Medical Doctor Applications
Thank you for your interest in obtaining a medical license, or restoration of licensure, in the State of West Virginia. It is our goal to assist qualified, eligible candidates in obtaining licensure in this state as efficiently and expeditiously as possible. Beginning July 1, 2025, all applications which do not compete within six months will expire, at which time reapplication will be necessary to continue in the licensure process.
REINSTATEMENT OF A LICENSE WHICH HAS BEEN EXPIRED FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR
REACTIVATION OF A LICENSE WHICH HAS BEEN EXPIRED FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR
APPLICATION TO CHANGE LICENSURE STATUS FROM INACTIVE STATUS TO ACTIVE STATUS
INITIAL APPLICANTS
Traditional Pathway Licensure. The Board utilizes the Uniform Application for initial applicants applying for licensure directly with the West Virginia Board of Medicine. Additional application components are identified in the West Virginia Board of Medicine’s state-specific application instructions. The Uniform Application is one component of the initial application process. Please read all instructions carefully before applying.
Application Instructions
Uniform Application
IMLC Compact Licensure. West Virginia is a member of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, and issues compact licenses to qualified applicants who receive a Letter of Qualification from another compact member state and apply through the IMLC licensure process.
Apply through the IMLC
REINSTATEMENT OF A LICENSE WHICH HAS BEEN EXPIRED FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR
Reinstatement of licensure is available through June 30, 2026 to qualified physicians whose West Virginia medical license expired on June 30, 2025. Reinstatement applications must be accompanied by documentation of successful completion of all required Continuing Medical Education for the period of July 1, 2023 through application submission. CME submitted with a reinstatement application may not be utilized to satisfy CME obligations for the July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027 CME reporting period.
Traditional Pathway Licensees. Please submit the following application:
Reinstatement Application for Physicians Not Licensed Pursuant to the IMLC
(Traditional Pathway Licensees M-Z)
IMLC Compact Licensees. IMLC licensees may apply to reinstate, or they may opt out of the IMLC process and submit an initial application for a traditional pathway license. Please contact the Board at Sara.J.Fields@wv.gov for more information regarding re-licensure options. For IMLC Compact Licensees seeking reinstatement of IMLC licensure, please submit the following application:
Reinstatement Application for Physicians Licensed Pursuant to the IMLC
(IMLC Compact Licensees M-Z)
REACTIVATION OF A LICENSE WHICH HAS BEEN EXPIRED FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR
Traditional Pathway Licensees. Physicians who were initially granted a West Virginia license by applying directly with the West Virginia Board of Medicine may apply with the Board to reactivate a license which has been expired for more than one year. The Board utilizes the Uniform Application for reactivation of licensure. Additional application components for reactivation are identified in the West Virginia Board of Medicine’s state-specific application instructions. The Uniform Application is one component of the initial application process. Please read all instructions carefully before applying.
Application Instructions
Uniform Application
IMLC Compact Licensees. Physicians who obtained West Virginia licensure through the IMLC licensure process and whose West Virginia medical licenses expired prior to June 30, 2023 may apply anew through the IMLC process or directly with the Board. Please contact the Board at Sara.J.Fields@wv.gov for more information regarding re-licensure options.
APPLICATION TO CHANGE LICENSURE STATUS FROM INACTIVE STATUS TO ACTIVE STATUS
Traditional Pathway Licensees. An inactive status license permits a physician to retain licensure for reduced renewal fees during periods of time when the physician is not practicing medicine and surgery in West Virginia. Inactive status physicians are subject to the same CME obligations as active status physicians. An inactive status licensee may apply to change licensure status back to active status by submitting an application along with evidence of appropriate CME completion and a satisfactory narrative accounting of the physician’s period of inactivity.
Physicians With Last Names Beginning with the Letters M-Z - Inactive status physicians whose last names begin with the letters M through Z may apply to convert to active status by submitting the following application:
Application to Change Licensure Status from Inactive to Active for Physicians
with a current license expiration date of June 30, 2027 (M-Z Physicians)
Physicians With Last Names Beginning with the Letters A-L - Inactive status physicians whose last names begin with the letters A through L may apply to convert to active status by submitting the following application:
Application to Change Licensure Status from Inactive to Active for Physicians
with a current license expiration date of June 30, 2026 (A-L Physicians)
IMLC Compact Licensees. Inactive status licenses are not available to physicians licensed through the IMLC process.
SPECIAL LICENSE TYPES
Administrative Medicine, Medical School Faculty and Extraordinary Circumstances applicants utilize the Uniform Application. Please read all instructions carefully before applying.
Application Instructions
Uniform Application
Please contact the Board for information regarding special license types, including:
Administrative Medicine License
Medical School Faculty License
Restricted License in Extraordinary Circumstances
Volunteer License
