50-State Guide
Utah
Last updated June 2026
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| IMLC Member | Yes |
| FCVS | Required |
| NP Independent Practice | Yes |
| PA Independent Practice | Yes |
| Physician-Owned PC Allowed | No |
| Max NPs per Physician | No Limit (FPA) |
| Max PAs per Physician | No Limit |
Licensure
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial License | $200 |
| Renewal Fee | $183 |
| Renewal Cycle | Biennial |
| Annualized Cost | $91.50 |
| Controlled Substance Registration | Yes ($100/2yr) |
In-State Physician Requirement
None.
APC Supervision
Nurse Practitioners
NPs can practice independently in Utah.
- Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit (FPA)
Physician Assistants
PAs can practice independently in Utah.
- Maximum PAs per physician: No Limit
CME & Training Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CME | 40 hours |
| Category 1 Minimum | 34 hours |
| Cycle | Biennial |
| Opioid/Pain Mgmt | Not required |
| Human Trafficking | Not required |
| Implicit Bias | Not required |
| Suicide Prevention | Required |
| DEA MATE Act | 8 hrs one-time (federal) |
| Jurisprudence Exam | Required |
Fingerprint Requirements
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Required | Yes |
| FBI Check | Yes |
| Method | Contact board |
| Out-of-State Options | Contact board |
| Timing | With application |
Quirks & Gotchas
Application Requirements
- FCVS is the primary verification pathway.** Applications run through the Federation of State Medical Boards Credentials Verification Service (FCVS). The clock doesn’t start until FCVS releases the packet to Utah — not when you submit it.
- NPDB report must be received by DOPL, not just requested.** This is a common delay source.
- AMA Profile is also required** as a separate document.
- Online portal:**
utahdoc.mylicenseone.com— all applications and renewals go through this system. - Timeline:** 8 weeks average; 3–4 months if any credential or background issue arises. Plan accordingly if credentialing at a facility depends on the license.
- MDs and DOs have different renewal dates:** MDs renew January 31 of even-numbered years; DOs renew May 31 of even-numbered years. Easy to miss if you switched degree type or moved from another state.
Fingerprints & Background Check
- Mandatory fingerprint background check for ALL new applications** as of April 1, 2026 (Utah Code 58-1-301.5). This is relatively new and catches people off guard.
- Fees: FBI fingerprint file search — $12; BCI (Utah Bureau of Criminal Investigation) fingerprint file search — $20. These are in addition to the application fee.
Fees
- Initial application fee:** ~$200
- Biennial renewal fee:** $193 (MD and DO)
- Anesthesiologist Assistant renewal:** $133
- Fingerprint fees:** $12 (FBI) + $20 (BCI) = $32 added on top at new application
- Controlled Substance endorsement:** Separate registration required; fee listed separately in the DOPL fee schedule PDF (not broken out on the web page)
- FCVS fee** is a separate third-party cost paid directly to FSMB (~$375+ depending on credentials)
Jurisprudence Exam
- A jurisprudence exam on Utah medical practice laws and rules is confirmed as mandatory, but the DOPL “Exam Information” page for physicians currently reads “Coming soon.” — no passing score, cost, attempt limits, or administration details are published online.
- Gotcha:** You must contact DOPL directly at (801) 530-6628 to get current jurisprudence exam logistics. Do not assume it mirrors other states.
CME & Mandatory Training
- 40 hours per 2-year cycle, minimum 34 hours AMA PRA Category 1** (or equivalent).
- Mandatory suicide prevention training: At least one** of these DOPL-approved online courses (0.5–1.0 CE credit each):
- “Suicide Safety Planning with Patients” (0.5 cr)
- “Talking to Patients About Suicide” (0.5 cr)
- “Counseling on Access to Lethal Means / CALM-Utah” (1.0 cr)
- “Supporting Patients” (0.5 cr)
- This is non-negotiable and not substitutable with general mental health CME.
- Controlled Substance prescribers: Additional 3.5 AMA Category 1 CME hours** in an SBIRT-based Controlled Substance Prescribing course. Must cover: scope of the abuse problem, FDA Blueprint elements, national/Utah-specific resources, patient record documentation, and office policies. Utah-specific content is required — generic opioid CME may not qualify.
DEA / Opioid Treatment — Federal Layer Sitting on Top of State
- One-time 8-hour DEA Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) training** is required for all DEA-registered practitioners (effective June 27, 2023 for new/renewing DEA registrations). This is federal, not state, but DOPL highlights it.
- DATA-Waiver eliminated:** No longer need a separate waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for OUD. But the 8-hour training still applies.
Application Requirements
- Restricted Associate Physician and Surgeon** — for grads not yet eligible for full licensure
- Physician Educator** — specific to academic/teaching settings
- Temporary Physician and Surgeon** — separate application with its own requirements
- Volunteer Physician and Surgeon** — for unpaid practice contexts
- Controlled Substance endorsement** — a distinct add-on registration, not bundled with the MD license
- Licensed Dispensing Practitioner** — separate application if applicable
- Anesthesiologist Assistant** — separate license type
- Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)** — available as an alternative pathway; Utah participates
Other Gotchas
- Third-party medical records reporting: If you use any outside service to manage/store patient records, you must register that service with DOPL** (effective July 1, 2023). Failure to do so is a compliance violation many incoming physicians miss.
- Address of record:** DOPL sends renewal notices only to the email on file. If it’s wrong or stale, you will miss the notice and risk lapsing. Update it proactively.
- Postgraduate training minimum:** 2 full years required for standard licensure. Exception: 1 year complete + actively enrolled in a University of Utah residency (MD) or 1 year complete with year 2 in progress in-state (DO).
- USMLE/COMLEX time limits:** Up to 7–10 years (depending on degree) to complete the exam sequence. Exceeding this disqualifies the scores.
- Telemedicine for out-of-state MDs:** Permitted only if non-commercial, 10+ years experience, clean record, and no fees beyond malpractice costs. This is extremely restrictive compared to most states.
- Scam awareness:** DOPL actively warns about two active scams — fake DEA calls threatening license suspension and fraudulent DOPL letters alleging drug trafficking. Don’t respond to either; they are not legitimate DOPL or DEA contacts.
- Pioneer Day (July 24)** is a Utah state holiday when DOPL is closed. If your timeline involves July, account for this obscure holiday.
- Physician and Surgeon — commerce.utah.gov
- Apply for a Physician and Surgeon License — commerce.utah.gov
- Renew a Physician and Surgeon License — commerce.utah.gov
Researched from state board websites and regulatory sources. Verify with the board directly before applying.
Resources
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing
- 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.