Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Medical Licensing

Yes — there’s a lot you can do to help speed things up:

• Send documents quickly. Submit all requested documents as soon as possible, and be upfront about exam failures, disciplinary actions, or arrest history if they apply.

• Fingerprint promptly. Schedule and attend your fingerprint appointment right away so we can keep your file moving.

• Complete CME early. Finish any CME courses we send you as soon as you can.

Doing these things ensures you’re doing your part to keep the process moving smoothly and swiftly.

IMLC stands for the Interstate Medical Licensing Compact.
For more detailed information, visit the official website: https://imlcc.com/

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is an agreement that allows states to work together to significantly streamline the licensing process for physicians who want to practice in multiple states.

Step 1 is choosing your SPL (State of Principal License). This is the Compact member state where you hold a full and unrestricted medical license. You might also hear it called your home state or primary state of licensure.

To qualify, you’ll need:

• A current or lifetime board certification in your specialty.

• An SPL that fits one of these options:
    • the state where you live (if it’s a Compact state), or
    • the state where your telehealth employer or group is based.

• To see a infographic of the participating states visit: https://imlcc.com/participating-states/

Once your SPL is set, we’ll walk you through the rest of the Compact process step by step.

You may be disqualified from the Compact if you have:

• A felony conviction

• Disciplinary history on any of your medical licenses

• Criminal history

• Actions related to controlled substances involving a license

• An active investigation in your primary state

• No board certification (current or lifetime)

💡 Important: When discussing the possibility of using the IMLC, please be as transparent as possible about your history. We’re on your side — and we will never share your private information.

No — malpractice alone does not disqualify you from the Compact.

Our team is experienced in navigating malpractice challenges and will help guide you through the process.

⚠️ Please note: malpractice issues may slow down your licensing timeline, as boards often require extra review.

Once we have all the required information from you, we’ll prepare and submit your license application and verifications to the medical boards within 10 days. If you’re in a rush, we can expedite the process — just note that additional fees apply.

What to expect:

• Most medical boards take about 4–6 weeks to review applications.

• Some states (like Texas and California) may take longer.

• On average, licensing takes 4-6 months, depending on the state.

• We’ve seen cases where physicians were licensed within a month — but that’s the exception, not the rule.

• Licenses acquired through the IMLC are usually much faster than full state licenses.

Example factors that affect timing:

• A new graduate with a straightforward history may move through the process faster.

• A seasoned physician with multiple licenses or a complex background may take longer.

Your role in speeding things up:
The biggest factor is how quickly you provide us with accurate details and documents. The sooner you get everything to us, the faster we can help secure your license.

💡 Fastest Path: If you qualify for the IMLC (Interstate Medical Licensing Compact), your licenses will process much quicker than a path using traditional full state licenses.

US Healthcare Licensing has developed a streamlined digital fingerprinting process.

We know this step can feel inconvenient, so we created an in-house fingerprinting department to handle it for you. We’ll schedule your appointment at a nearby location, and it’s one and done — no hassle, no repeats.

If you live in a remote area, fingerprinting options may be limited. Our scheduling team will find the closest partner in our network, but you may need to drive a bit. Trust us — it’s worth it to get it right the first time.

And just to be clear: home ink pad kits won’t work for this requirement. Digital fingerprinting is the only way to go.

Great question — here’s what sets us apart:

Experience & Expertise
We’ve been in this field for years and know the ins and outs of the licensing process. That means we understand the shortcuts, common pitfalls, and “tricks of the trade” that can save you time — things an in-house team or admin staff may not know.

Strong Relationships
We’ve built personal connections with medical board processors across the country. Just like any profession, boards appreciate working with teams that make their job easier. Because of that, we often receive smoother and faster service.

Comprehensive Service
The initial application is just the beginning. We handle everything that follows: gathering documents, securing verifications, requesting references, uploading certifications, and managing all follow-up communications. You won’t be stuck chasing paperwork or wondering where things stand — we’ve got it covered.

Persistent Follow-Ups
We make the calls, send the reminders, and keep pushing your application forward. It takes countless hours of follow-up, and that’s exactly what we do to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

At the end of the day, when you choose USHCL, you’re not just getting a service — you’re getting a dedicated partner who goes the extra mile to make the licensing process as smooth and hassle-free as possible.

While we provide expert service, there are additional fees associated with the licensing process that we pass on to our clients. These include, but are not limited to:

• State medical license fees
• License verifications
• Employment verifications
• School verifications
• NPDB reports
• Background checks
• FCVS profiles ... and more.

It's essential to understand that these costs are standard and would be incurred even if you pursued licensing independently. We pride ourselves on transparency and fairness regarding our charges.

Before we begin, you'll receive an itemized invoice detailing every fee, ensuring complete clarity. Our approach is to be upfront, so you're always informed and never encounter unexpected costs.

Accelerating the licensing process is a collaborative effort. Here's how you can play your part:

Open Communication – Think of us as your partner in this process. Being upfront is key. If you’ve had past issues (like exam failures, arrests, or malpractice claims), let us know right away. Hiding details usually causes bigger delays — and medical boards will find out.

A Detailed CV – Make sure your CV includes your full work history, training, and affiliations. A complete CV helps keep things moving smoothly.

Send Documents Quickly – The sooner you provide requested documents (and disclose anything relevant), the faster we can move your applications forward.

Stay on Top of CME – Keep your Continuing Medical Education up to date and share it with us when we ask.

Fingerprinting – We’ll find a fingerprinting location near you and book your appointment. Please follow our process — it’s streamlined to avoid hiccups.

