General Policies & Procedures: Licensure Policy

University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS)
Graduate Medical Education (GME) Administration

Purpose
To provide information regarding licensing requirements for residents/fellows (trainees).

Policy
The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice (MBMP) is the state entity that regulates physicians practicing in Minnesota.  All trainees must hold an active residency permit or a physician license from the MBMP as determined by each individual residency/fellowship program.  The statute can be found at: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=147.0391. Trainees must pass the required licensing examinations (i.e. USMLE, COMLEX, etc) prior to obtaining a medical license. 

Program Responsibility
Residency permits are valid through the term specified on the original permit application and are program specific. If a trainee extends their residency/fellowship, a letter must be sent to the MBMP referencing the Doctor’s name and Residency Permit number as well as the specific dates of the training extension.  There is no extra charge for an extension on the original program.

If a trainee transfers to another program a new permit must be obtained. 

Minnesota licenses are renewed annually based on birth month.  Trainees who moonlight outside their training program must have a physician license.

Programs are responsible for monitoring renewal deadlines and insuring that trainee’s permits or required licenses do not expire.  Please note there is no “grace” period when a Permit expires.  Trainees whose permit or license expires are practicing medicine without a license and are pulled from their rotation until the paperwork is received and processed by the MBMP. 

Note
Trainees holding a Minnesota medical license do not need to be credentialed by the hospitals they are rotating to as long as they are performing duties within the scope of their training program and not billing for their services. A physician holding a Minnesota license has to be credentialed by the hospital if they are acting as an independent physician where there will be patient billing (i.e. moonlighting).

Please refer to the MBMP website for licensure guidelines and fees.   

Contact:
Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
University Park Plaza
2829 University Avenue, S.E., Suite 500
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3246
Telephone: (612) 617-2130 Fax: (612) 617-2166
www.bmp.state.mn.us

Reviewed: 3.12