50-State Guide

Pennsylvania

Data provenance — all states

At a Glance

CategoryDetails
IMLC MemberYes
FCVSAccepted
NP Independent PracticeNo
PA Independent PracticeNo
Physician-Owned PC AllowedNo
Max NPs per PhysicianNo Limit
Max PAs per Physician6

Licensure

ItemCost
Initial License$35
Renewal Fee$360
Renewal CycleBiennial
Annualized Cost$180
Controlled Substance RegistrationNo

Endorsement & Reciprocity

  • Available: Yes
  • Fees: Initial application fee differs by medical-school origin: $35 (US/Canada graduate) vs $85 (international graduate); fee is separate from the $360 biennial renewal fee.
  • The licensure-snapshot page also describes an 'Extraterritorial License' for physicians in adjoining states but gives no fee or specific years-licensed/board-certification thresholds.

Verified 2026-08-14 Report an error

APC Supervision

In-state requirement for supervising physicians: MD must be licensed in PA. MD must be available on a “regularly scheduled basis”

Nurse Practitioners

NPs require physician supervision in Pennsylvania.

  • Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit

Physician Assistants

PAs require physician supervision in Pennsylvania.

  • Maximum PAs per physician: 6

Additional Notes

Recently increased from 4 to 6.

CME & Training Requirements

RequirementDetails
Total CME100 hours
Category 1 Minimum20 hours
CycleBiennial
Child Abuse2 hrs/cycle
Risk Management12 hrs/cycle
Pain Management2 hrs/cycle
DEA MATE Act8 hrs one-time (federal)
Jurisprudence ExamContact board

Fingerprint Requirements

Fingerprint requirements for Pennsylvania are being compiled; the structured data reflects current verified values.

Malpractice Insurance

  • Required for licensure/practice: Yes
  • Applies to: Applies to physicians and nurse-midwives as a condition of practice; exempts federal employees practicing solely in that capacity and practitioners who provide no medical services in Pennsylvania (with notarized proof).
  • Compensation fund: Coverage is layered: private primary professional liability insurance (or approved self-insurance) required per sections 711/712 of the MCARE Act, plus mandatory payment of the MCARE Fund assessment (excess coverage fund) as a separate condition of practice.

Unverified Report an error

Giving Up a License

  • Status after lapse: unregistered (automatic upon failure to pay the biennial registration fee by the deadline)
  • Lapse consequences: Cannot practice while unregistered; reinstatement requires paying current and back registration fees plus a $5/month-or-part-of-month late penalty for each month since the renewal date, and unlicensed practice risks disciplinary/criminal action.
  • Voluntary surrender: Available — Board provides a formal voluntary 'inactive status' (not itself under discipline) initiated by written notice to the Board; distinct from the automatic 'unregistered' status caused by nonpayment.
  • Reinstatement: To restore registered status, applicant must pay current and back registration/penalty fees due, submit a notarized affidavit covering the non-practice period, and submit a resume of activities since last registered; a physician reinstating an inactive or lapsed license must also show proof of CME compliance for the preceding biennium.

Verified 2026-08-14 Report an error

Quirks & Gotchas

Detailed Quirks & Gotchas notes for Pennsylvania are being compiled; the structured data reflects current verified values.

Resources

Sources

Data compiled from state medical board websites, FSMB, and regulatory filings.

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