Colorado Medical Board: Physician Licensing Requirements

Colorado statutes set forth minimum qualifications for physician licensure. These requirements include proof of graduation from medical school, the passage of nationally recognized exams, satisfactory completion of postgraduate education, and submission of reference letters from previous practice locations. CMB staff verifies the license status of new applicants, search for disciplinary action taken by other state agencies, federal agencies, and medical boards, and then forward the applications to the Board for review. The CMB uses this information to carefully screen physicians seeking licensure in Colorado. In the opinion of the Board, it is much easier, effective, and beneficial to the public to refuse an applicant who does not meet these criteria or possesses uncertain training or competence, than it is to later remove the license due to poor medical practice. The vast majority of applicants, however, are approved by the Board and licensed within 60 days of receipt of their application materials. The Board licenses 800 to 1,000 new physicians each year.

The Medical Board does NOT routinely grant waivers of the postgraduate training requirement. Only under very special and well-documented circumstances will the candidate for licensure be presented to the Board for consideration if all requirements are not met. Please contact a licensing specialist for additional information on this topic.

Reciprocal Licensing Agreements with Other States

Colorado does not have reciprocal licensing agreements (automatic reciprocity) with other states. The Board grants licenses on the basis of examination. Verification of licensure and certified copies of any disciplinary actions taken in other states are required as part of the application.

Acceptance of Older Exam Scores

There is no barrier to granting a license based solely on when a physician sat for the licensure exam. As long as the exam has been accepted by the Board and the applicant meets other requirements, physicians should not hesitate to apply for licensure. Many physicians who have been in continuous medical practice have chosen to retire to Colorado. These physicians, of course, passed their exams early in their careers and are regularly granted licenses in Colorado.

Providing Verification of Licensing Exam History

Below are references for contacting the appropriate entity to provide a medical licensing board, hospital, managed care organization or credentialing agency with a physician's licensing exam history.

Federation of State Medical Boards
The Federation of State Medical Boards maintains and reports to licensing boards all examination history involving the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) and Special Purpose Examination (SPEX). Requests for scores can be made via the Federation's website at www.fsmb.org/transcripts.html. For questions or assistance, please call 817-868-4041 or email usmle@fsmb.org.

National Board of Medical Examiners
The National Board of Medical Examiners(NBME) website provides information on NBME parts history at www.nbme.org. For questions or assistance, please call 215-590-9700 or fill out the contact form atwww.nbme.org/contact/default.aspx.

National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners
The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) website provides information on NBOME Parts and the Comprehensive Osteopathic Licensing Examination (COMLEX) at www.nbonme.org. For questions or assistance, call 773-714-0622.

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Certification verification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the examinations leading to these certifications can be obtained at www.ecfmg.org. For questions or assistance, please call 215-386-5900 or email info@ecfmg.org.

* The Foreign Medical Graduates Examination in the Medical Sciences (FMGEMS) was used for meeting the medical sciences requirement of ECFMG certification and is not a licensing examination.

Effect of Malpractice Suits on Licensure Applications

The licensure application asks only about those malpractice suits that are pending, or in which judgments or settlements have been rendered in the last five years. The applicant should provide a narrative of the circumstance of the suit, including information regarding the clinical care provided.

Personal Appearances Before the Board

Personal appearances before the Medical Board are NOT required, however, the licensing meetings of the board are open to the public and you may attend if you wish.

Source Verification of Documents

The Medical Board requires original source verification documents for the following: