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State Medical License Renewal Checklist

A lapsed license is far more disruptive than a late-night renewal, so a short checklist that you reuse every cycle is worth the effort.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026. General information, not legal or compliance advice.

Ninety days out

• Confirm the exact expiration date on the board's licensee lookup, not only on the wallet card.
• Read the board's current renewal instructions, because forms and fees can change between cycles.
• Add up CME hours and note any mandated topic you still need.
• Check whether the board requires fingerprints, a background check or an attestation about malpractice and discipline.

Sixty days out

• Finish outstanding CME and save the certificates.
• Gather the fee, a payment method and any malpractice details the form asks for.
• Confirm that the board has your current mailing and email address, because notices often go there.

Thirty days out

• Submit the renewal.
• Save the confirmation page or receipt as a PDF.
• Check the lookup afterward, since status updates can take days.

After renewal

• Update the expiration date in your tracker and attach the receipt.
• Update CAQH and any facility or payer that holds the old date. See the CAQH guide.
• Note the next CME deadline.

If you missed the date

Most boards have a late or reinstatement process with different fees and sometimes a restriction on practicing in the meantime. Contact the board right away, and do not practice on an expired license. Rules and fees change, and this guide is general information, so confirm the details with the relevant board or agency before you act.