Montana Board of Medical Examiners

FAQs

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Board of Medical Examiners website.

This section has been expanded so that more of your questions can be answered.

Click FAQs for the latest in about the Complaint Process.

Click FAQs for information about Administrative Suspension of licenses.

eBiz Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Departrment of Labor & Industry is pleased to bring you “eBiz,” its web-based system for licensing, renewals and licensee information.

     You can find eBiz at: https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol

     With your eBiz account and your individual User Name and Password, you can:

    •  Apply for a license.
    •  Renew a license.
    •  Print a license.
    •  Change personal contact information such as mailing address.

    “eBiz” is also the new home for the Department of Labor and Industry’s “Licensee Lookup” service.
    Note: Licensee Lookup does not require a User Name and Password. It is free and available to the public.

  • When you register with eBiz, you will choose a User Name and Password that you can then use to conduct business on the website. Once you have a User Name and Password, be sure to keep them in a place where you can easily reach them for license renewals or other online business with the Department.

    If you don’t know your User Name and Password, contact the Department's customer service unit at 406-841-2300 or e-mail the Board at dlibsdmed@mt.gov.

    I want to apply online--what do I need to know?

    The first thing you'll do when going to the online portal at https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol is register for an account. Once that's complete, you can enter the portal and begin an application. You'll first enter personal information and answer a series of questions. You also can download documents or upload information. However, waiting to complete your online application until those forms are ready will delay the delivery of your online application to the Department. The application will "open" only after you have paid the application fee, which is the last step in the process. You can skip through the document upload stages if you wish, proceed on to the payment portal, pay your fee by credit card, and then return to the application at your leisure to upload documents or information. You also can submit documents via e-mail or postal mail. Once they arrive, they'll be added to your application record.

  • 1) Go online to https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol
    2) Use your User Name and Password to login
    3) Once you're in, look to the lower left and find "Health Care Licensing."
    4) Click on "RENEW/PRINT LICENSE."
    5) When the screen refreshes, click on your license number.
    6) On the next screen, scroll down until you see a bar that reads "Print Your License"
    7) Click on that bar--your license will come up and you can print it or save it to your computer.
  • You can go directly to the Licensee Lookup System This public service is part of the Business Standards Division’s “eBiz” website and is a primary source for verification of license credentials. The Division relies upon information provided by licensees to be true and correct, as required by statute. It is an act of unprofessional conduct for a licensee knowingly to provide erroneous information to the Division. The Department of Labor and Industry makes no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content of this website. Assessing the accuracy and reliability of information obtained from this website is solely the responsibility of the user. If you have questions regarding information found within this Licensee Lookup website, please contact the specific licensing board directly. Please note that some disciplinary actions against licensees may not appear immediately on the website. Appeals, effective dates of orders and other administrative processes may delay posting on the website. Please contact the specific licensing board directly if you require discipline information that occurred prior to July 1, 1996.

    Tips for using Licensee Lookup:

    1. Go to https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol
    2. Look for the blue box labeled “Licensee Lookup” and click on Search for a Licensee.
    3. When searching, use the licensee’s name. It’s the easiest way to search.
    4. If you don’t know an individual’s name, but know the license number, you must use the Department’s full license code, for instance, MED-PHYS-LIC-####. For all licenses granted by the Board of Medical Examiners, the “MED” and “LIC” portions of the code will remain the same. The license-specific portion will be one of the following:

      Acupuncturist: ACU
      Emergency Medical Technician: EMT
      Emergency Medical Responder: EMR
      Advanced Emergency Medical Technician: AEMT
      Paramedic: PARA
      Nutritionist: NUTR
      Physician (M.D. or D.O.): PHYS
      Physician Assistant: PAC
      Podiatrist: POD

Compliance Questions (Complaints against Licensees)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If I become aware of another healthcare provider that may be incompetent or engaged in unprofessional conduct, what are my reporting obligations?

    37-3-401, MCA contains reporting requirements. Unprofessional conduct is defined in ARM 24.156.405 and 37-1-316, MCA.  

    ARM 24.156.431 describes ways to report licensee impairment:  one option is to contact the Board’s compliance specialist; the other option is to contact the Montana Recovery Program.   Anyone may file a complaint or provide information to the Board office regarding unprofessional conduct or incompetence. 

