US Licensing & Immigration Resources
Official links for physicians planning to practise in the United States: state medical boards, national licensing and certification bodies, and federal immigration pathways.
Relocation Support
Avery Professional Group works with global relocation specialists to help physicians and their families with every part of the move to the United States.
National Licensing & Certification Bodies
Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Supports state medical boards and co-sponsors the USMLE.
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)
An expedited pathway for qualified physicians to obtain licences in multiple member states.
Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS)
Stores verified core credentials once for use with multiple state boards.
ECFMG (a division of Intealth)
Certifies international medical graduates entering US graduate medical education.
USMLE
The three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination.
COMLEX-USA (NBOME)
The licensing examination series for osteopathic physicians.
National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
Matches applicants to US residency and fellowship positions.
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
Sets standards for specialty board certification through its member boards.
AOA Board Certification
Board certification for osteopathic physicians.
State Medical Boards
Physicians must hold a licence from the board in each state where they practise. Some states have a separate board for osteopathic physicians (DO).
Alabama Board of Medical Examiners & Medical Licensure Commission
Alaska State Medical Board
Arizona Medical Board
Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery
Arkansas State Medical Board
Medical Board of California
Osteopathic Medical Board of California
Colorado Medical Board
Connecticut Medical Examining Board
Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline
DC Board of Medicine
Florida Board of Medicine
Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine
Georgia Composite Medical Board
Hawaii Medical Board
Idaho Board of Medicine
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — Physicians
Medical Licensing Board of Indiana
Iowa Board of Medicine
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine
Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure
Maryland Board of Physicians
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
Michigan Board of Medicine
Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts
Montana Board of Medical Examiners
Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery
Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners
Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine
New Hampshire Board of Medicine
New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners
New Mexico Medical Board
New York State Board for Medicine
North Carolina Medical Board
North Dakota Board of Medicine
State Medical Board of Ohio
Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners
Oregon Medical Board
Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
Pennsylvania State Board of Osteopathic Medicine
Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline
South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners
South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners
Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners
Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination
Texas Medical Board
Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Physician and Surgeon
Vermont Board of Medical Practice
Vermont Board of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons
Virginia Board of Medicine
Washington Medical Commission
Washington Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
West Virginia Board of Medicine
West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine
Wisconsin Medical Examining Board
Wyoming Board of Medicine
Immigration Resources
Official US government pathways commonly used by internationally trained physicians.
USCIS
US Citizenship and Immigration Services — petitions, work authorization and green cards.
US Visas (Department of State)
Visa categories, applications and embassy information.
H-1B Specialty Occupations
Temporary work visa used by many employers to hire physicians.
J-1 Physicians (ECFMG Sponsorship)
ECFMG sponsors J-1 exchange visitor physicians in accredited US clinical training.
Conrad 30 Waiver Program
Allows J-1 physicians to waive the two-year home residency requirement by serving in underserved areas.
J-1 Waiver (Department of State)
How to apply for a waiver of the two-year home-country physical presence requirement.
O-1 Visa
For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement.
EB-2 Employment-Based Green Card
Permanent residence for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.
Physician National Interest Waiver
Green card pathway for physicians who agree to work in underserved areas.
TN Visa (USMCA) for Canadian & Mexican Citizens
Note: under USMCA, physicians qualify for TN status for teaching or research only.
These links are provided for information only and do not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules and licensing requirements change often, so always confirm details with the relevant state board, USCIS or the Department of State, and consult a qualified immigration attorney. Last reviewed September 2026.
Practising in Canada? View Canadian Licensing & Immigration Resources