State guide · Washington · Licensing
Washington licensing requirements
Medical license application, controlled-substance registration, Medicaid enrollment, telehealth rules, and CME for Washington.
Medical board
Washington Medical Commission
License timeline
60–90 days
IMLC member
Yes
CME hours
200 per 4 yrs
Renewal cycle
4 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
Washington physicians apply to the Washington Medical Commission through the Department of Health's online licensing system. Washington is an IMLC member.
Washington requires medical school graduation, 2 years of postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs), USMLE/COMLEX passage, and AIDS education (4-hour one-time requirement).
- •Apply through Washington DOH online portal
- •IMLC pathway available
- •Minimum 2 years postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs)
- •AIDS education (4 hours, one-time)
- •Suicide assessment training (one-time)
- •Initial license fee approximately $733 (Verify current)
Controlled-substance registration
Washington does not require a separate state-level Controlled Substance Registration beyond the federal DEA registration. Washington prescribers must register with the Washington PMP and check it before prescribing controlled substances.
Medicaid enrollment
Agency: Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) — Apple Health
Washington Medicaid (Apple Health) enrollment is administered by HCA through ProviderOne. Most beneficiaries are in Apple Health Managed Care plans.
Estimated timeline: Verify — typically 60–120 days
- •Apply through ProviderOne online enrollment
- •Apple Health Managed Care credentialing separate
- •Revalidation required every 5 years
Telehealth notes
Washington permits telehealth broadly with strong parity laws. Washington license required to treat Washington-located patients. Washington Telemedicine Training is required for telemedicine practice.
- •Washington license required to treat Washington-located patients
- •Washington Telemedicine Training required (one-time)
- •Telehealth parity laws apply to commercial and Medicaid
- •Audio-only telehealth permitted for many services
CME requirements
Washington requires 200 CME hours per 4-year renewal cycle (50 hours/year average). One-time suicide assessment training required pre-licensure or early in practice.
Total hours: 200 per 4-year cycle
Mandatory topics:
Official resources
Bookmark these official agency portals for Washington licensing, controlled-substance registration, and Medicaid enrollment.
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