Be Available – If we have questions, quick replies from you really help. We’ll work around your schedule, even after hours if that’s easier.

👉 Remember, the goal is to make your licensing process as smooth and fast as possible. The more proactive and transparent you are, the better we can advocate for you.

Your involvement is straightforward and minimal:

1. Documentation: Begin by providing us with your updated CV and any other documentation you can digitize and send our way. Based on our review, we might request additional details, possibly including a recent photo and references.

2. Professional processing: We'll meticulously prepare the necessary applications along with the required documents (provided by you) and forward them to the boards using your official signature.

3. Fingerprinting: Most medical boards require fingerprinting for background checks. Don't worry; our dedicated in-house team will coordinate this for you, ensuring your prints are processed and dispatched to the appropriate boards promptly.

Beyond these steps, you can relax and let us handle everything else!

The speed of licensing often hinges on your individual history. However, when considering a standard profile, Colorado, Rhode Island, Michigan, Ohio, and Utah typically lead the pack. These states boast a harmonious blend of advanced digital systems and agile processing teams.

On the flip side, you might need a bit more patience with states like Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Texas, and Wyoming, as their processes can be comparatively slower.

When looking for multi-state licensing: Let's talk about using the IMLC!

Using the Interstate Medical Licensing Compact with significantly speed up your licensing timeline. 

Ask your licensing processor about using the IMLC!

For secure document uploads, please use the "Client Portal" link located in our website's header. This portal provides an encrypted upload form that's both HIPAA-compliant and fortified by renowned security frameworks from Azure and GoDaddy. Ensuring your data's safety is our top priority, and you can utilize this feature whenever needed.

A word of caution: Before uploading sensitive documents, ensure your network is secure. While we guarantee end-to-end encryption from your browser to our cloud storage, it's essential to remember that public networks, like those at coffee shops or hospital lobbies, may not be the most secure environments for transmitting personal data. Most home and office networks typically offer adequate security.

No — we’ve got you covered. From day one, USHCL has shielded our clients from the flood of emails that hit providers after applying to multiple medical boards.

Here’s why it happens: under FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), state medical boards are required to release basic information about every provider in their system — including the email address you give them. Advertisers jump on this, which is why your inbox can quickly get overwhelmed.

To prevent that, we create an in-house alias email address for you when we set up your profile. That alias catches the noise, and we filter out the spam. Only the important, board-related messages make it through, and, if necessary,  we’ll forward those directly to your private address in our system.

Don’t worry — we’ll only email you directly if we need something urgently.

• Non-IMLC states: Payment is due within 30 days of starting your applications.
• IMLC states: A second payment is due once you’ve been approved for the Compact, before we can request the rest of your IMLC licenses.
• Renewals: Renewal fees are collected before we begin processing. For your convenience, we’ll notify you about a month before your license expiration date.
• Flexibility: Need a different arrangement? Just let us know — we’re happy to work with you.

CME (Continuing Medical Education) is a key part of both licensing and renewals, and we’ll help you stay on top of it.

• Tracking your CME: Your license processor will help monitor your requirements and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

• NetCE access: We’ll set up (or access) your profile on NetCE.com, where your completed CME certifications are stored. We’ll also add any required CME to your NetCE profile to guide you as you work toward new state licenses.

• Board submissions: To keep you compliant, we handle uploading the right CME certificates to each medical board.

• Special state requirements: A few states (FL, NH, and LA) require CME reporting through CEBroker.com. Don’t worry — if you need an account, we’ll create it for you automatically and manage those submissions.

• Other CME accounts: If you already have accounts with other CME websites, send us your login info and we’ll help transfer your records into NetCE.

With USHCL, you can focus on completing your CME while we handle the tracking and reporting.

Here are a few:

• Set up a business mailing address (a virtual one works just fine). We’ll use this address on your applications so your home address stays private — since boards release contact info under FOIA.

• Give your references a heads-up. Many states require professional references. A quick heads-up helps them respond faster. Need help? We can provide a simple template for them to use.

• Employer notifications on your terms. Not ready to tell your employer about new licenses? No problem. Just let us know and we’ll wait until you give the green light.

• Be flexible with fingerprinting. If you live in a remote area, fingerprinting options may be limited. Our scheduling team will find the closest partner in our network, but you may need to drive a bit. Trust us — it’s worth it to get it right the first time.

• Relax — you’re covered. With USHCL on your team, you can breathe easy. We’ll handle the heavy lifting and keep everything moving forward as efficiently as possible.

It usually comes down to one thing: you get what you pay for.

Some competitors rely heavily on automation and low-cost models. While that might look good upfront, it comes with serious risks:

• Automation isn’t enough. State licensing is complicated, and no algorithm can replace the knowledge of an experienced specialist who knows each board’s quirks.

• Missed renewals are expensive. One lapse can mean lost practice privileges, disrupted patient care, and thousands in lost revenue — sometimes in a single day.

• Limited support. Cheaper services may only handle straightforward renewals and don’t have the expertise to manage reinstatements, disciplinary issues, unusual state requirements or cross-board reporting.

Why USHCL is different:

• 18 yrs. Proven track record — zero lapses on our watch.

• White-glove service — you’ll have a real licensing specialist managing your account, not just software.

• Deep expertise — years of hands-on experience working with the toughest boards across all 50 states and U.S. territories.

• Hands-on compliance checks — proactive tracking and manual oversight, so nothing slips through the cracks.

💡 Bottom line: Cheaper services might save you a few dollars today, but they can cost you far more tomorrow. With USHCL, you’re not just buying paperwork processing — you’re protecting your license, your practice, and your livelihood.