50-State Guide
Indiana
Last updated June 2026
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| IMLC Member | Yes |
| FCVS | Accepted |
| NP Independent Practice | No |
| PA Independent Practice | No |
| Physician-Owned PC Allowed | No |
| Max NPs per Physician | No Limit |
| Max PAs per Physician | 4 |
Licensure
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial License | $250 |
| Renewal Fee | $200 |
| Renewal Cycle | Biennial |
| Annualized Cost | $100.00 |
| Controlled Substance Registration | Yes ($60/2yr) |
In-State Physician Requirement
MD must be licensed in IN.
APC Supervision
Nurse Practitioners
NPs require physician supervision in Indiana.
- Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit
Physician Assistants
PAs require physician supervision in Indiana.
- Maximum PAs per physician: 4
CME & Training Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CME | 2 hours |
| Category 1 Minimum | See board |
| Cycle | Biennial |
| Opioid/Pain Mgmt | 2 hrs/cycle |
| Human Trafficking | Not required |
| Implicit Bias | Not required |
| Suicide Prevention | Not required |
| DEA MATE Act | 8 hrs one-time (federal) |
| Jurisprudence Exam | Required |
Fingerprint Requirements
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Required | Yes |
| FBI Check | Unknown |
| Method | LiveScan / IdentoGO / Ink cards (FD-258) |
| Out-of-State Options | Mail-in ink cards available |
| Timing | Before or with application |
Quirks & Gotchas
Fees
- Initial application: $250** (nonrefundable + online processing surcharge on top)
- Temporary permit: $100** (valid 90 days only; expires sooner if full license issues)
- Postgraduate training permit: $100** (+ $50/year to renew; June 30 expiry, must re-apply each program year)
- Non-ECFMG training permit: $100**
- Teaching permit: $100**
- Limited scope/temporary permit (out-of-state visitors): $100**, valid only 30 days
- International Trained Physician License: $100**
- Biennial active renewal: $200** | inactive: $100
- Expired renewal (≤3 years lapsed): $200 + $50 penalty**
- Reinstatement (>3 years expired): $450**
Fingerprints & Background Check
- Fingerprinting is required** for all initial applicants via IdentoGO (IDEMIA platform), not a standalone LiveScan vendor
- Critical timing gotcha**: Do NOT submit fingerprints until you receive a board email confirming receipt of your application. A background check completed before that email is deemed invalid and must be redone (wasted cost)
- Out-of-state or physically unable applicants may use the Card Scan Program (mail-in ink fingerprint cards), but processing is slower
- Fingerprint fee is paid separately to IdentoGO at time of scheduling
Other Gotchas
- 1-year abandonment rule**: If your file is incomplete after 12 months from submission, it is automatically abandoned. You must re-apply and pay again from scratch.
- No expedited processing exists**: Applications are reviewed in strict order received. The only workaround is a temporary permit (~10 business day turnaround), which costs $100 extra.
- Documents must come directly from the source**: Transcripts, license verifications, exam scores, and NPDB reports cannot be certified copies or notarized - they must arrive directly from the issuing institution to the board at pla3@pla.in.gov. A certified copy you obtain personally is rejected.
- License verifications from all prior states** must be sent directly to the board, not to you. If you are licensed in 5 states, all 5 must mail/email independently.
- ECFMG certificate gotcha for IMGs**: If your ECFMG certificate carries an expiration date, you must obtain the permanent validation sticker from ECFMG before applying - an expired-dated certificate is not accepted as-is.
- Postgraduate permit holders cannot moonlight** - practice is restricted strictly to the specified training program. Violating this is a discipline trigger.
- Step 3 not required at application time**, but the license will not actually issue until all three USMLE (or COMLEX) steps are passed. This catches people who apply during residency before passing Step 3.
- Exam attempt/time limits** are strictly enforced: USMLE - 3 attempts per step, all steps within 10 years. COMLEX - 5 attempts per level, all levels within 7 years. Exceeding either requires a waiver, which requires a personal Board appearance.
- Positive response disclosures** (arrests, malpractice, disciplinary actions, employment issues, DEA actions, Medicaid/Medicare exclusions) require court documents, case numbers, plaintiff names, and written narratives. The Board meets monthly; cases requiring review cause multi-month delays.
- Social Security Number is mandatory** by Indiana statute - omission results in outright denial, not a correction request.
Jurisprudence Exam
- No standing mandatory jurisprudence exam** for most applicants
- However, the Board retains discretionary authority to require an Indiana law examination specifically for reciprocity applicants (IC 25-1-21-11) - it is not automatic but can be imposed case-by-case
- No pre-published study materials or standard format are documented publicly; if imposed, expect to clarify scope directly with the Board
CME & Mandatory Training
- Indiana does NOT mandate a fixed number of CME hours** for standard physician license renewal - this is genuinely unusual and a notable quirk
- Controlled Substance Registration (CSR) renewal: Until July 1, 2025, required 2 hours of CME on opioid prescribing and opioid abuse. That requirement expired July 1, 2025** per state statute (confirmed by ISMA). Applicants applying or renewing CSR after that date owe no state opioid CME.
- Federal MATE Act (DEA registration): Still active. Requires 8 hours of training** on substance use disorders/pain management for DEA registration. The 8 hours can come from any point in your career (no recency window) but must be documented.
- Renewal order matters**: If you hold multiple Indiana registrations (e.g., MD license + CSR-MD + ePrescribing Waiver), they must be renewed in that specific sequential order. Renewing out of order causes processing problems.
- IMLC compact holders cannot use Indiana’s renewal portal** - they must renew at imlcc.com/renew/ exclusively. Using the wrong portal does not renew your license.
Reciprocity - Major Upcoming Change
- Reciprocity for physicians expires July 1, 2026**. After that date the Medical Licensing Board is prohibited by statute from issuing physician licenses via reciprocity. Physicians expecting to use reciprocity must act before that deadline or pursue full endorsement.
Timeline
- Apply 120+ days before you need the license** - official estimate is 4-6 weeks but real-world processing with any disclosure responses or Board review (monthly meetings) stretches significantly longer
- Postgraduate permits: 60-90 days lead time recommended
- Non-ECFMG permits: 120 days recommended
- Applications are valid for 1 year; one 30-day extension is available on request
- Board meets approximately monthly; any case flagged for Board review is delayed to the next meeting cycle
Researched from state board websites and regulatory sources. Verify with the board directly before applying.
Resources
Sources
Data compiled from state medical board websites, FSMB, and regulatory filings. Last updated June 2026.
Have a correction or update? Let us know.