  • Once a complaint is received, the Compliance Unit sends a letter to the complainant acknowledging that the complaint has been received.
    The Compliance Unit then informs the licensee of the complaint and requests a written response. Once that response has been received, the Compliance Unit will schedule the complaint to be heard by a Screening Panel that consists of up to five members of the Board.
    The BOME Screening Panel meets monthly to consider complaints. At those meetings, if the Panel’s Chair determines that matters of individual privacy clearly exceed the public’s right to know, the Panel may go into executive session and exclude members of the public and news media. Both complainants and licensees have the right to waive their privacy rights and have the complaint heard in a public session. However, if all parties do not agree to waive their rights, the Chair may close the session to the public.
    Screening Panel discussions are reserved for members of the Panel. They are not trials or debates involving the complainant and the respondent. Both the complainant and the respondent (and/or their legal representatives) may attend the Panel’s deliberation in person or by teleconference but may not participate unless requested by a Panel member.
    The Screening Panel may:
    *Dismiss a complaint.
    *Ask for further investigation by Department staff.
    *Determine that there is “reasonable cause” that a complaint is valid and recommend disciplinary action be initiated against the licensee. Once the notice of a proposed Board action is filed with the Compliance Unit, the complaint automatically becomes public.
  • The Board of Medical Examiners does not have jurisdiction over facilities, only the licensed professionals who work in them. The Department of Health and Human Services regulates certified facilities such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes. If individuals have complaints against certified facilities, they may utilize the Department of Health and Human Services online complaint form or call 406-444-2099.
  • The Screening Panel may authorize its Department of Labor and Industry prosecutor to pursue the complaint. This may lead to a negotiated settlement agreement between the Department and the licensee. Such agreements then are brought before the Board’s Adjudication Panel, which will make the final decision. No one who serves on the Screening Panel may serve on the Adjudication Panel.
    If the respondent contests the Screening Panel’s finding, the complaint may go before a Department of Labor and Industry Hearings Examiner for a public hearing. The Hearing Examiner’s findings of fact, as well as any proposed orders, then go before the BOME’s Adjudication Panel for a final disposition. 
    Actions that can be taken by the Adjudication Panel include revocation or suspension of a license or an order that the licensee take specific steps to correct unprofessional conduct or behavior.
  • Unlicensed practice complaints follow a different path than complaints against a licensee for unprofessional conduct. Typically, the Board’s staff attorney will handle unlicensed practice cases, instead of a Department prosecutor.
    Unlicensed practice complaints first go before the Screening Panel and then, if necessary, before the full Board at one of its regularly scheduled meetings. As with Screening Panel reviews, the Board Chair may determine that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the public’s right to know and may move the full Board discussion to executive session.
    If the Board determines that a charge of unlicensed practice is valid, it may issue a “cease and desist” order to the alleged violator. It also may refer the case to the appropriate County Attorney or pursue an injunction in the District Court that has jurisdiction in the location where the alleged unlicensed practice took place.
  • Please see FAQ's about the Complaint Process.

General Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, The Business Standards Division provides a service which allows individuals to download lists of licensees for a fee. To use the service, click on the “License Info” tab in the left-hand frame of this website and then look for the "Download List of Licensees" link. You can choose the license types, statuses and timeframe/geographical range you wish, and find out the cost.
  • Name changes must be requested in writing with documentation of the name change included (marriage license, divorce decree etc.).  All Department of Labor and Industry icensees are required to notify the Department (or the Board) of a name change within 30 days. Once the change has been made on a license, the licensee may access and print the revised license using the "eBiz" website. (See "eBiz Questions" elsewhere in this FAQ.)
  • Please use the Quick Link for "Change Address" in the right hand frame of this website. Licensees are required to notify the Board of an address change within 30 days. Correct mailing addresses are important so that licensees receive Board or Department mailings that may affect their licenses.
  • You can go directly to the License Lookup System.  This site is a primary source for verification of license credentials and provides discipline information. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division, presents this real time licensee lookup information as a service to the public. The Department of Labor and Industry makes no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content of this website.  The Division relies upon information provided by licensees to be true and correct, as required by statute. It is an act of unprofessional conduct for a licensee knowingly to provide erroneous information to the Division. Assessing the accuracy and reliability of information obtained from this website is solely the responsibility of the user. If you have questions regarding information found within this licensee lookup website, please contact the specific licensing board directly. Please note that some disciplinary actions against licensees may not appear immediately on the website. Appeals, effective dates of orders and other administrative processes may delay posting on the website. Please contact the specific licensing board directly if you require discipline information that occurred prior to July 1, 1996.

