Getting licensed to practice as a physician in Maryland means applying through the Maryland Board of Physicians, 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 Maryland licensing and credentialing for you.
Official MD boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Maryland Board of Physicians websiteHow to get licensed in Maryland
- 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 Maryland Board of Physicians, 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, Maryland issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Maryland Board of Physicians
The MD board sets Maryland's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$790
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Maryland Board of Physicians. 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 MD checklist
Get the complete Maryland physician licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Maryland medical license
Once you're licensed, the Maryland Board of Physicians requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Licenses expire September 30 on a staggered schedule: last names A-L in even-numbered years, M-Z in odd-numbered years. The online renewal window runs July 15 through September 30 (2026 window is for A-L).
- Renewal fee
- $512 per renewal ($436 renewal + $50 physician rehabilitation/peer review + $26 Maryland Health Care Commission assessment; the Board fees table and COMAR 10.32.01.12 show the first two combined as the $486 biennial renewal fee). IMLCC-issued licenses pay $537 ($512 + $25 IMLCC processing) to the IMLCC. (late fee: None; there is no late renewal period and the online system closes September 30 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. CME shortfall carries a $100 penalty per missing credit hour.)
- Continuing education (CME)
- 50 CME credits in the two years before expiration, at least 25 of them Category I; first renewal is exempt
- At least 25 of the 50 credits must be Category I (COMAR 10.32.01.10C)
- First renewal after initial licensure is exempt from CME, but the New Physician Orientation must be completed before it
- Active time-limited ABMS/AOA (or RCPSC/CFPC) board certification dated within 5 years of the renewal satisfies the 50 credits (COMAR 10.32.01.10E(2))
- One-time implicit bias and structural racism training, attested at the first renewal after April 1, 2026 (Health Occupations §1-225); licensees who already did implicit bias training need only the structural racism part
- 2 hours of CE on prescribing/dispensing controlled substances, attested when applying for a new or renewal Maryland CDS registration (OCSA, HB 1452)
- One-time 8 hours on opioid/substance use disorder treatment for DEA registrants (federal MATE Act)
- Keep CME documentation 6 years; $100 penalty per missing credit
- How to renew
- Online through the Maryland Board of Physicians renewal system using your license number and your password; CME documents are sent only if you are audited. Physicians who prescribe controlled substances must be registered with the PDMP.Open the renewal portal
- NoteMDs and DOs renew with the same Maryland Board of Physicians under identical rules; there is no separate osteopathic board.
- NoteDEA registration renews separately with the DEA.
- NoteThe board page labels $512 as the 'annual' fee; it is charged at each biennial renewal as published.
- NoteIMLCC-licensed physicians renew in two steps by September 30: the IMLCC Application for Renewal Licensure (https://www.imlcc.com/renew/, $537 paid to the IMLCC) and the Board's free Maryland renewal application.
- NoteRenewal also requires the Comptroller to confirm no unpaid state taxes (COMAR 10.32.01.08A); there is no grace period and practicing 60+ days after expiration risks a fine up to $50,000.
Last verified November 4, 2026 from the Maryland Board of Physicians. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesMaryland Board of Physicians - Physician renewalsMaryland Board of Physicians - Physician Renewal FAQsCOMAR 10.32.01.08 RenewalCOMAR 10.32.01.10 Continuing Medical EducationMaryland Board of Physicians - Implicit Bias and Structural Racism Training notice
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Maryland renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CME hours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Medical credentialing & payer enrollment in Maryland
A Maryland 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 Maryland license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Maryland 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 Maryland. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Maryland 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. Want it done for you? Our credentialing and payer enrollment service handles it per request (see what outsourced credentialing costs). Opening a practice in Maryland? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
How Rivon handles Maryland licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Maryland license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Maryland Board of Physicians. 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 Maryland application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time. Licensing in several states at once? See our multi-state licensing service. Working as an independent contractor? Read whether you need an LLC and how we set up the whole business for you.
Maryland physician licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a medical license in Maryland?
Most Maryland physician applications take about 60 days once the Maryland Board of Physicians 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 Maryland?
Physicians in Maryland are licensed by the Maryland Board of Physicians, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Maryland physician application fee?
As an estimate, the Maryland physician application fee is around $790. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Maryland Board of Physicians before you apply.
How do I renew my Maryland medical license?
In Maryland, renewals are filed with the Maryland Board of Physicians. How to renew: Online through the Maryland Board of Physicians renewal system using your license number and your password; CME documents are sent only if you are audited. Physicians who prescribe controlled substances must be registered with the PDMP. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Licenses expire September 30 on a staggered schedule: last names A-L in even-numbered years, M-Z in odd-numbered years. The online renewal window runs July 15 through September 30 (2026 window is for A-L). Renewal fee: $512 per renewal ($436 renewal + $50 physician rehabilitation/peer review + $26 Maryland Health Care Commission assessment; the Board fees table and COMAR 10.32.01.12 show the first two combined as the $486 biennial renewal fee). IMLCC-issued licenses pay $537 ($512 + $25 IMLCC processing) to the IMLCC. (late fee: None; there is no late renewal period and the online system closes September 30 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. CME shortfall carries a $100 penalty per missing credit hour.) Continuing education: 50 CME credits in the two years before expiration, at least 25 of them Category I; first renewal is exempt. Required topics include At least 25 of the 50 credits must be Category I (COMAR 10.32.01.10C); First renewal after initial licensure is exempt from CME, but the New Physician Orientation must be completed before it; Active time-limited ABMS/AOA (or RCPSC/CFPC) board certification dated within 5 years of the renewal satisfies the 50 credits (COMAR 10.32.01.10E(2)); One-time implicit bias and structural racism training, attested at the first renewal after April 1, 2026 (Health Occupations §1-225); licensees who already did implicit bias training need only the structural racism part; 2 hours of CE on prescribing/dispensing controlled substances, attested when applying for a new or renewal Maryland CDS registration (OCSA, HB 1452); One-time 8 hours on opioid/substance use disorder treatment for DEA registrants (federal MATE Act); Keep CME documentation 6 years; $100 penalty per missing credit. This is as published by the board (last verified November 4, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CME hours do I need to renew a medical license in Maryland?
50 CME hours. The Maryland Board of Physicians publishes the requirement as: 50 CME credits in the two years before expiration, at least 25 of them Category I; first renewal is exempt. Required topics include At least 25 of the 50 credits must be Category I (COMAR 10.32.01.10C); First renewal after initial licensure is exempt from CME, but the New Physician Orientation must be completed before it; Active time-limited ABMS/AOA (or RCPSC/CFPC) board certification dated within 5 years of the renewal satisfies the 50 credits (COMAR 10.32.01.10E(2)); One-time implicit bias and structural racism training, attested at the first renewal after April 1, 2026 (Health Occupations §1-225); licensees who already did implicit bias training need only the structural racism part; 2 hours of CE on prescribing/dispensing controlled substances, attested when applying for a new or renewal Maryland CDS registration (OCSA, HB 1452); One-time 8 hours on opioid/substance use disorder treatment for DEA registrants (federal MATE Act); Keep CME documentation 6 years; $100 penalty per missing credit. Last verified November 4, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CME hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Maryland physician license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Maryland Board of Physicians's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician credentialing involve in Maryland?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Maryland 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 — Maryland Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Maryland license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Maryland — including by telehealth — you typically need a Maryland license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Maryland physician licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Maryland 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 Maryland application and payer enrollment end to end.