How to Renew a Medical License in Michigan [Step-By-Step]

Renewing your medical license in Michigan isn’t as difficult as acquiring it for the first time. After all, you don’t need a 7-year med school training for this.

You do, however, need to meet certain requirements before you can apply for renewal. These requirements ensure that you are capable of providing the best medical care according to the state’s regulations.

Check out the Physicians Thrive licensure blog if you have any questions about renewals in other states.

Key Takeaways

150 CME hours required, with 75 in Category 1, for Michigan MD renewals.
Implicit Bias education mandatory: 3 hours needed for each three-year cycle post-2025.
Human trafficking identification training required within three years of renewal.
Opioid and controlled substance training mandatory for all prescribers by May 2024.

Table of Contents

Requirements You Need Before Renewing Your Michigan Medical License

As a physician, you can “apply” to renew your license when it’s due. We’ll get to the details of the application soon, but first, you need to fulfill some requirements to be eligible for renewal (assuming there are no malpractice claims):

1. Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Medical license renewal in all states requires a set number of accredited hours of CME over a certain number of years.

In Michigan, MDs require 150 hours of CME, which are categorized as follows:

At least 75 hours must be earned through Category 1 programs.
The remaining 75 hours can be earned through Category 1 or Category 2 programs.

A minimum of one hour must focus on medical ethics, and at least three hours must be dedicated to pain and symptom management. At least one of these hours must specifically address controlled substance prescribing.

As for DOs, the required number of hours is lower, at only 60 hours of Category 1 programs.

Note: The primary distinction between Category 1 and Category 2 in CME is in the quality and rigor of the educational content.

2. Implicit Bias Education

Starting in June 2022, there’s an additional requirement of three hours of Implicit Bias education for every three-year licensing cycle.

In simpler words, medical doctors who renewed their licenses in January 2022 don’t need any Implicit Bias training. But those who did in 2023 needed one hour of training, those who did in 2024 needed two hours, and will require three hours in 2025.

After 2025, every three-year renewal cycle will mandate three hours of Implicit Bias education.

3. Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking Training

MDs and DOs are required to complete a one-time training course on identifying victims of human trafficking. The training must be completed within three years of license renewal starting from 2017.

In other words, if you renewed your license in 2022, you would have a deadline until 2025 to complete the training.

Also, since 2021, completion of the human trafficking training has become mandatory for initial licensure for both MDs and DOs.

4. Controlled Substance Training

This is the newest addition to the medical licensure renewal requirements in Michigan, as it became effective on May 28, 2024.

MDs and DOs (in addition to all licensed prescribers and dispensers on controlled substances) must complete ongoing training in opioids and controlled substance awareness with each license renewal.

Physician assistants (PAs) are also required to undergo such training. However, since they prescribe or dispense controlled substances under supervision, they are only required to undergo it once during their applicable license cycle.

How to Renew Your Michigan Medical License?

Here are the steps required to renew your license:

Step 1: Go to MiPLUS

MiPLUS is the official online system for Michigan professional licensing. Register an account, then find your specialty among the listed ones.

Step 2: Start the Renewal

Find your medical license and click on the “renew” button next to it. You should then follow the on-screen prompts to fill out the renewal application form.

Step 3: Upload the Required Documents

You’ll be required to upload the documents proving that you completed 150 hours of CME over the past three years.

If not previously completed, you should also upload the one-time training certificate on human trafficking and opioid awareness.

Step 4: Pay the Renewal Fees

Once your form is completed, you will be prompted to pay the renewal fee, which is $308.25. If you are also submitting the controlled substance license, you’ll pay an additional $243.30 (total of $551.55).

Step 5: Finalize

Submit your details and then check your email. You should receive a confirmation email. If everything goes well, the system will display a “renewal successful” message within minutes.

Keep in mind that you need to renew your license before its expiration date. You’ll receive a reminder one month before it expires, with a 60-day grace period after it expires. However, a $20 late fee will be added during this time.

On day 61, the license becomes invalid, and you’re no longer legally allowed to practice medicine in the state.

Final Words

Keeping your license valid and succeeding as a physician in the U.S. can be a tricky process, but it doesn’t always have to be.

Don’t you wish that you had a portable team of advisors that you can access at any time? That’s what Physicians Thrive is about. The bonus is that the team is composed of physicians who have decades of experience in what you’re currently struggling with.

From contract negotiation to retirement planning, we have everything you need to succeed as a physician.

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