State guide · Pennsylvania · Licensing
Pennsylvania licensing requirements
Medical license application, controlled-substance registration, Medicaid enrollment, telehealth rules, and CME for Pennsylvania.
Medical board
Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
License timeline
60–120 days
IMLC member
Yes
CME hours
100 per 2 yrs
Renewal cycle
2 years
Separate CS registration
No
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
Pennsylvania physicians apply to the State Board of Medicine through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). Pennsylvania is an IMLC member.
PA requires graduation from an accredited medical school, 2 years of postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs), USMLE/COMLEX passage, and child abuse recognition training.
- •Apply through PALS online portal
- •IMLC pathway available
- •Child abuse recognition & reporting training required (3 hours initially)
- •Minimum 2 years postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs)
- •Initial license fee approximately $370 (Verify current)
Controlled-substance registration
Pennsylvania does not require a separate state-level Controlled Substance Registration beyond the federal DEA registration. Pennsylvania prescribers must register with the Pennsylvania PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program) and check it before prescribing controlled substances.
Medicaid enrollment
Agency: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services — PROMISe
Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) enrollment is administered through PROMISe (Provider Reimbursement and Operations Management Information System). Most beneficiaries are in HealthChoices managed care plans.
Estimated timeline: Verify — typically 60–120 days
- •Apply through PROMISe online enrollment
- •HealthChoices managed care credentialing separate
- •Revalidation required every 5 years
- •Background checks may apply
Telehealth notes
Pennsylvania permits telehealth broadly. PA license required to treat PA-located patients. PA telehealth coverage rules under Act 76 of 2024 (Verify status) provide commercial insurance parity for many services.
- •PA license required to treat PA-located patients
- •Audio-only telehealth permitted for many services
- •Verify current PA telehealth parity rules
CME requirements
Pennsylvania requires 100 CME hours per 2-year renewal cycle, with mandatory topics in child abuse recognition and opioid education.
Total hours: 100 per 2-year cycle
Mandatory topics:
Official resources
Bookmark these official agency portals for Pennsylvania licensing, controlled-substance registration, and Medicaid enrollment.
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