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You can download your application from our forms and applications page.
The average processing time for a license application is approximately 6 to 8 weeks. This time is spent waiting for the verification documents to reach us from the various entities from which you would have requested information. For information on review and approval times, see next question.
Routing applications (those with no derogatory information) can be approved in the office by Commission staff and take approximately 3 to 5 business days for approval. Those applications with minor derogatory information (considered non-routine) can be reviewed by a member of the Commission and require an additional 2 weeks for review. Those applications with serious issues or current/prior disciplinary action must be reviewed by the full Commission and can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months (or longer depending on the issues). Please note: any application received by the Commission cannot be withdrawn if grounds for denial exist.
We do not have a locum tenens license, but we do have a temporary permit. It must, however, be requested in conjunction with a full application. All fees must be paid, AND there are eligibility requirements applicants must meet. (see WAC 246-919-390) Once approved, temporary permits are issued for a period of 90 days and expire either on the 90th day, upon the approval of the full license application, OR upon initiation of an investigation of the applicant. (see WAC 246-919-395) Please note: it often occurs that the last document needed to issue a temporary permit is also the last document to complete the full license, but fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. (see WAC 246-12-340)
Depending on the circumstances and time period, the Commission may require an individual to pass the Special Purpose Examination (SPEX) given by the Federation of State Medical Boards. (see WAC 246-919-370) Generally if you have been out of practice for a period of 3 years or longer, the Commission will need to see some kind of evidence that you have kept current with medical knowledge.
You can meet this requirement by either attending a formal training course, self directed activities like journal reading, or even treatment of AIDS patients. This is to ensure you have current knowledge on blood-borne contagious diseases.
Federal legislation mandates that any government entity that issues a license (drivers license, business license, professional license) must collect a social security number. Compliance is mandatory and a license cannot be issued without it. For those individuals coming from outside the country, you will have to work with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to obtain the appropriate visa that will allow the Social Security Administration to issue you a social security number.
The Department of Health accepts personal checks, cashiers checks, or money orders. All checks and money orders must be paid in US funds. At this time, the Department cannot accept payment by credit or debit card.
Your first license is valid only until your first birthday after issuance, not for a full calendar year. After your first renewal of that license, you will begin renewing in the two-year renewal cycle established for your profession.
It is the responsibility of the licensee to renew their license, whether the notice has been received or not. (see WAC 246-12-030(4)) The license is expired if it is not renewed on or before the expiration date. Any renewal received by the department that is postmarked or presented after midnight on the expiration date is late and the licensee is required to pay the late fee. There is no grace period for renewal of a license.
To have a written verification of your license sent to another state, you must submit the request in writing along with a $50 fee for EACH board to which you wish a verification sent. Your request should include your name, license number, and the name and address of the state board where the verification should be sent. These requests are processed within 5 business days of having received the fee.
No, this is specifically prohibited by law. (see RCW 18.71.055(4))
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You can download your application from our forms and applications page.
The average processing time for a license application is approximately 4 to 6 weeks. This time is spent waiting for the verification documents to reach us from the various entities from which you would have requested information. For information on review and approval times, see next question.
Routing applications (those with no derogatory information) can be approved in the office by Commission staff and take approximately 3 to 5 business days for approval. Those applications with minor derogatory information (considered non-routine) can be reviewed by a member of the Commission and require an additional 2 weeks for review. Those applications with serious issues or current/prior disciplinary action must be reviewed by the full Commission and can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months (or longer depending on the issues). Please note: any application received by the Commission cannot be withdrawn if grounds for denial exist.
No, you must have a practice plan APPROVED by the Commission prior to being able to commence practice. (see RCW 18.71A.030 and .040)
We do have an interim permit, however you should carefully consider the time period for requesting the interim permit. You should allow enough time so that you have 2 opportunities for taking the examination. In addition, once issued it will be valid for one year only and cannot be renewed. If you have not passed the NCCPA by the time it expires, you CANNOT practice after the expiration date. Please note: without NCCPA certification, you will be approved for a remote site setting AND you must specifically request prescriptive authority for Schedules 2 through 5 Controlled Substances. Prescriptive authority requests are reviewed on a case by case basis and are dependent upon the circumstances of the practice plan.
The Department of Health accepts personal checks, cashiers checks, or money orders. All checks and money orders must be paid in US funds. At this time, the Department cannot accept payment by credit or debit card.
