Physician- Reinstatement

Reinstatement/Restoration for Expired Physician Licenses

On This Page:

Application Instructions

Criminal Offenses

Fees

Independently Requested Recommendations

Two Years of Professional Inactivity

DEA Certificate

 

Application Instructions

Step 1: Gather CME documentation. Use the CME log to catalog only the programs/courses that have been completed in the two years prior to the license restoration application. You will need to provide supporting documentation for all Category 1 CME hours.

Step 2: Request FBI and Ohio BCI Background Record Checks

The board strongly encourages prospective applicants to complete their background checks as soon as they know that they will be applying for Ohio licensure. There is no need to wait until an application is submitted to start the background check process. The board will retain the background check results for up to one year upon receiving them. Once an application has been submitted to the board, its status will be updated to reflect receipt of the results.

  • Results MUST be sent directly from the vendor to the State Medical Board of Ohio; the Board will not accept results from the applicant or a third party.

  • All applicants for licensure are required to complete an FBI and Ohio BCI criminal records check. View instructions in the background check packet or by watching the instructional video below.

​​​​Step 3: Request the required report from the appropriate board and have the results sent directly to the State Medical Board of Ohio at license@med.ohio.gov.

Step 4: Complete the Application Online

  • The Ohio physician licensure application must be submitted and paid online through eLicense.ohio.gov. Note: if you experience technical issues on the eLicense website, please use either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your browser.

  • Pay the $505.00, nonrefundable fee online with Visa, MasterCard or Discover.

​Applicants are not required to submit license verifications from other states or jurisdictions in which they are licensed, unless specifically requested by board staff.

Please note: the Medical Board is unable to confirm receipt of background checks or other supporting documents prior to an application being submitted. 

Once an application has been submitted, any documents that have been previously received will be attached to the application. Please allow the board 10 business days to perform an initial review of your application. After that time, you may check the status of your application by logging into eLicense and navigating to your license application. Select the Options tab and the Review Status option. Any outstanding items will be listed in the ‘Comments’ section at the bottom of the page.

 

Criminal Offenses

Q: What must be disclosed on the application regarding arrest/criminal history?

A: If you have ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony you must disclose the incident(s) on the application, regardless of whether the criminal records were subsequently sealed or expunged.  This includes serious traffic offenses such as reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, hit and run, evading a peace officer, failure to appear, and driving under suspension. Matters in which you were diverted, deferred, pardoned, or pled nolo contendere must also be disclosed.  If you are in doubt as to how to respond to the application questions, full and honest disclosure is recommended.

To verify your criminal history, the Board requires submission of fingerprints for a criminal records check completed by both the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Both entities maintain records, often beyond the time that courts keep them, and these records will be reported to the Board as a result of the criminal records check.

Failure to provide truthful responses to the questions on the application may result in disciplinary action up to, and including, permanent denial of your application.

Explanatory Statement Disqualifying Offense List 

Disqualifying Offense List 

 

Late Renewal and License Restoration

Late renewal is applicable if the license has lapsed for less than two years.

 

An individual should apply for a restoration application if their license has been inactive for two years or more. A license may be restored upon an applicant's submission of a restoration application, the restoration fee and submission of criminal background checks. Please note: The board may require additional training or examination, or both, of any applicant who for the two years or more immediately preceding the date of application has not been engaged in clinical practice. To restore a license, log into the eLicense portal: eLicense.ohio.gov. 

 

Fees

Late renewal fee $405.00

Restoration fee $505.00

Transaction fee $3.50

 

Independently Requested Recommendations

The State Medical Board will independently seek recommendations, as deemed appropriate, from your previous places of training or practice. Letters of recommendation submitted by you cannot be substituted for these independently sought recommendations.

 

Two Years of Professional Inactivity

The State Medical Board may require additional training or passing of an examination, or both, of any applicant who for more than two years has not been engaged in active practice, been in an approved general medical education program or been a student in good standing at an approved school.

 

DEA Certificate

Do NOT contact the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for a controlled substance permit until after your license has been fully restored in Ohio. Premature application could delay your request. Questions regarding DEA registration should be directed to the DEA at (800) 230-6844.

 

Forms and Helpful Links

FAQs