all ACGME/AOA/Canadian Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons accredited postgraduate training programs you’ve completed.
6. Submit your criminal background check—This includes submitting your fingerprints to the state and federal authorities.
7. Complete the jurisprudence form—This is a part of your application form and tests your knowledge of Missouri’s laws and regulations regarding medical practice. It includes 20 true/false questions; you need to get at least 75% of them correct.
8. Perform a National Practitioner’s Data Bank (NPDB) self-query—You need to contact the NPDB, perform a self-query—where you request a report on your records, e.g., hospital privileges, malpractice payments, and actions related to medical licenses—and forward the original to the Board. This will help the Board determine if any sanctions or malpractice claims affect your licensure eligibility. A digitally-certified self-query costs $3, with an additional $3 per paper copy.
9. Pay the fee—This should be done using a check or money order drawn from a U.S. bank. The Board doesn’t accept credit or debit cards for the initial application fee.

Once the application and all documents are complete, you should mail them to the Missouri Board of Healing Arts.

Let Physicians Thrive Help You Negotiate Better Contracts

With the recent shortage of medical professionals in Missouri, there’s no better time to get licensed and step in where you’re needed most. The Board has a clear licensing process, the fees are low, and you only need a favorable job offer to get started.

At Physicians Thrive, we help doctors negotiate their way into a contract that works for them in every way—pay, benefits, and terms. Our team also helps you set up your own clinic (if you’re thinking about it) and manage your finances so you’re always in control of your future.

Ready to get started? Reach out to us today!