License Renewal Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Licenses granted through the BOME are good for a maximum of two years and expire on either of these dates in the license’s expiration year:

    • March 31 - Physicians and Emergency Care Providers (including EMTs and Paramedics)
    • June 30 - Resident Physicians
    • October 31 - Acupuncturists, Nutritionists, Physician Assistants, Podiatrists
  • Two years for all licenses except Resident Physicians. Those licenses are valid for one year but may be renewable as long as the Resident remains in an approved residency program in good standing.
  • Yes. Immediately following the renewal deadline (the expiration date of the license,) an un-renewed license becomes “lapsed” and may be renewed, but with a substantial penalty for late renewal. A licensee may practice on a "lapsed" license for 45 days following the expiration date.
         Any license not renewed within 45 days following the expiration date becomes “expired.” An “expired” license may be renewed, but with a substantial penalty. Licensees may not practice on an "expired" license.
         If not renewed within two years following the expiration date, a license is “terminated” and dropped from the licensing database. It then ceases to exist. A licensee whose license has been “terminated” and wants to resume practice in Montana must apply for a new license.
         It is very important for every Board of Medical Examiners licensee to know the status and expiration date of his or her license. For that reason, keep your license certificate in a readily accessible place.
  • Professional licensees may renew their licenses online at https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol.
    Each licensee is assigned a personal User Name and Password to access the eBiz system. As your renewal period arrives, the Department will send notification to your address of record to remind you that it's time to renew.

    If you do not know your User Name and Password for online renewal, contact the Board by e-mail using the Quick Link in the right hand frame of this website.

  • Yes, Department rules still require the Business Standards Division to send a renewal notice to all licensees. However, if you don't receive a reminder, it's still your obligation to renew the license on time. Please be aware of the expiration date of your license and the process to renew it.

    IMPORTANT NOTE:  If a renewal notice is sent to an outdated address, the Board is under no obligation to send an additional notice to a new address. It is the licensee’s responsibility to make sure the Board has a current and correct address.

  • What about a Physician who is retired, retiring or doesn’t expect to practice in the next couple...

    What about a Physician who is retired, retiring or doesn’t expect to practice in the next couple of years. What options do I have?

    You should be careful about changing your license status. You cannot change your status on your own through eBiz. You must contact the Executive Officer about any change of license status.

    The “Inactive” license status works best for physicians who plan to take a break from practicing in Montana for two years or less. Board rule ARM 24.156.618 states that any physician who stays on inactive status for more than two years must meet Board requirements before returning to “Active” status in Montana. Physicians who have not been in active practice anywhere during that time will have to meet additional requirements set by the Board. For details, please visit and review ARM 24.156.618.

    NOTE: "Inactive" licensees who wish to return to "Active" status must pay the difference between the "Inactive" and "Active" renewal fee prior to the change being made and will be assessed the $60 fee for the Montana Prescription Drug Registry for that license period. (As of 2019 renewals, an Inactive renewal costs $250 and the MPDR fee is waived.) Consequently, physicians may want to consider paying the full $500 renewal fee and MPDR fee for an active license to retain their ability to practice at any time during the license period.

Board and Board Meetings

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Board members are appointed by the Governor. Each serves a four-year term and may be re-appointed.
    By statute, the Board of Medical Examiners includes:
    5 licensed Doctors of Medicine (including one with experience in emergency medicine)
    1 licensee each from the following professions:
    *Acupuncturist
    *Doctor of Osteopathy
    *Emergency Care Providers (formerly EMTs)
    *Nutritionist
    *Physician Assistant
    *Podiatrist
    2 Public Members
    1 Liaison from the Montana Academy of Physician Assistants (non-voting position)
  • The Board holds six regularly scheduled meetings per calendar year, usually in odd-numbered months.

