Skip to main content
MD Educational Limited Licensing Guide and FAQs

MD Educational Limited Licensing Guide and FAQs

OVERVIEW:
The medical doctor educational limited license type is for individuals engaged in postgraduate training.  A limited license for postgraduate shall require that the individual confine his or her practice and training to a hospital or institution approved by the board for the training.  A limited license for a postgraduate is renewable for not more than 5 years.

NOTE:   The content contained below is a general overview of licensing requirements.  Links to access the Occupational Code and Administrative Rules for this profession can be found at the end of this guide.

On this Page

LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST

APPLICATION AND FEES

  • Online Application for a Medical Doctor Educational Limited License - Complete all fields, answer all questions, and upload any supporting documentation.

  • Online Application for Controlled Substance License

  • Online applications can be completed by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus

  • Application Fee + 1 year license fee: (Must be paid by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover credit or debit card)

    Medical Doctor Educational Limited License: $93.60
    Controlled Substance: $93.70

THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO ALL APPLICANTS

  • Since you will be prescribing, dispensing, manufacturing, or distributing controlled substances, you must apply for both a medical doctor educational limited license and controlled substance license.  You will apply for a controlled substance license by completing the controlled substance license fields in the application.  If you do not apply for a controlled substance license on your medical doctor educational limited application, you must wait for the medical doctor educational limited license to be issued before you may apply for a controlled substance license

  • Opioids and Controlled Substances Awareness Training - An individual seeking a controlled substance license or who is licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances must have completed training in opioids and controlled substances awareness that meets the standards established in the Board of Pharmacy Controlled Substances Administrative Rules, R 338.3135 prior to being issued a license.

  • Criminal Background Check – Once the online application is completed and submitted you will be emailed an Application Confirmation letter containing instructions to complete the Criminal Background Check (except those applicants seeking relicensure, for a license that expired within the last three years).

  • Good Moral Character Questions – Documentation and explanation will be required if you answer “yes” to either question to show at the current time you have the ability to, and are likely to, serve the public in a fair, honest and open manner, that you are rehabilitated, or that the substance of the former offense is not reasonably related to the occupation or profession for which you are seeking a license.

  • Human Trafficking Training – Completion of a training to identify victims of human trafficking is required for an individual seeking licensure or registration that meets the standards of Administrative Rule 338.2413.

  • Implicit Bias Training – Completion of 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration is required.

  • Social Security Number (SSN) – An individual applying for licensure is required to provide his or her social security number at the time of application.  If exempt under law from obtaining an SSN or you do not have an SSN, the SSN affidavit form will be required to be uploaded at the time the application is submitted.

  • Verification of Licensure – Verification of licensure must be submitted directly to our office by the licensing agency of any state of the United States or country in which you hold or ever held a license. The verification must show that disciplinary proceedings are not pending against the applicant and sanctions are not in force at the time of application. Verification can be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909.

  • Professional Education – Name of school attended, and name of educational program completed.

  • Hospital Affiliations – Name of each hospital where you are employed or under contract along with name of each hospital in which you are allowed to practice.

  • Certification of Appointment to a Michigan Training Hospital form - The Director of Medical Education of the hospital in which the training is to occur must submit the form directly to this office by email to bpldata@michigan.gov or by mail to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI  48909.

  • English Language Proficiency – An individual applying for licensure must demonstrate a working knowledge of the English language.  This can be established if either the applicant’s required health professional educational program was taught in English, a transcript establishes the applicant earned not less than 60 college level credits from an English-speaking graduate or undergraduate school, the applicant’s credentials and English proficiency have been evaluated and determined to be equivalent to the credentials required In this state by a board-approved credentialing agency or that the applicant obtained a passing score on an approved English proficiency exam as established by the department under R 338.7002b(2) of the Public Health Code – General Rules.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE FROM A MEDICAL SCHOOL LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA
(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to All applicants)

  • Certification of Medical Education – This form must be submitted directly to our office from the board approved medical school you attended verifying that you have graduated or are expected to graduate within 3 months of the date of your application.  The form can be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI  48909.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE FROM A MEDICAL SCHOOL LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA
(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to All applicants)

  • Verification of your Educational Commission for the Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) – Certification must be submitted directly to our office from the ECFMG verifying you have graduated from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and have passed step 1 and step 2 CK of the USMLE.  Please access their website at CVS ON-LINE (ecfmg.org) for information and instructions on how to arrange for your ECFMG status report to be sent to our office. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE APPLYING FOR RELICENSURE
(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to All applicants)

  • Online application can be completed by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus and selecting MiPLUS Login. Once logged in, select “Modification” next to your license number and this will start the relicensure process.

  • Application Fee + 1 year license fee: (Must be paid by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover credit or debit card)
    • Medical Doctor Clinical Academic Limited Relicensure: $113.60
    • Controlled Substance: $93.70

    An educational limited license may be renewed for not more than 5 years.  This includes relicensure.

    Applicants for relicensure who are from a medical school located in the United States or Canada must complete the following requirement:

    • Certification of Medical Education – This form must be submitted directly to our office from the board approved medical school you attended verifying that you have graduated or are expected to graduate within 3 months of the date of your application.  The form can be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI  48909.

