Florida Physician Guide

At a Glance

Item	Cost
Initial License	$955
Renewal Fee	$705
Renewal Cycle	Biennial
Annualized Cost	$352.50
Controlled Substance Registration	No

MD must be licensed in FL; residency not required.

NPs can practice independently after Primary of supervised practice in Florida.

PAs require physician supervision in Florida.

Application fee:** $350 non-refundable
Initial license fee:** $355 (some sources cite $280–$355 depending on timing)
DEA registration:** $888 per 3-year cycle (federal, not Board-controlled, but required for controlled substance prescribing)
Renewal fee:** ~$379 per biennial cycle

Transcripts must come via FCVS (Federal Credentials Verification Service), not directly from the school
International medical graduates must have ECFMG certification
International graduates require a minimum of 2 years postgraduate training in a single specialty (vs. 1 year for US/Canadian graduates)
Official NICA form must be completed and submitted with application (NICA form)
Any Medicaid suspension history: must be reinstated in good standing for a minimum of 5 years before Florida will license you
Prior criminal history related to public health, Medicare/Medicaid, or controlled substances is disqualifying

Florida MD licensure does not require a separate jurisprudence exam. This is explicitly noted — unlike many states, there is no Florida-specific laws and rules exam for the MD license.

Electronic fingerprinting via a Livescan vendor is required; results go to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and are stored in the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse
As of July 1, 2025 (HB 975), the prior exemption for physicians licensed before January 2013 was eliminated — ALL physicians now must complete electronic fingerprinting before their next renewal
Once submitted, fingerprints are retained in the Clearinghouse — you do not resubmit at each renewal
Critical gotcha:** Every 5 years, you must affirmatively “retain” (re-confirm) your stored fingerprints or the record auto-deletes. The Department sends 60-day advance notice. You have 30 days to act. Failure to do so triggers disciplinary action with no extension option. Check your status anytime at chai.flclearinghouse.com
Physicians who previously completed Level II background screening do not need to resubmit initially

Medical Errors Prevention:** 2 hours mandatory, every 2-year cycle (in addition to the 40 general hours)
Controlled Substances / Safe Prescribing:** 2 hours per cycle, required for any MD with a DEA registration
Domestic Violence: 2 hours required every 6 years** (i.e., every third renewal cycle)
HIV/AIDS education: 1 hour required at first renewal only**
Human Trafficking: 1 hour, one-time** requirement
Opioid/Substance Use Disorders (DEA-related):** 8 hours one-time, required for all DEA registrants as of June 27, 2023 — if you haven’t completed this yet, it applies to your next DEA renewal

Licenses do not all expire on the same date. Half of MD licenses expire January 31 of even-numbered years; the other half expire January 31 of odd-numbered years. DO licenses all expire March 31 of even-numbered years.
Florida is not a member of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), so there is no expedited compact pathway in or out of Florida.

Initial applications are supposed to be reviewed within 30 days by statute
In practice, realistic processing is 2–6 months depending on credential complexity and any gaps
License details appear online 24–48 hours after issuance
Begin fingerprinting well before the 90-day renewal window — processing delays at FDLE are common and the Board will not renew a license if fingerprinting is incomplete

NICA is annual, not one-time.** Many applicants are blindsided by owing NICA fees immediately upon initial licensure and every subsequent year
NICA for OB coverage is steep:** Any physician who provides obstetric backup or covers labor and delivery even occasionally may be assessed at the higher rate. Review the exemption criteria carefully at nica.com/medical-providers/exemptions
Fingerprint 5-year retention clock is silent:** The clearinghouse does not proactively remind you until 60 days out and there is zero grace period — set a calendar reminder independently
First renewal CME front-loading:** HIV/AIDS (1 hr) and Human Trafficking (1 hr) pile onto your first renewal cycle along with the standard 40 hours + medical errors + controlled substances. Plan accordingly
Medicaid/Medicare exclusion history is a hard bar** — reinstatement for 5 years minimum is non-negotiable
The NICA fee increases 3% automatically each January 1 — budget for it to climb annually
Florida Board of Medicine — Medical Doctor
NICA — Medical Providers
NICA — Non-Participating Physicians
NICA — Exemptions

Researched from state board websites and regulatory sources. Verify with the board directly before applying.

Data compiled from state medical board websites, FSMB, and regulatory filings. Last updated June 2026.

Have a correction or update? Let us know.