You can meet this requirement by either attending a formal training course, self directed activities like journal reading, or even treatment of AIDS patients. This is to ensure you have current knowledge on blood-borne contagious diseases.
Federal legislation mandates that any government entity that issues a license (drivers license, business license, professional license) must collect a social security number. Compliance is mandatory and a license cannot be issued without it. For those individuals coming from outside the country, you will have to work with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to obtain the appropriate visa that will allow the Social Security Administration to issue you a social security number.
No. Physician assistants who want an Osteopath physician their primary physician must apply through the Osteopathic Board.(see www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/hpqad/Osteoptha/default.htm)
Your first license is valid only until your first birthday after issuance, not for a full calendar year. After your first renewal of that license, you will begin renewing in the two-year renewal cycle established for your profession.
It is the responsibility of the licensee to renew their license, whether the notice has been received or not. (see WAC 246-12-030(4)) The license is expired if it is not renewed on or before the expiration date. Although there is no late fee for physician assistants, any renewal received by the department that is postmarked or presented after midnight on the expiration date is late, there is no grace period.
To have a written verification of your license sent to another state, you must submit the request in writing. Your request should include your name, license number, and the name and address of the state board where the verification should be sent. These requests are processed within 5 business days of having received the request.
A remote site is EITHER a setting physically separate from the physician’s primary place for meeting patients OR a setting where the physician will be present less that 25% of the physician assistant’s practice time. Whether a physician assistant is utilized across town or next door, if it is physically separate, it’s a remote site. In addition, if a physician assistant is employed full time at 40 hours per week but the physician is on site less than 10 of those hours, it becomes a remote site. (see WAC 246-918-120)
Physician assistants and their supervising or sponsoring physician are each required to submit a letter notifying us that their working relationship has been terminated. Until we have received such notification, the practice plan remains in effect. (see WAC 246-918-110)
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You can download your application from our forms and applications page.
The average processing time for a license application is approximately 4 weeks. This time is spent waiting for the verification documents to reach us from the various entities from which you would have requested information. For information on review and approval times, see next question.
Routing applications (those with no derogatory information) can be approved in the office by Commission staff and take approximately 3 to 5 business days for approval. Those applications with minor derogatory information (considered non-routine) can be reviewed by a member of the Commission and require an additional 2 weeks for review. Those applications with serious issues or current/prior disciplinary action must be reviewed by the full Commission and can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months (or longer depending on the issues). Please note: any application received by the Commission cannot be withdrawn if grounds for denial exist.
There are 5 types of limited licenses:
- Institutional: This is issued for employment with either the Department of Corrections or the Department of Social and Health Services. Applicants must be licensed to practice medicine in another state of the United States or in the country of Canada and have completed a period of postgraduate medical training in the United States or Canada. This license allows a physician to practice medicine only on patients, residents, or inmates.
- City/County: This is issued for employment with a city or county health department. If the position is a contracted position and the individual would not be a city or county employee, it DOES NOT qualify for this limited license. Applicants must be licensed to practice medicine in another state of the United States or in the country of Canada and have completed a period of postgraduate medical training in the United States or Canada. This license allows a physician to practice medicine only in connection with their duties in employment with the city or county health department.
- Residency: This is issued for those individuals who have been accepted into a residency program within this state.
- Teaching/Research: This is issued for employment as a teaching-research member of an institution’s instructional staff. Applicants must be licensed to practice medicine in their country of origin.
- Fellowship: This is issued for those individuals who have been accepted into a fellowship program within this state. Applicants must be licensed to practice medicine in their country of origin. This license is issued for one year and may only be renewed one time (for a total of two years).
You can meet this requirement by either attending a formal training course, self directed activities like journal reading, or even treatment of AIDS patients. This is to ensure you have current knowledge on blood-borne contagious diseases.
Federal legislation mandates that any government entity that issues a license (drivers license, business license, professional license) must collect a social security number. Compliance is mandatory and a license cannot be issued without it. For those individuals coming from outside the country, you will have to work with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to obtain the appropriate visa that will allow the Social Security Administration to issue you a social security number.
You should leave all the application issues to the Residency Coordinator. We will work directly with them on any outstanding documents or issues.
The Department of Health accepts personal checks, cashiers checks, or money orders. All checks and money orders must be paid in US funds. At this time, the Department cannot accept payment by credit or debit card.
Your limited license is issued specific to a particular program and so the program dates are the issuance and expiration dates – such as a residency year beginning July 1, 2002 and ending June 30, 2003; these would become the issue and expire dates.
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