Scope
All residents and fellows participating in accredited University of Washington post-graduate training programs (i.e., residencies or fellowships).
Policy
Consistent with the medical staff bylaws of UW School of Medicine’s participating institutions, all residents and fellows must hold an active medical license while training in a UW graduate medical education program.
The following types of licenses are available for residents and fellows in Washington State:
- Limited Physician & Surgeon License (ML) – Residents and fellows with less than two years of post-graduate medical training accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) are eligible to apply for a limited license. This license permits the holder to practice medicine only in connection with his/her duties as a resident physician. Residents and fellows applying for the limited license should check 'Resident Physician' on the application form.
- Full Physician & Surgeon License (MD) – Residents and fellows with two or more years of post graduate medical training accredited by the ACGME or Canadian accrediting bodies (RCPSC or CFPC) and successful completion of a national licensure examination (i.e., USMLE or LMCC) are eligible to apply for a full license. Foreign Medical Graduates also require ECFMG certification.
- Limited Osteopathic Physician & Surgeon License (OL) – This license is available to residents and fellows with less than one year of post graduate training. This license permits the holder to practice medicine only in connection with his/her duties as a resident physician.
- Full Osteopathic Physician & Surgeon License (OP) – This license is available to residents and fellows who have completed a nationally approved one-year internship program or the first year of a residency program approved by the American Osteopathic Association, the American Medical Association or by their recognized affiliate residency accrediting organizations.
Residents and fellows rotating outside Washington State must comply with the local state licensure requirements while training in a UW GME program.
Procedures
The responsibility of obtaining and maintaining medical licensure is that of each individual resident and fellow, and will be assisted by program administrators and the Office of Graduate Medical Education.
Initial license applications must be submitted to the GME Office for review before submission to the Department of Health.
Renewals
Renewal notices for expiring licenses are sent out by the DOH 6-8 weeks prior to the license expiration date. However, residents and fellows are responsible for renewing their license on time even if they have not received a renewal notice. To renew a license, check the fee schedule on the DOH website for the most up-to-date renewal fee information. Mail a check for the appropriate amount along with your name, license number, and Residency Certification form (for limited resident physician licenses only) to:
Department of Health
Revenue Section
PO Box 1099
Olympia, WA 98507
If you have questions, you may contact the Customer Service Center at (360) 236-4700 or via email.
Compliance
Resident and fellow license status is tracked by the GME Office. Monthly reports are sent by the GME Office to program administrators and directors indicating the following license status information, which is to be communicated to applicable residents/fellows:
- Pending license applications, including information needed by the DOH
- Expired licenses
- Licenses set to expire within 60 days
Residents and fellows who do not hold active medical licenses may not be scheduled for service at any training site and cannot resume working until their license has been activated or renewed.
Anyone with a pending initial license (limited or full) will have 30 days from the initial update by the DOH to submit any missing paperwork for their application. After 30 days, they will be pulled from service immediately, and cannot resume working until all application paperwork has been submitted to the DOH. Anyone with an expired license will be pulled from service, and cannot resume working until their renewal paperwork has been submitted to the DOH.
Effective 2/08/07; Revised 9/19/08, 12/3/08