50-State Guide
Nevada
Last updated June 2026
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| IMLC Member | Yes |
| FCVS | Accepted (Osteo Requires) |
| NP Independent Practice | Yes |
| PA Independent Practice | Yes |
| Physician-Owned PC Allowed | Yes |
| Max NPs per Physician | No Limit (FPA) |
| Max PAs per Physician | No Limit |
Licensure
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial License | $600 |
| Renewal Fee | $800 |
| Renewal Cycle | Biennial |
| Annualized Cost | $400.00 |
| Controlled Substance Registration | Yes ($200/2yr) |
In-State Physician Requirement
MD must be licensed in NV.
APC Supervision
Nurse Practitioners
NPs can practice independently in Nevada.
- Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit (FPA)
Physician Assistants
PAs can practice independently in Nevada.
- Maximum PAs per physician: No Limit
CME & Training Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CME | 35 hours |
| Category 1 Minimum | See board |
| Cycle | 4-year |
| Opioid/Pain Mgmt | 2 hrs/cycle |
| Human Trafficking | Required |
| Implicit Bias | Not required |
| Suicide Prevention | Required |
| DEA MATE Act | 8 hrs one-time (federal) |
| Jurisprudence Exam | Not required |
Fingerprint Requirements
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Required | Yes |
| FBI Check | Yes |
| Method | LiveScan / Ink cards (FD-258) |
| Out-of-State Options | Mail-in ink cards available |
| Timing | After application submitted |
Quirks & Gotchas
Two Completely Separate Boards - MD vs. DO
- MDs (allopathic) are licensed by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners** at medboard.nv.gov, governed by NRS Chapter 630.
- DOs (osteopathic) are licensed by the Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine** at bom.nv.gov, governed by NRS Chapter 633.
- These are entirely separate applications, separate fees, separate renewal cycles, and separate CME structures.
- In 2025, the Nevada legislature considered Senate Bill 78 to dissolve the DO board and consolidate under the MD board. It failed. So the split remains, but the ongoing political pressure is worth watching.
- The DO board also licenses PAs and Anesthesiologist Assistants, which creates a quirk where PAs can end up under either board depending on who supervises them.
Fees
- Application processing fee: $600
- Subsequent registration fee: $375–$750 (pro-rated based on when in the biennium the license is issued — this variability catches people off guard)
- Criminal background investigation fee: $75
- Total initial cost range: $1,050–$1,425 depending on timing
- Renewal: biennial (every 2 years), due June 30 of odd-numbered years
- Initial application fee: approximately $370 (significantly lower than the MD board)
Jurisprudence Exam
- Required for both MD and DO licensure.
- It is an open-book exam covering Nevada’s Medical Practice Act: NRS Chapters 629 and 630 (MDs) or NRS Chapter 633 (DOs).
- The board mails/sends the exam to the applicant after the application is received — you do not schedule it externally.
- No separate fee for the jurisprudence exam itself (it is bundled in the application process), but confirm this at time of application as fee structures update.
Fingerprints & Background Check
- Fingerprinting is required as part of the criminal background investigation (NRS 630.167 for MDs).
- The board sends the applicant a fingerprint authorization form and ink fingerprint cards after the application is received — you do not go to a Live Scan site. This is an ink card process, not electronic Live Scan, which adds mail turnaround time.
- Both FBI and state background checks are run.
- The $75 background investigation fee is separate from the application fee.
Exam Requirements
- Total attempts across all USMLE steps combined: 9 maximum**
- Step 3 specifically: 3 attempts maximum**
- Steps 1 and 2: no individual per-step limit beyond the 9 total
- 7-year time limit** to complete all three steps after passing the first one (MD candidates)
- MD/PhD combined degree holders get 10 years
- DOs using COMLEX: no attempt limits and no time limit — a meaningful advantage over MDs using USMLE
- DOs can use COMLEX in lieu of USMLE for the DO board
- Minimum 3 years of ACGME-accredited postgraduate training required (both boards)
CME & Mandatory Training
- 2 hours: ethics, pain management, or addiction care (every renewal)
- 2 hours: controlled substance misuse and opioid prescribing (every renewal, if registered to prescribe controlled substances)
- 2 hours: suicide detection, intervention, and prevention (every 4 years)
- 2 hours: SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) — one-time requirement, must have been completed by the 2025 renewal period
- 4 hours: bioterrorism/weapons of mass destruction consequences — one-time requirement, must be completed within 2 years of initial licensure
- 2 hours: HIV stigma, discrimination, and unrecognized bias toward persons with or at high risk of HIV — one-time requirement beginning with renewals on or after January 2024 (this is a newer and less-known mandate)
- 4 hours: cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (every renewal)
- 20 hours: specialty-specific practice
- Remaining hours: general medical education
- 10 hours: Category 1A CME (annually)
Timeline
- Average: 10–14 weeks for a complete application
- Applications with any “yes” answers to adverse history questions (malpractice, board actions, criminal history, health impairment) take longer — no defined timeline, can extend to 6+ months
- The board explicitly warns: do not make employment commitments in Nevada until you hold your license number. This is printed in their instructions and is a real gotcha for physicians negotiating start dates.
- FCVS (Federation Credentials Verification Service) profiles are accepted and can speed processing.
Application Requirements
- Separate supplemental forms are required for: malpractice/professional liability claims history, moral and professional character affidavit, PGY/residency verification, prior state licensure verification, and post-graduate training documentation.
- Any gap in training or practice history of 30+ days typically requires a written explanation.
- IMGs must be ECFMG-certified before applying.
- The board requires an NPDB (National Practitioner Data Bank) self-query report.
Other Gotchas
- Controlled substance prescribing**: Nevada has separate requirements for prescribers of controlled substances, including additional CME and registration with the Nevada Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP). This is not part of the base medical license but is a parallel requirement to operate clinically.
- In-office surgery**: Physicians performing office-based procedures must file sentinel event reports within 14 days of certain adverse outcomes.
- Telemedicine**: Nevada requires that a genuine patient-physician relationship be established before providing telemedicine services. The state has its own telemedicine standards beyond a standard license.
- Scam warning**: The board currently has an active fraud alert — scammers are impersonating board personnel and law enforcement to extort money from applicants. Do not pay anyone who contacts you unsolicited claiming to be the board.
- Malpractice reporting: Must report malpractice claims and settlements to the DO board within 45 days** of occurrence.
- Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners
- NRS Chapter 630 - Physicians
- NRS Chapter 633 - Osteopathic Medicine
- NV Osteopathic Board
- Nevada CME Requirements - MyCEApp
Researched from state board websites and regulatory sources. Verify with the board directly before applying.
Resources
- Nevada 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.