    Information on Board and committee meetings is posted on the Board’s website.

    Emergency or special meetings may be held by conference call with at least three days notice on the BOME website. These meetings typically are called so the board can decide a single issue that must be addressed quickly.

  • If you wish to speak to the Board on a particular subject or wish to suggest a subject for a Board meeting agenda, please contact Executive Officer Ian Marquand by phone at (406) 841-2360 or by e-mail at dlibsdmed@mt.gov. If the Board agrees to accept your offer to make a presentation, you will receive an invitation confirming your appearance. If the Board agrees to discuss a suggested subject without a presentation, that will be reflected in the agenda posted on the Board’s website.
  • You can send an e-mail to an individual Board member through the main Board e-mail address: dlibsdmed@mt.gov. BOME staff will forward your message on to the appropriate Board member(s).
    The Governor’s website also contains contact information for every person appointed by the Governor to Executive branch boards and councils.

Rulemaking Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Under the Montana Administrative Procedure Act, any state entity must issue a public notice that it is about to change its administrative rules. There are three ways to make a rules change:

    1. propose new rules
    2. amend existing rules
    3. repeal (eliminate) existing rules

    Public notices about rulemaking are posted on the Board’s website and are mailed to licensees and interested parties. Rulemaking notices also are available through the Montana Administrative Register at the Montana Secretary of State’s office, where all administrative rules for the state are housed. The Secretary of State’s website for administrative rules is www.mtrules.org. You can use that website to view rules and subscribe to the Montana Administrative Register, among other things.

    If the Board wishes to undertake a rules change, it first must post a Notice of Proposed Amendment/Adoption/Repeal, or Proposal Notice. This notice will show the existing rule language and note text to be deleted as stricken and new text as underlined. The Board is not allowed to simply show the amended rule in its final form.

    Then, following a public comment period, which usually includes a public rules hearing held by the Department, the Board must post a Notice of Adoption that notes the Board’s responses to public comments and includes any changes to the original proposal, using the same stricken and underlined format.

  • Each Proposal Notice must contain information about how to submit a comment on the rules change proposal. In addition, a public hearing is held at the Business Standards Division where individuals can make oral presentations and submit written comment.   
    Written comments are accepted in any form until a deadline date established in the Notice.

    All public comments are presented to the Board at a public meeting, at which time the Board responds to the substance of all comments received.

  • Once the Board votes to adopt a rules change, the Notice of Adoption is prepared and filed with the Secretary of State. The rule changes are effective the day after the final Notice of Adoption is published by the Secretary of State, unless otherwise provided by statute or stated in a rule.  At that point, the rule is in place and enforceable. This also is when the Notice of Adoption is posted on the Board website and sent to interested parties who have requested to be notified.
  • Not until the Secretary of State updates and publishes the ARM (Administrative Rules of Montana) with the amended rule(s) on its website and in hard copy. Because of the volume of work at the Secretary of State and the nature of the rule publishing calendar, it may be several months between the Board’s adoption of new rules and their publication on the web.

    Until that point, the only way to assess any new rule is to compare the former version with the Notice of Proposal and Notice of Adoption. Board members, Board staff and other Department of Labor and Industry employees are prohibited from providing the public with a “clean” unofficial version of the new rule and must, instead, refer individuals to the Secretary of State website and the rule notices. 

  • Can I be held accountable for violating a new rule before it’s available in its final form?
    Yes. Once the Notice of Adoption has been published by the Secretary of State, the rule is enforceable, even though it is not yet published in its final form in the ARM.
  • Let’s say there’s a new or amended rule that’s critical to my practice as a professional...

    Let’s say there’s a new or amended rule that’s critical to my practice as a professional. If I must follow it—or hold others accountable to it—but it’s not yet published on the Secretary of State’s website, can I take the rule notices and make my own “clean” version of the amended rule and rely on that until the official version is published?

    The Board understands that licensees or other interested parties may be keenly interested in the final language of a new rule for multiple reasons, including their desire to comply with it or hold others to it. And while it discourages individuals from creating their own unofficial “clean copies” from the parts provided by existing rules and rule notices, the Board cannot prohibit individuals from doing so.

