50-State Guide
Louisiana
Last updated June 2026
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| IMLC Member | Yes |
| FCVS | Required |
| NP Independent Practice | No |
| PA Independent Practice | No |
| Physician-Owned PC Allowed | No |
| Max NPs per Physician | No Limit |
| Max PAs per Physician | 8 |
Licensure
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial License | $382 |
| Renewal Fee | $350 |
| Renewal Cycle | Annual |
| Annualized Cost | $350.00 |
| Controlled Substance Registration | Yes ($100/yr) |
In-State Physician Requirement
MD must be “comparable specialty” in-state.
APC Supervision
Nurse Practitioners
NPs require physician supervision in Louisiana.
- Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit
Physician Assistants
PAs require physician supervision in Louisiana.
- Maximum PAs per physician: 8
CME & Training Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CME | Contact board |
| Category 1 Minimum | 20 hours |
| Cycle | Annual |
| Opioid/Pain Mgmt | Not required |
| Human Trafficking | Not required |
| Implicit Bias | Not required |
| Suicide Prevention | Not required |
| DEA MATE Act | 8 hrs one-time (federal) |
| Jurisprudence Exam | Not required |
Fingerprint Requirements
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Required | Yes |
| FBI Check | Yes |
| Method | IdentoGO |
| Out-of-State Options | Contact board |
| Timing | After application submitted |
Quirks & Gotchas
Application Requirements
- Minimum age**: 21. Must be of “good moral character” — this is an explicit statutory requirement, not boilerplate.
- Mandatory FCVS**: All applicants must submit credentials through the Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS). There is no workaround; the board will not accept self-assembled credential packets.
- Start FCVS at least 4 months early** — the board’s own “Helpful Hints” page flags this as critical. IMGs especially should start even earlier.
- IMGs**: Require 3 years of ACGME-approved U.S./Canadian residency in the same specialty. U.S./Canadian graduates need only 2 years (or 1 year plus documented commitment to year 2).
- 10-year exam rule**: If your last medical competency exam was more than 10 years ago and you are not board-certified, you must pass SPEX or COMVEX-USA before Louisiana will license you.
- USMLE/COMLEX attempt limits**: Step 1 / Level 1 — unlimited attempts. Steps 2 and 3 / Levels 2 and 3 — hard cap of 4 attempts each. Exceeding this bars licensure.
- J-1 visa holders**: J-1 visas are structured for training only and are not acceptable for employment-based licensure.
- Full timeline accounting**: Applicants must account for every period of time from high school graduation to present. Gaps must be explained or they will stall the application.
Fees
- Initial MD/DO license**: $382 (some third-party sources show $400 — confirm directly; fees have varied).
- CDS (Controlled Dangerous Substance) permit**: $20, paid by money order only — personal checks are not accepted.
- Telemedicine authorization**: $300 initial, $200 renewal — separate from the medical license itself, non-refundable.
- Visiting physician permit**: $100.
- Annual renewal**: ~$330.
- All fees are non-refundable**, no exceptions.
- Undisclosed criminal history penalty**: If the board discovers criminal history you did not disclose, you must pay the full initial application fee again in addition to resubmitting documents.
- Credit/debit card only** for most fees (Visa, MasterCard, Discover); CDS is the exception requiring money order.
Fingerprints & Background Check
- Mandatory and Louisiana-specific**: Fingerprints cannot be transferred from any other state or federal agency. Even if cleared by the FBI for another state, Louisiana requires its own submission.
- Submitted via Identogo** (digital or mail-in).
- Called out by the board itself as “the most time-consuming part of the application.”**
- Rejection timeline**: If prints are rejected, you have 10 working days from receipt of notice to resubmit.
- FBI/state police processing can take months** — the board has no control over this delay.
- Action item**: Request the fingerprint packet immediately upon deciding to pursue licensure; do not wait until the rest of the application is complete.
- Background check cannot even be initiated until after the application is submitted; instructions are sent to the applicant by mail after receipt.
