On February 23, 2024, the DC Department of Health (DC Health) relocated.
The Health Regulation and Licensing Administration's
Processing Center and other offices are located at:
(The new building is 0.3 miles from the Anacostia Metro)
Processing Center Hours:
The Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA) Processing Center is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 am – 1 pm, and Wednesday, 9 am - 3:30 pm (except holidays).
Office Hours:
The HRLA Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 am - 4:45 pm (except holidays).
License Lookup:
DC Health's licensure lookup system can be accessed HERE.
Change to the Term of License, Certificate and Registration
Effective Date June 16, 2024
DC Health has always operated with fixed renewal windows for each profession. In response to feedback from the health professional community, the Director has moved to change the renewal system to align with each licensee’s month of birth. As such, all applicable licenses, certificates, or registrations issued on or after June 16, 2024, will expire on the last day of the birth month of the license holder. This will apply to all new applicants and will become applicable to licensees renewing later this year. For those renewing, this will not take effect until September 2024. For all current holders of a license, certificate, or registration additional information will be provided at a later date. This authority is pursuant to Chapter 40 Section 4006.3 DCMR Chapter 40 General Rules .
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact:
Now Live!
The District of Columbia Board of Medicine (the Board) is pleased to announce the rollout of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLCC). The Compact is an expedited pathway allowing eligible physicians (MD/DO) to obtain licensure in multiple member states by completing one application. Presently, 37 states and territories (District of Columbia and Guam) are members of the Compact. Starting Monday, June 12, 2023, the Board will process compact applications as a State of Principal License and issue licenses using the IMLCC process.
Visit https://www.imlcc.org/information-for-physicians/ for information on the Compact, the application process, and fee schedules.
Alert: Phone Scam
Important Notice Regarding Paper Applications (select link):
DC Health No Longer Accepting Paper Applications (Beginning June 14, 2021)
ONLINE LICENSING APPLICATIONS
DC Health’s online licensing application system is now LIVE . (See link below.)
The District of Columbia Department of Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA) is excited to announce the opening of our new online licensing system. Effective immediately, any healthcare provider who is interested in applying for a new health professional license, or to renew, reinstate, or reactivate an existing license, may do so by going to the below link and submitting an online application. All users are strongly encouraged to review the instructions prior to beginning the process.
DMV Reciprocity Pathway:
Now Live!
The District of Columbia Board of Medicine is excited to announce a new expedited licensure pathway for US/Canadian educated physicians. Please note that foreign educated physicians licensed in Maryland and Virginia are ineligible for reciprocity in the District of Columbia due to different licensure requirements for training. Foreign-educated physicians may apply via the traditional pathway.
For more information, please visit the Boards’ webpages:
"To protect and enhance the health, safety, and well-being of District of Columbia residents by promoting evidence-based best practices in health regulation, high standards of quality care and implementing policies that prevent adverse events."
Established in 1879, the DC Board of Medicine (BoMed), a division within the DC Department of Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA), has the responsibility to regulate the practice of medicine (MD/DO) in the District of Columbia.
The Board accepts applications for licensure through national examination; waiver of national examination; reactivation of an inactive license; reinstatement of an expired, suspended, or revoked license, or by eminence pursuant to the Health Occupations Revision Act (HORA). All applicants for licensure must establish, to the Board’s satisfaction, that they possess the appropriate skills, knowledge, judgment, and character to practice medicine in the District of Columbia. In addition, applicants must demonstrate to the Board that they are proficient in understanding and communicating medical concepts and information in English.
The Board also oversees the regulation of Trauma Technologists, Physician Assistants, Naturopathic Physicians, Anesthesiology Assistants, Acupuncturists, Surgical Assistants, Polysomnographers, Athletic Trainers, and Postgraduate Physicians in Training. Regulation is achieved through the application process; the disciplinary process and through outreach and educational activities.
Members of the Board are appointed by the Mayor and serve a three year term for a maximum of three terms. The Board issues a quarterly newsletter that provides up-to-date information on the Board's current activities.
Board of Medicine Contact Information
Individuals may call the Processing Center at 1 (877) 672-2174 or email the Health Licensing Specialist (listed below) assigned to the first letter of their last name for updates or assistance with applications:
| Service | Applicant or Licensee's Last Name | Staff | Email Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMV Reciprocity (District of Columbia, Maryland & Virginia reciprocity) |
Charles Annor
and
Ashley Callaham
If you are already in contact with a Health Licensing Specialist (HLS), please forward any documents to said HLS via email and copy [email protected] .
