Getting licensed to practice as a physician in Louisiana means applying through the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Louisiana licensing and credentialing for you.
Official LA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners websiteHow to get licensed in Louisiana
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, exam scores (USMLE/COMLEX), current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Louisiana issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
The LA board sets Louisiana's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$382
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~60 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
Free LA checklist
Get the complete Louisiana physician licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Louisiana medical license
Louisiana medical licenses are renewed with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, which sets the renewal cycle, deadline, fee and any continuing-education (CME) requirements. Check the board's website for your current deadline and requirements before you renew: Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners website.
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Louisiana renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CMEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Medical credentialing & payer enrollment in Louisiana
A Louisiana license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Louisiana license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Louisiana license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each commercial health plan you want to join in Louisiana. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Louisiana Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles Louisiana licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Louisiana license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Louisiana application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Louisiana physician licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a medical license in Louisiana?
Most Louisiana physician applications take about 60 days once the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses physicians in Louisiana?
Physicians in Louisiana are licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Louisiana physician application fee?
As an estimate, the Louisiana physician application fee is around $382. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners before you apply.
How do I renew my Louisiana medical license?
Renewals are filed with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, usually online through the board's licensing portal. The board sets the renewal cycle and any continuing-education requirements, so check its official website for your deadline. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How do I look up or verify a Louisiana physician license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician credentialing involve in Louisiana?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Louisiana that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Louisiana Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Louisiana license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Louisiana — including by telehealth — you typically need a Louisiana license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Louisiana physician licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Louisiana license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Louisiana application and payer enrollment end to end.