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Guides
Practical guides for clinicians and credentialing coordinators on licensing, CME, DEA registration and credentialing, written to be accurate where we are sure and plain about where you should confirm with the board.
Planning aid only. MedLicense is not legal or compliance advice. Boards change rules between cycles, so confirm every requirement with the board before you rely on it.
Multi-State CME: How Hours Count Across LicensesHow CME hours are shared, and not shared, across the states where a clinician is licensed, with a checklist for planning courses that satisfy several boards.Opioid CME by StateHow state opioid and controlled-substance prescribing CME requirements differ, how they relate to the federal DEA training, and how to check yours.State Medical License Renewal ChecklistA step-by-step checklist for renewing a state license without a lapse, from finding the deadline to saving the confirmation.DEA Registration RenewalWhat to know about renewing a DEA registration for prescribers, including timing, the online process and the MATE Act attestation.State Controlled Substance RegistrationSome states require a separate state controlled substance registration or certificate in addition to a medical license and DEA registration.CAQH ProView Re-AttestationWhat CAQH ProView re-attestation is, how often it is needed and how to keep the profile ready for payers and facilities.IMLC Letter of Qualification: How the Process WorksA plain-language overview of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and the Letter of Qualification, with hedged notes on eligibility and fees.Locum Tenens Credentialing ChecklistA checklist of the documents, licenses and steps a locum tenens clinician needs before the first shift.Recredentialing Checklist for Medical Staff OfficesA checklist for the periodic reappointment and recredentialing of providers, covering documents, verifications and timing.Credential Renewal Cycles at a GlanceA reference to how often common clinical credentials renew, written with ranges and a reminder to confirm each one.Telehealth and Multi-State LicensingThe general principle that licensing follows the patient's location in telehealth, and the routes clinicians use to get licensed in more than one state.Free License and CME Tracker SpreadsheetDownload a free CSV template for tracking licenses, registrations, certifications and CME that opens in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.MedLicense and Spreadsheets ComparedA fair comparison of tracking credentials in a spreadsheet and in MedLicense, listing what each does well.How to Compare License Tracking ToolsQuestions to ask when choosing between credential trackers, from where data is stored to who can see it and what the rules data is based on.The DEA MATE Act 8-Hour TrainingWhat the Medication Access and Training Expansion Act requires of DEA registrants, who is deemed compliant and how it differs from state opioid CME.The Nurse Licensure Compact and Nurse PractitionersWhy the Nurse Licensure Compact for RNs does not automatically cover advanced practice authority, with hedged notes on the APRN Compact.The PA Licensure CompactA hedged overview of the compact for physician assistants, why its status needs checking and what to do in the meantime.CME Credit Types ExplainedA plain explanation of AMA PRA Category 1 and 2, AOA categories and the equivalents other professions use, and why the type matters for renewals.How to Document CME for a Board AuditWhat to save for each course and how to organize CME records so an audit request is a short task.Preparing for a Medical Board CME AuditWhat a CME audit usually involves and how to respond calmly and completely.The NPI Number: What It Is and When to Update ItA short guide to the National Provider Identifier, the NPPES record and the habit of keeping it current.Primary Source Verification in Plain LanguageWhat primary source verification means in credentialing, which credentials usually need it and why a copy of a certificate is not enough.Recertification Basics for NPs, PAs, CRNAs and CAAsHow national certification cycles sit alongside state licensing for advanced practice clinicians, with the cycles recorded in our data.How Early to Start a Locum Tenens LicenseWhy new state licenses need a long runway and how to work backward from a start date.What Goes in a Credentialing PacketA list of the documents facilities and payers commonly request, so you can assemble one packet and reuse it.
See also the state requirements, the FAQ and our editorial standards.