    Applicants for relicensure who are from a medical school located outside the United States or Canada must complete the following requirement:

    • Verification of your Educational Commission for the Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) – Certification must be submitted directly to our office from the ECFMG verifying you have graduated from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and have passed step 1 and step 2 of the USMLE.  Please access their website at www.ecfmg.org for information and instructions on how to arrange for your ECFMG status report to be sent to our office. 

RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST

  • Online Application for Medical Doctor Educational Limited License and Controlled Substance License Renewal – Must be completed by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus no sooner than 90 days prior to the expiration date of current license.

  • Medical Doctor Educational Limited License Renewal Application Fee: $33.00 (Must be paid by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover credit or debit card)

  • Controlled Substance Renewal Application Fee: $82.70

  • Renewal Cycle: 1 year – An educational limited license may be renewed for not more than 5 years.

  • Good Moral Character Questions – Documentation and explanation will be required if you answer “yes” to either question to show at the current time you have the ability to, and are likely to, serve the public in a fair, honest and open manner, that you are rehabilitated, or that the substance of the former offense is not reasonably related to the occupation or profession for which you are seeking license renewal.

  • Disciplinary Question - Documentation will be required if you answer “yes” to having sanctions imposed against you by a similar licensure, registration, certification, or disciplinary board of another state or country you have not previously reported to the department.

  • Human Trafficking Training – Licensees seeking renewal must certify on their renewal application that prior to renewing their license they have completed a one-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.2413.

  • Implicit Bias Training – Licensees and registrants are required to complete 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of their license or registration cycle. Please note, this is not a one-time training and must be completed for each renewal cycle prior to the renewal being completed.

  • Opioids and Controlled Substances Awareness Training – All controlled substance licensees or individuals who are licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances must certify on their renewal application prior to renewing their license that they have completed training in opioids and controlled substance awareness that meets the standards established in Administrative Rule 338.3135.

  • Certification of Appointment to a Michigan Training Hospital – This form is ONLY required to be submitted if the appointing school, hospital or residency program (i.e. general surgery, internal medicine) has changed and you are transferring to a new training program.  The form must be completed by the Director of Medical Education of the new appointing school or hospital.  The licensee or a delegate will need to upload the completed form to the renewal application.

  • Accept Renewal Attestation - By accepting the renewal attestation you as the licensee are certifying that you have met the continuing education requirements during the renewal period and all information provided on your renewal application is true and correct:     

HELPFUL RESOURCES AND FORMS

By visiting www.michigan.gov/healthlicense and clicking on the medicine link you can access the following helpful resources and forms:

Resources:

Forms:

  • Certification of Appointment to a Michigan Training Hospital
  • Certificaion of Medical Education of Medical Schools in the U.S.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • This is a license granted to a qualified individual that has been accepted into a postgraduate training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

  • Yes, verification of your ECFMG certificate must be electronically submitted directly to the Michigan Board of Medicine from the ECFMG. Visit the ECFMG website or contact the ECFMG directly for information and instructions on how to submit a request for your ECFMG status report to be sent to the Michigan Board of Medicine.

  • If you need to change your program prior to the renewal of your license, you will need to have the new hospital fill out a Certificate of Appointment to a Michigan Training Hospital form signed by the Director of Medical Education and them email it to BPLData@michigan.gov. Once the program information is processed, we will mail updated hard copies of the licenses directly to the hospital.

    If you are changing programs during your renewal period, you will need to have the new hospital fill out a Certificate of Appointment to a Michigan Training Hospital form signed by the Director of Medical Education and either email it to BPLData@michigan.gov or upload the form to your renewal application. Updated licenses will be mailed to the hospital and copies sent to the email address on record once processed.

    If you are not changing your program during your renewal period, you will complete the renewal application, submit the appropriate fee and the licenses will renew. Updated licenses will be sent to the hospital and copies will be sent to the email address on record

  • A limited license for a postgraduate is renewable for not more than 5 years.

  • All individuals applying for licensure must demonstrate a working knowledge of the English language.  This can be established if either the applicant’s required health professional educational program was taught in English, a transcript establishes the applicant earned not less than 60 college level credits from an English-speaking graduate or undergraduate school, the applicant’s credentials and English proficiency have been evaluated and determined to be equivalent to the credentials required In this state by a board-approved credentialing agency or that the applicant obtained a passing score on an approved English proficiency exam as established by the department under R 338.7002b(2) of the Public Health Code – General Rules.

  • You cannot have more than 4 attempts to pass any part of the USMLE.

  • Applications are reviewed in the date order received. Processing time typically varies from 4 to 6 weeks from the date your application is received. Once all the required information is submitted and accepted your license will be issued. If all licensure requirements are not met upon application review, you will receive an email requesting any outstanding items needed to complete your application. Once you are approved for licensure, it takes approximately 7 to 10 business days to receive the license by mail, if requested. Immediately upon license issuance a PDF of the license will also be sent to the email address provided on the application.

  • No. When you renew your license, it can only be renewed for the full license cycle