50-State Guide
West Virginia
Last updated June 2026
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| IMLC Member | Yes |
| FCVS | Accepted |
| NP Independent Practice | No |
| PA Independent Practice | No |
| Physician-Owned PC Allowed | No |
| Max NPs per Physician | No Limit |
| Max PAs per Physician | 5 |
Licensure
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial License | $400 |
| Renewal Fee | $400 |
| Renewal Cycle | Biennial |
| Annualized Cost | $200.00 |
| Controlled Substance Registration | No |
In-State Physician Requirement
MD must be licensed in WV.
APC Supervision
Nurse Practitioners
NPs require physician supervision in West Virginia.
- Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit
Physician Assistants
PAs require physician supervision in West Virginia.
- Maximum PAs per physician: 5
CME & Training Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CME | 50 hours |
| Category 1 Minimum | See board |
| Cycle | Biennial |
| 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 |
Quirks & Gotchas
Application Requirements
- Three routes exist: Traditional, UPOLA (Uniform Physician Open License Act), and IMLC (Interstate Medical Licensure Compact). Each has its own application and process.
- UPOLA requires current licensure in good standing in another state, completed ACGME/AOA training, passing USMLE/COMLEX scores, and no disqualifying criminal history. WV is an early adopter of this pathway.
- Applications expire after 6 months** if not completed (effective July 1, 2025). After expiration, a full reapplication is required — no extensions.
- Specific fee amounts for initial applications are not posted publicly. The Board sends payment instructions only after receiving your application. Do not pay until notified.
Fees
- Active license renewal: $400
- Inactive license renewal: $150
- Reinstatement (after expiration, within the 1-year window): $600
- IMLC pathway renewal adds a $25 IMLC service fee ($425 total)
- License verification to another US state board (VeriDoc): $42
- In-house written verification (international/other credentials): $25; processing takes 3–6 weeks
- Initial application fees are not published — must be requested from the Board
Fingerprints & Background Check
- No fingerprint requirement is explicitly described on the public-facing web pages. This is notably absent from all pages reviewed. It is possible fingerprint requirements are embedded in the downloadable application PDF, or WV relies on FSMB background checks for IMLC applicants. Verify directly with the Board at (304) 558-2921.
Jurisprudence Exam
- No jurisprudence exam is mentioned anywhere on the website. WV does not appear to require a standalone jurisprudence exam as part of initial licensure or renewal, unlike states such as Texas or California. Confirm with the Board, as this could be embedded in application instructions not visible online.
CME & Mandatory Training
- 50 hours of Category I CME** per 2-year cycle
- 30 of those hours must be in the physician’s specialty**
- Up to 20 hours may come from medical student teaching/preceptorship
- Mandatory 3-hour controlled substance course:** Required of every physician who prescribed, administered, or dispensed any controlled substance in WV during the reporting period. Counts toward the 50-hour total but cannot be waived via MOC or board exam pathways.
- Exemptions: licensed after July 1, 2025 (must complete within 1 year), or prescribed zero controlled substances in WV
- Note: 2026 is stated to be the final renewal cycle requiring this course — future requirements may change
- CME must be completed before submitting renewal; completing it afterward is not accepted
- Do not upload CME certificates with your renewal — retain them for random post-renewal audits (typically in January)
- Alternative to full 50-hour CME: pass an ABMS board cert/recert exam, active MOC participation, or complete one full year of ACGME training during the period. None of these waive the 3-hour controlled substance requirement.
Controlled Substance Monitoring Program (CSMP) — Separate Registration
- Any physician prescribing Schedule II–V controlled substances in WV must maintain CSMP registration — this is separate from DEA registration and is a distinct WV-specific requirement
- CSMP registration certificate date must be entered on the renewal application
- Failure to be CSMP-registered blocks license renewal
Controlled Substance Dispensing Registration
- Separate registration (beyond licensure) is required to dispense controlled substances. Has its own renewal cycle (expires June 30 in renewal years). Paper application required after medical license renewal is complete — not an online process.
Other Gotchas
- Must disclose all arrests, charges, or convictions in any jurisdiction — including dismissed, deferred, or expunged matters. The Board’s language is explicit: “even if the charge/conviction was bogus, dismissed, deferred or expunged”
- Malpractice settlements or judgments during the reporting period require full documentation upload
- If you renew early and a new malpractice settlement occurs before the renewal period ends, you must amend your application
- License expiration while under investigation is reportable to the National Practitioner Data Bank
Other Gotchas
- Only the physician may complete and submit the renewal. Allowing a delegate, staff member, or proxy to complete it constitutes potential fraud/misconduct
- No group payments — each physician pays individually
- Credit card only for online payments
- Must use a personal email address (not a delegated/shared account) — using a delegate email will delay processing
- Home address must be residential (no PO boxes or office addresses), though home addresses are kept confidential. Telemedicine-only physicians may substitute an employer corporate address
- Cannot change from inactive to active status during the renewal process; requires a separate application
- Inactive licensees must still renew every two years and still complete all CME — they simply cannot practice
- No grace period** for practicing on an expired license
IMLC-Specific
- Two-step process for IMLC renewees: (1) renew via IMLC portal, (2) separately complete and return a WV Addendum via DocuSign within 30 days of IMLC approval
- Missing the 30-day WV Addendum deadline results in referral to the Board’s Complaint Committee
- Reinstatement after expiration still requires an IMLC fee ($25) on top of the $600 reinstatement fee
Timeline
- New applications: 6-month window to complete before expiration (hard deadline, no extensions)
- License verification to another state board: 3–6 weeks for standard in-house processing; immediate via VeriDoc ($42)
- Reinstatement after expiration: processed in order received, not expedited. Earliest Licensure Committee review in 2026 is July 13. Cannot practice during processing.
- After June 30 of the reinstatement year (one year post-expiration), full re-licensure application is required — no reinstatement option
Other Gotchas
- Osteopathic physicians (DOs) are regulated by a completely separate board** — the WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine. The WV BOM only covers MDs, PAs (collaborating with MDs/DPMs), and DPMs.
- Radiologist assistant certifications are issued separately by the Board
- Medical corporations and PLLCs require separate registration with the Board (and separate renewal)
- Voluntary enrollment in the WV Medical Professionals Health Program (WVMPHP) does not require disclosure on renewal if the physician is in good standing
Researched from state board websites and regulatory sources. Verify with the board directly before applying.
Resources
Sources
Data compiled from state medical board websites, FSMB, and regulatory filings. Last updated June 2026.
Have a correction or update? Let us know.