State guide · Louisiana · Licensing
Louisiana licensing requirements
Medical license application, controlled-substance registration, Medicaid enrollment, telehealth rules, and CME for Louisiana.
Medical board
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
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
Louisiana physicians apply to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME). Louisiana is an IMLC member.
Louisiana requires medical school graduation, postgraduate training, USMLE/COMLEX passage, and primary-source verification.
- •Apply through LSBME online portal
- •IMLC pathway available
- •Minimum 1 year postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs)
- •Initial license fee approximately $450 (Verify current)
Controlled-substance registration
Louisiana requires a Louisiana Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) license from the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy in addition to the federal DEA registration.
Issuing agency: Louisiana Board of Pharmacy
Processing timeline: Verify
Medicaid enrollment
Agency: Louisiana Department of Health — Bureau of Health Services Financing
Louisiana Medicaid enrollment is administered through Louisiana Medicaid. Healthy Louisiana managed care plans require separate credentialing.
Estimated timeline: Verify — typically 60–90 days
- •Apply through Louisiana Medicaid Provider Enrollment
- •Healthy Louisiana managed care credentialing separate
- •Revalidation required every 5 years
Telehealth notes
Louisiana permits telehealth. Louisiana license required to treat Louisiana-located patients.
- •Louisiana license required to treat Louisiana-located patients
CME requirements
Louisiana requires 40 CME hours per 2-year renewal cycle.
Total hours: 40 per 2-year cycle
Mandatory topics:
Official resources
Bookmark these official agency portals for Louisiana licensing, controlled-substance registration, and Medicaid enrollment.
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