Jurisprudence Exam
- Louisiana does not have a standalone “jurisprudence exam” in the traditional sense (like some states with a scored, proctored test). Instead, all licensees must complete a Laws and Rules online course** specific to their profession through CE Broker before their first license renewal.
- Physician-specific tracks exist for: general practice, dispensing physicians, supervising physicians/PAs, and telemedicine.
- These courses are hosted on CE Broker and are currently free with a basic account.
- Failure to complete before first renewal = renewal blocked.
CME & Mandatory Training
- Annual requirement**: 20 AMA PRA Category 1 credits (or board-approved equivalent).
- All CME tracked via CE Broker** — the system must show completion or the license cannot be renewed (no manual override).
- First-time renewers** are exempt from the annual CME requirement but must still complete the Laws & Rules course.
- CDS CME (one-time, mandatory for any prescriber)**:
- 3 hours, board pre-approved only.
- Must cover all 4 topics: best practices for CDS prescribing, drug diversion training, addiction treatment, chronic pain management.
- Must be completed before first renewal date — no extension.
- Exemption available only if the physician has not prescribed, administered, or dispensed any controlled substance in Louisiana during the entire year before expiration. If they later prescribe, the requirement reactivates.
- LAMMICO-insured physicians can take the approved course at no cost; others pay out of pocket.
- DEA MATE Act (8-hour, one-time)**: Required for all DEA registrants — training on treating opioid/substance use disorders and all FDA-approved medications for substance use disorder. Triggered at first DEA initial or renewal registration after June 27, 2023.
Timeline
- Typical timeline**: 60–90 days from receipt of a complete application; can extend to 5 months for complex cases.
- Board meetings: Monthly, except no meetings in April or November**. Applications must be complete and submitted at least 2 weeks before a scheduled meeting to be presented at that meeting. Missing the pre-meeting cutoff means waiting another month (or two if near April/November).
- No temporary licenses**: Louisiana does not issue temporary or locum tenens licenses. There is no “practicing pending approval” option.
- Interim license**: May be issued after Board approval but while criminal background clearance is still pending — not guaranteed.
- Status inquiry blackout**: The board asks applicants to wait a minimum of 30 days before contacting them about application status. Further info about your application packet is generally unavailable for 30 days after receipt.
- No reciprocity**: Out-of-state licensees must go through the full application process. Out-of-state practice is only permitted in federal institutions or military bases.
- Blank fields = delays**: Every field must have a response or be marked “N/A.” Blank lines trigger written clarification requests.
- Name matching**: Your application name must match your birth certificate exactly, including middle name. Discrepancies require a name change form with supporting documentation submitted simultaneously.
- Mail tracking**: The board recommends Express Mail for all physical submissions; keep copies of everything.
- No meetings in April or November** means an applicant who misses the March or October cutoff waits until May or December — a 6–8 week gap with no workaround.
Special Permits Worth Knowing
- Telemedicine Authorization**: A separate permit required to practice telemedicine in Louisiana, even for licensees. $300 to obtain, $200 to renew. Not bundled with the medical license.
- Dispensing Physician Permit**: Separate application if dispensing medications from your office.
- Visiting Physician Permit**: For short-term clinical work ($100).
- Bridge Year Physician Program**: A unique Louisiana program for physicians in a transitional/gap year — has its own application track via LaMED DashBoard.
- Supervising Physician Registration**: Required if supervising PAs — separate registration, not automatic with a medical license.
- Obesity Treatment Exception**: Separate application required for physicians prescribing obesity medications outside standard protocols.
- Application & Instructions for Initial Licensure - Physicians
- Helpful Hints - Physician Licensure
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Board Orientations & Online Courses
Researched from state board websites and regulatory sources. Verify with the board directly before applying.
Resources
- Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
- FSMB State Licensure Directory
- Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
Sources
Data compiled from state medical board websites, FSMB, and regulatory filings. Last updated June 2026.
Have a correction or update? Let us know.