State guide · Hawaii · Licensing
Hawaii licensing requirements
Medical license application, controlled-substance registration, Medicaid enrollment, telehealth rules, and CME for Hawaii.
Medical board
Hawaii Medical Board
License timeline
60–120 days
IMLC member
Yes
CME hours
40 per 2 yrs
Renewal cycle
2 years
Separate CS registration
Yes
The information on this page is provided for general reference only and may not reflect recent regulatory or legislative changes. State licensing requirements, fees, and timelines change frequently. Always verify requirements directly with the relevant state agency or a qualified legal or compliance professional before making practice decisions. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice.
State medical license
Hawaii physicians apply to the Hawaii Medical Board through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). Hawaii is a Limited IMLC participant.
Hawaii requires medical school graduation, postgraduate training, USMLE/COMLEX passage, and primary-source verification.
- •Apply through DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing portal
- •IMLC: Limited participant
- •Minimum 2 years postgraduate training
- •Initial license fee approximately $530 (Verify current)
Controlled-substance registration
Hawaii requires a separate Hawaii Controlled Substance Registration in addition to the federal DEA registration.
Issuing agency: Hawaii Department of Public Safety — Narcotics Enforcement Division
Processing timeline: Verify
Medicaid enrollment
Agency: Hawaii Department of Human Services — Med-QUEST Division
Hawaii Medicaid (Med-QUEST) is a managed care program. Provider enrollment is through the Med-QUEST Provider Enrollment system.
Estimated timeline: Verify — typically 60–90 days
- •Apply through Med-QUEST Provider Enrollment
- •Med-QUEST contracts with managed care plans
- •Revalidation required every 5 years
Telehealth notes
Hawaii permits telehealth broadly, with specific provisions to expand access in island communities. Hawaii license required to treat Hawaii-located patients.
- •Hawaii license required to treat Hawaii-located patients
- •Telehealth widely used for inter-island care
CME requirements
Hawaii requires 40 CME hours per 2-year renewal cycle. AMA PRA Category 1 credit required.
Total hours: 40 per 2-year cycle
No specific mandatory topic requirements at the state level.
Official resources
Bookmark these official agency portals for Hawaii licensing, controlled-substance registration, and Medicaid enrollment.
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