Getting licensed to practice as a physician in Michigan means applying through the Michigan Board of Medicine, 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 Michigan licensing and credentialing for you.
Official MI boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Michigan Board of Medicine websiteHow to get licensed in Michigan
- 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 Michigan Board of Medicine, 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, Michigan issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Michigan Board of Medicine
The MI board sets Michigan's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$375
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Michigan Board of Medicine. 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 MI checklist
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Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Michigan medical license
Once you're licensed, the Michigan Board of Medicine requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Deadline
- Renew on or before the expiration date shown on the license (3-year cycle); a license may still be renewed within 60 days after expiration with a late renewal fee, after which it is null and void (MCL 333.16201)
- Renewal fee
- $314.40 renewal application fee (LARA License Renewal Fees table); renewal opens no sooner than 90 days before expiration
- Continuing education (CME)
- 150 hours of continuing education in the 3 years before renewal, at least 75 of them Category 1 (R 338.2441, R 338.2443)
- At least 75 hours Category 1 (R 338.2443(1)(d))
- At least 1 hour in medical ethics
- At least 3 hours in pain and symptom management, at least 1 of them on controlled substances prescribing (MCL 333.17033)
- Implicit bias training: 1 hour for each year of the license cycle (3 hours per renewal; R 338.7004), which may count toward the 150
- Keep CE documentation for 4 years after renewal; LARA audits a sample of renewals
- How to renew
- Online through MiPLUS (michigan.gov/miplus), paid by cardOpen the renewal portal
- NoteThe Michigan Controlled Substance License renews separately in MiPLUS ($248.10) and expires with the MD license; CS licensees must certify opioids and controlled substances awareness training (R 338.3135) at renewal. DEA registration renews separately with the DEA.
- NoteRenewal also requires certifying the one-time human trafficking training, implicit bias training and hospital affiliations, and answering the good moral character and discipline questions.
- NoteA CE waiver request must reach the department at least 30 days before the last board meeting before the license expires (R 338.2441(5)).
- NoteRelicensure (lapsed license): $395 (plus $259.10 CS); 150 CE hours in the prior 3 years; a license lapsed 3+ years also needs an active license in another state, SPEX, or approved training/re-entry (5+ years: SPEX plus training/re-entry).
Last verified November 10, 2026 from the Michigan Board of Medicine. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesMichigan MD Licensing Guide and FAQs (renewal checklist)Michigan Admin Code R 338.2401-338.2443 (Medicine - renewal and CE)MCL 333.16201 - Renewal of license; late renewal
Renewal tracking
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Medical credentialing & payer enrollment in Michigan
A Michigan 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 Michigan license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Michigan 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 Michigan. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Michigan 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 Michigan? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
How Rivon handles Michigan licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Michigan license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Michigan Board of Medicine. 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 Michigan 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.
Michigan physician licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a medical license in Michigan?
Most Michigan physician applications take about 60 days once the Michigan Board of Medicine 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 Michigan?
Physicians in Michigan are licensed by the Michigan Board of Medicine, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Michigan physician application fee?
As an estimate, the Michigan physician application fee is around $375. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Michigan Board of Medicine before you apply.
How do I renew my Michigan medical license?
In Michigan, renewals are filed with the Michigan Board of Medicine. How to renew: Online through MiPLUS (michigan.gov/miplus), paid by card. Renewal cycle: Every 3 years. Deadline: Renew on or before the expiration date shown on the license (3-year cycle); a license may still be renewed within 60 days after expiration with a late renewal fee, after which it is null and void (MCL 333.16201). Renewal fee: $314.40 renewal application fee (LARA License Renewal Fees table); renewal opens no sooner than 90 days before expiration. Continuing education: 150 hours of continuing education in the 3 years before renewal, at least 75 of them Category 1 (R 338.2441, R 338.2443). Required topics include At least 75 hours Category 1 (R 338.2443(1)(d)); At least 1 hour in medical ethics; At least 3 hours in pain and symptom management, at least 1 of them on controlled substances prescribing (MCL 333.17033); Implicit bias training: 1 hour for each year of the license cycle (3 hours per renewal; R 338.7004), which may count toward the 150; Keep CE documentation for 4 years after renewal; LARA audits a sample of renewals. This is as published by the board (last verified November 10, 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 Michigan?
150 CME hours. The Michigan Board of Medicine publishes the requirement as: 150 hours of continuing education in the 3 years before renewal, at least 75 of them Category 1 (R 338.2441, R 338.2443). Required topics include At least 75 hours Category 1 (R 338.2443(1)(d)); At least 1 hour in medical ethics; At least 3 hours in pain and symptom management, at least 1 of them on controlled substances prescribing (MCL 333.17033); Implicit bias training: 1 hour for each year of the license cycle (3 hours per renewal; R 338.7004), which may count toward the 150; Keep CE documentation for 4 years after renewal; LARA audits a sample of renewals. Last verified November 10, 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 Michigan physician license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Michigan Board of Medicine's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician credentialing involve in Michigan?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Michigan 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 — Michigan Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Michigan license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Michigan — including by telehealth — you typically need a Michigan license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Michigan physician licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Michigan 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 Michigan application and payer enrollment end to end.