Texas Physician Guide | Dr<LastName>

At a Glance

Item	Cost
Initial License	$817
Renewal Fee	$500
Renewal Cycle	Biennial
Annualized Cost	$250.00
Controlled Substance Registration	No

MD must be licensed in TX; monthly meetings.

NPs require physician supervision in Texas.

PAs require physician supervision in Texas.

Combined max of 7.

Application fee: $867** (as of 9/1/2025) — includes the Jurisprudence Exam fee
NPDB/HIDB surcharge: $21** — non-refundable, always
Texas Physician Health Program surcharge: $7** — non-refundable, always
IdentoGo fingerprint processing fee** — paid directly to IDEMIA, separate from TMB fees
FCVS/FCSA fees** — borne by applicant; required for IMGs using credential verification services
Temporary license: free** — issued via affidavit while full license processes
Refunds are allowed on the $867 base fee under limited circumstances, but surcharges ($28) are never refundable
Active-duty military can get the full fee waived (surcharges still apply)

Stage 1 (Pre-Licensure/Screening): Applicant uploads documents; TMB screens eligibility. Completion of Stage 1 does not** guarantee licensure.
Stage 2 (Licensing): Assigned to a licensing analyst. License issued on a twice-monthly schedule** — missing the cycle means waiting another 2 weeks.
After license issuance, registration is required within 2 weeks via a separate letter/email process. Missing this has its own penalty exposure.
The LIST portal (License Inquiry System of Texas) is the primary communication channel. Applicants must monitor the “Lacking Reasons” tab proactively — TMB does not always push notifications. Allow 3–5 business days per response.

Required** for all physician applicants and all IMLC licensees
Fee: included in $867 application fee
Unlimited attempts, no per-attempt cost
Accessed only through a MyTMB account (separate from the LIST application account — you need both)
Study guide is online-only — cannot be printed or downloaded
Best taken on Chrome or Firefox on PC/Mac
If your Texas license was previously cancelled and you reapply, you must retake the exam
IMLC licensees: JP exam must be passed within 90 days of license issuance or penalty fees apply
TMB sends no notification of pass/fail — you must log in and check yourself

IMLC applications are submitted via imlcc.com, not the TMB website
$867 IMLC processing fee** — non-refundable except for active-duty military (refund request within 90 days of issuance)
Board certification is mandatory for IMLC eligibility (ABMS or AOABOS) — not required for the standard full license route
Each USMLE/COMLEX component must have been passed in 3 or fewer attempts — hard cutoff
Must hold a full, unrestricted license in a Compact state that is your State of Principal License (SPL)
After TMB issues the IMLC license, there is a hard 90-day window to complete ALL of:
Missing the 90-day window triggers penalty fees
Citizenship/lawful presence document processing time is undefined; applicants are told to “check back often” — build in extra lead time
Cannot have an existing active traditional TMB application running simultaneously** — must withdraw first before applying via IMLC
After issuance, IMLC website takes 5–7 business days to reflect the Texas license; e-Permits take 2 business days post-registration

Ethics and pain management hours cannot be carried over** to the next renewal cycle
Maximum 48 hours can carry forward otherwise (within 2 years of completion)
Pain clinics: 10 hours pain management CME per biennial cycle
EMS Medical Directors: 12 hours initial training within 2 years, then 1 hour per renewal

All TMB licensees must have a CE Broker account; TMB will only accept CE verification through CE Broker
Courses logged under another state’s license in CE Broker do not automatically transfer to Texas — must be re-logged for Texas
Failure to have CE Broker-verified compliance will block renewal
Currently optional (audit-based); becomes mandatory at renewal on/after 9/1/2026

Must meet one of: ABMS/BOS board certification, graduation from a “Substantial Equivalent” list school, or FCSA equivalency evaluation
Alternative pathway: 5 years unrestricted full U.S. license without disciplinary action (avoids credential evaluation)
FCSA evaluation fees are entirely separate from TMB fees

Texas treats a medical license as a “public benefit” under 8 U.S.C. § 1621
Proof of lawful presence must be unexpired on the date of issuance and each renewal
Applications remain pending — not denied — while documents are being processed, but timeline is open-ended

Maximum 3 total attempts on any single licensing exam component (USMLE, COMLEX, FLEX, NBME, etc.)
Hard limit; exceptions exist but require Board review

Licenses issued twice monthly on a published schedule — plan around it to avoid practice gaps
Address changes must be made only through the MyTMB portal — phone notification is not accepted and not recorded
Name changes require legal documentation and professional use of the licensed name; a separate application form is required
Uniform Application (FSMB) reduces paperwork redundancy but does not replace the TMB online application — you still must file both
Full Texas Medical License Application | Texas Medical Board
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Application | Texas Medical Board
Continuing Education Requirements for Physicians | Texas Medical Board
Jurisprudence Exam | Texas Medical Board
Texas Medical License: How to Apply and Meet State Requirements | medicallicensing.com
Texas Medical License | White Glove Licensing

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.