State guide · Rhode Island · Licensing
Rhode Island licensing requirements
Medical license application, controlled-substance registration, Medicaid enrollment, telehealth rules, and CME for Rhode Island.
Medical board
Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline
License timeline
60–90 days
IMLC member
No
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
Rhode Island physicians apply to the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline through the Department of Health. Rhode Island passed IMLC enabling legislation; Verify current implementation status.
RI requires medical school graduation, postgraduate training, USMLE/COMLEX passage, and primary-source verification.
- •Apply through RI DOH Health Professionals Licensing portal
- •IMLC: Verify current implementation status
- •Minimum 2 years postgraduate training
- •Initial license fee approximately $1,090 (Verify current)
Controlled-substance registration
Rhode Island requires a Rhode Island Controlled Substance Registration in addition to the federal DEA registration.
Issuing agency: Rhode Island Department of Health
Processing timeline: Verify
Medicaid enrollment
Agency: Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services — Medicaid
Rhode Island Medicaid enrollment is administered through Healthcare Portal Provider Enrollment.
Estimated timeline: Verify — typically 60–90 days
- •Apply through RI Healthcare Portal
- •Managed care plan credentialing separate
- •Revalidation required every 5 years
Telehealth notes
Rhode Island permits telehealth. RI license required to treat RI-located patients.
- •RI license required to treat RI-located patients
CME requirements
Rhode Island requires 40 CME hours per 2-year renewal cycle, including topic-specific requirements.
Total hours: 40 per 2-year cycle
Mandatory topics:
Official resources
Bookmark these official agency portals for Rhode Island licensing, controlled-substance registration, and Medicaid enrollment.
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