    Just be aware that no rule is truly “official” unless it is published by the Secretary of State. It is possible, if unlikely, that a rule might undergo a change during SoS review to correct typographical errors or resolve small deviations from standard rulemaking structure and language. Nobody should rely on an unofficial rule or distribute it to others.

    NOTE: Board members and Department employees may not distribute any unofficial versions of rules to the public and must—emphasize MUST—refer the public to the Secretary of State website for the official versions of rules.

Emergency Care Provider

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, an ECP licensed at an EMT with a medication endorsement, AEMT, or Paramedic level may administer Covid-19 vaccines under the following circumstances:

    • Under a medical director’s supervision in an emergency setting; or
    • Under the supervision of a physician, physician assistant, or podiatrist in a clinical setting outside of an emergency context (see ARM 24.156.401)

    The ECP’s medical director or the supervising physician is responsible for determining whether the ECP has the proper education, training, knowledge, and skill to perform any task(s) delegated to the ECP. Please consult the statutes and rules related to ECP practice located under Title 50, Chapter 6, MCA, and ARM 24.156.2701 et seq., as well as the Montana Statewide ECP Guidelines for additional information.

  • You’ll need to accomplish a couple of things: attend and successfully complete an ECP training course, successfully pass a written and practical examination demonstrating your knowledge and skills, and become licensed to provide care as an ECP.  The first step is to find a training program that you can attend. 

    Montana’s Administrative Rules governing EMT licensure begin at ARM 24.156.2711

    There’s also information available at www.emt.mt.gov.

  • You can download the application and the requirements checklist from our web site within the “Forms” Tab at this website.
  • Montana does not offer true reciprocity with other states. However, Montana will accept either of the following as proof of licensure/certification:

    1. Certification by the National Registry of EMTs equal to or greater than the level of licensure being requested in Montana.
    2. Proof of licensure or certification at an equal or greater level in another state in which you tested for the license and which has a compliance (complaint) process. NOTE: If you received a license in another state by reciprocity and never took an exam in that state for licensure, there may be additional review of your application.
  • I’ve downloaded the ECP licensure application and the instructions say I need a verification...

    I’ve downloaded the ECP licensure application and the instructions say I need a verification form from every state in which I’ve ever been licensed. Does this include the National Registry?

    No, but as referenced in the previous question, if you are registered by NREMT, you must provide a copy of your current NREMT card or registration statement in addition to these verification.

  • You can find endorsement curricula, verification forms and applications on the Board's website, by clicking "License Information" and then "Emergency Care Provider." Then use the link to find ECP-specific information. then look for the “Endorsements” area, under the "Instructor" tab.
  • My ambulance service director wants me to coordinate a ECP course, where do I find the application..

    My ambulance service director wants me to coordinate a ECP course, where do I find the application and what is required?

    This information is in the ECP-specific area of the Board's website, look for the “Instructor” tab.

Nutritionist

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Board of Medical Examiners licenses nutritionists, not dietitians. According to MCA 37-25-102 (9), "Nutritionist" means:
         (a) a person licensed under this chapter; or
         (b) a person who has satisfactorily completed a baccalaureate and master's or a doctoral degree in the field of dietetics, food and nutrition, or public health nutrition conferred by an accredited college or university.

    Additionally, MCA 37-25-301 states:

     37-25-301. Scope of dietetic-nutrition practice. Only a nutritionist can provide the following services:
         (1) assessing the nutrition needs of individuals and groups and determining resources and constraints in the practice setting;
         (2) establishing priorities and objectives that meet nutritive needs and are consistent with available resources and constraints;
         (3) providing nutrition counseling for any individual;
         (4) developing, implementing, and managing nutrition care systems; and
         (5) evaluating, adjusting, and maintaining appropriate standards of quality in food and nutrition services.

  • Begin by downloading an application from the BOME website or go to https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol, register for an account and begin an online application. Look for the printed form and the requirements checklist for Nutritionist licensure in the “Forms” area of this website.
    The licensing requirements for nutritionists are outlined in Montana statutes, beginning at MCA 37-25-101.
    Administrative rules for nutritionist license applications begin at ARM 24.156.1301.
  • To receive a nutritionist license, an applicant must be a Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR.) The Board does not recognize certifications or titles issued by other organizations for applicants seeking Nutritionist licensure.

