State guide · Texas · Licensing
Texas licensing requirements
Medical license application, controlled-substance registration, Medicaid enrollment, telehealth rules, and CME for Texas.
Medical board
Texas Medical Board
License timeline
60–90 days (faster via IMLC for eligible physicians)
IMLC member
Yes
CME hours
48 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
Texas physicians apply to the Texas Medical Board (TMB) through its online licensing system. Texas is an IMLC member, so eligible physicians with a State of Principal License (SPL) elsewhere can use the Compact for an expedited Letter of Qualification.
Texas requires postgraduate training (1 year for U.S. graduates, 3 years for IMGs), USMLE/COMLEX passage, and primary-source verification of credentials.
- •Apply through TMB online portal
- •IMLC pathway available for physicians with SPL in another Compact state
- •Minimum 1 year postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs)
- •Jurisprudence Examination required (online, open-book)
- •Initial license fee approximately $817 (Verify current)
Controlled-substance registration
Texas no longer requires a separate state-level Controlled Substance Registration — the Texas DPS-CSR program was abolished in 2016. Texas physicians prescribing controlled substances need only a federal DEA registration. Texas requires use of the Texas PMP (Prescription Monitoring Program) and registration with PMP Aware.
Medicaid enrollment
Agency: Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP)
Texas Medicaid enrollment is administered through TMHP. Providers enroll using the Provider Enrollment and Management System (PEMS). Enrollment requires NPI, Texas medical license, ownership disclosures, and program-specific credentialing.
Estimated timeline: Verify — typically 60–120 days
- •Apply through PEMS (Provider Enrollment and Management System)
- •Separate enrollment required for fee-for-service Medicaid and managed care plans
- •Revalidation required every 5 years
- •CHIP enrollment can be combined with Medicaid enrollment
Telehealth notes
Texas permits telehealth broadly, with parity rules for many services. Texas medical license required to treat Texas-located patients. Texas has specific rules for prescribing controlled substances via telehealth (Texas Occupations Code §111).
- •Texas license required to treat Texas-located patients
- •Audio-only telehealth permitted for most services
- •Telehealth parity for commercial insurance and Medicaid
- •Controlled substance prescribing via telehealth has specific in-person evaluation rules
CME requirements
Texas requires 48 CME hours per 2-year renewal cycle, including at least 24 in AMA PRA Category 1. At least 2 hours must be in ethics or professional responsibility. Board certification may satisfy some requirements.
Total hours: 48 per 2-year cycle
Mandatory topics:
Official resources
Bookmark these official agency portals for Texas licensing, controlled-substance registration, and Medicaid enrollment.
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