The Board meets on the last Wednesday of each month (see schedule below), unless otherwise noted. Open session is from 8:30 am - 9:30 am and members of the public are invited to join the Board. If you would like to present a topic, you must schedule a time to be placed on the agenda. Contact Lisa Robinson at [email protected] . The agendas can be found HERE, and minutes can be found HERE.
Join Open Session:
By Web https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/j.php?MTID=m7f823658b3b1e1556a59c90709042b04
By Phone 1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.) Access Code: 160 487 2313
1-650-479-3208 Call-in number (US/Canada) Access Code: 160 487 2313
Executive Session:
Executive session is closed to the public.
| Date | Meeting Format |
| November 2, 2023 | Virtual |
| December 13, 2023 | Virtual |
| January 31, 2024 | In person |
| February 28, 2024 | Virtual |
| March 27, 2024 | Virtual |
| April 24, 2024 | In person |
| May 29, 2024 | Virtual |
| June 26, 2024 | Virtual |
| July 31, 2024 | In person |
| September 25, 2024 | Virtual |
| October 30, 2024 | In person |
| December 11, 2024 | Virtual |
DC Health's licensure lookup system can be accessed HERE.
Continuing Education Requirements
As part of the renewal process, regulations have been implemented for all professions under the Board of Medicine which will require licensees to complete at least 10% of their required total continuing education hours in topics identified by the Director of the Department of Health as public health priorities. For example, physicians have a fifty (50) hour requirement so at least five (5) hours must be in a topic designated as a public health priority. The Director of the Department of Health has now issued a notice identifying acceptable public health priorities, a copy of which can be found online HERE.
The current CE requirements are outlined below:
o Physicians (MD/DO) - Fifty (50) hours of CE every two (2) years, which includes two (2) hours in the subject of LGBTQ cultural competency, five (5) hours in a topic designated as a public health priority, and at least one (1) course in the subject of pharmacology.
o Physician Assistants (PA) - One hundred (100) of CE every two (2) years, which includes two (2) hours in the subject of LGBTQ cultural competency and ten (10) hours must be in a topic designated as a public health priority. PAs may substitute NCCPA certification for the one hundred (100) hours, however, they will still be required to complete the required hours of CE in the subject area of LGBTQ cultural competency and the public health priorities.
o Naturopathic Physicians (NP) - Thirty (30) hours of CE, which includes two (2) hours of CE in the subject of LGBTQ cultural competency and three (3) hours must be in a topic designated as a public health priority.
o Surgical Assistants (SA) - Fifty (50) hours of CE, which includes two (2) hours of CE in the in the subject of LGBTQ cultural competency and five (5) hours must be in a topic designated as a public health priority. SAs may substitute certification from ABSA or the NSAA, if said certification required the completion of fifty (50) hours of CE with the two (2) year period preceding renewal. However, they will still be required to complete the required hours of CE in the subject area of LGBTQ cultural competency and the public health priorities.
o Anesthesiologist Assistants (AA) - Hold certification with the NCCAA, or its successor organization, as well as having completed at least two (2) of CE in the in the subject of LGBTQ cultural competency and five (5) hours must be in a topic designated as a public health priority.
o Acupuncturists (ACU) - Thirty (30) hours of CE, which includes at least two (2) hours of CE in the subject of LGBTQ cultural competency and three (3) must be in a topic designated as a public health priority. For licensees with a certification in Chinese Herbology, at least ten (10) of the total thirty (30) hours need to be in the topic of Chinese herbology.
o Polysomnographic Technologists - Twenty (20) hours of CE, which includes at least two (2) hours of CE in the subject of LGBTQ cultural competency and two (2) hours must be in a topic designated as a public health priority.
o Polysomnographic Trainees – First time renewal exempted from continuing education.
o Trauma Technologists - Fifty (50) hours of CE, which includes at least two (2) hours of CE in the subject of LGBTQ cultural competency and five (5) hours must be in a topic designated as a public health priority.
For those physicians in need of CME related to pharmacology and/or prescribing, or any other CEs, DC Health offers several free programs via the DC Center for Rational Prescribing. You can access the DC Center for Rational Prescribing here.