State guide · Massachusetts · Licensing
Massachusetts licensing requirements
Medical license application, controlled-substance registration, Medicaid enrollment, telehealth rules, and CME for Massachusetts.
Medical board
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
License timeline
90–180 days
IMLC member
No
CME hours
100 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
Massachusetts physicians apply to the Board of Registration in Medicine (BORIM). Massachusetts is not an IMLC member.
MA requires medical school graduation, 2 years of postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs), USMLE/COMLEX passage, and Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination.
- •Apply through BORIM Physician Licensing System
- •Not an IMLC member
- •Minimum 2 years postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs)
- •Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination required
- •Initial license fee approximately $600 (Verify current)
Worth knowing
Massachusetts is not an IMLC member and is known for slower processing times. Plan 90–180 days from application to issuance, longer if any explanation items.
Controlled-substance registration
Massachusetts requires a Massachusetts Controlled Substances Registration (MCSR) from the DPH Drug Control Program in addition to the federal DEA registration. The MCSR must be issued before applying for or modifying the federal DEA registration with a Massachusetts address.
Issuing agency: Massachusetts Department of Public Health — Drug Control Program
Processing timeline: Verify
Medicaid enrollment
Agency: Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services — MassHealth
Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth) enrollment is administered through the MassHealth Provider Online Service Center (POSC).
Estimated timeline: Verify — typically 60–120 days
- •Apply through MassHealth POSC
- •MassHealth ACOs and MCOs require separate credentialing
- •Revalidation required every 5 years
Telehealth notes
Massachusetts permits telehealth broadly with strong parity laws. MA license required to treat MA-located patients.
- •MA license required to treat MA-located patients
- •Telehealth parity for commercial and MassHealth
- •Audio-only telehealth permitted for behavioral health and many primary care services
CME requirements
Massachusetts requires 100 CME hours per 2-year renewal cycle, with multiple mandatory topic requirements.
Total hours: 100 per 2-year cycle
Mandatory topics:
Official resources
Bookmark these official agency portals for Massachusetts licensing, controlled-substance registration, and Medicaid enrollment.
Looking for Massachusetts entity formation and CPOM rules?
Practice entity types, CPOM enforcement, tax considerations, and employment law specifics for Massachusetts.
View Massachusetts business guide →Get the complete practice startup guide
Everything you need to launch an independent practice — free download