    In addition to a complete Montana application for licensure, applicants must provide to the Board:

    • A current copy of your CDR card.
    • A recent National Practitioner Data Bank self-query (unopened.)
    • Current verifications from all states (if any) in which you are licensed.
    • The license application fee.
  • The application fee for a nutritionist license is $75.00. The fee for a two-year license renewal is $75.00.
  • The process of reviewing a license application begins when the main application is received. An application specialist will be in contact regarding any missing or incomplete information.
  • Not necessarily. Most applications are approved by Department or Board staff. Applications in which an applicant discloses past disciplinary issues, criminal justice issues, civil proceedings or other items of concern will undergo additional review. Only those applications with significant deviations or deficiences will be brought to the Board as a "non-routine" application for review at a regular scheduled public meeting. Those meetings occur every two months, which can mean a more lengthy delay for the applicant.

Physician

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Board has taken steps to make the licensing process for physicians faster and smoother. However, the applicant has the ultimate responsibility for providing the Board with the information it needs to make a licensing decision.

    Currently, an applicant for a physician license must provide the Board with:

    • An Application Form (available in the "Forms" area of this website) and the $375 application fee.
    • Licensure Verifications. (Please contact VeriDoc to have verifications sent to the Board directly.)
    • Educational Certifications. (The Federation Credential Verification Service profile from FSMB is accepted.)
    • Postgraduate Training Verifications.
    • “Fifth Pathway” Verification or ECFMG Certificate (for Foreign Medical Graduates only)
  • At the BOME, physicians have three options for applying for a license:

    1) Downloading a traditional paper application from the BOME website. The application will include information on fees, as well as the documentation you will need to provide to the Board in order for your application to be considered “complete.” You then will mail the application to the Board for review.

    2) Applying online. Please use the Quick Link in the right hand frame of this website to access the online application portal in the Department's "dBiz" website.

    3) Using the Federation of State Medical Boards’ online “Uniform Application.” The UA is designed for physicians who practice in multiple states and wish to complete the application online.
    The Federation also offers the “Federation Credentials Verification Service” to assist applicants with education and license verifications. This service is NOT an application for licensure and requires a fee, payable to the Federation.
          It’s important to know that the UA and FCVS are separate processes; if you decide to use both, then both must be complete for your application to be accepted. In addition, you also must fulfill all of the State of Montana’s other application requirements.
          NOTE: The Federation charges a once-per-lifetime fee of $50 for using the UA. This is separate from the Montana license application fee and is paid to the Federation, not to the state.

  • The process of reviewing a license application begins when the main application is received, whether it’s a paper application or a UA.
    Throughout this process, the burden to provide accurate information to the Board through the licensing process is on the applicant, as per statute MCA 37-3-309.
    The statute also empowers the Department of Labor and Industry (which houses the BOME) to make its own investigation to confirm an applicant’s qualifications. In all phases of application review, the statutory role of the BOME and its staff is to protect the public.
  • Yes. Many physicians are assisted in the application process by a prospective employer, a health care recruiter, or other third party. However, the Board is not authorized to share information about your application with other people without your permission.
         The Montana application includes an Authorization to Release Information and Release from Liability.
    This form will allow someone else to receive information from Board staff about your application status. However, you must provide the completed and signed form for that permission to be granted. Without the form, your associate cannot receive information.
  • During the review process, applications fall into two categories: “routine” and “non-routine.”
    “routine” physician license application is one in which BOME staff find no items of concern. The Montana physician license application states that once a “routine” application is complete, a license may take up to 30 days to issue.
    “non-routine” application—in which an applicant discloses past disciplinary issues, criminal justice issues, civil proceedings or other items of concern— may take additional time to be declared “complete,” depending on how much additional information the applicant must submit and how quickly that information is delivered once it’s requested.
    “Non-routine” applications, once complete, are referred to the full Board for review at a regular scheduled public meeting. Those meetings occur every two months, which can mean a more lengthy delay for the applicant.
  • I’m a medical resident nearing graduation. I have a prospective employer who needs to start my credentialing before I graduate so I can start work immediately after completing the residency. May I have my license before I graduate?

    Under state law, the Board of Medical Examiners requires completion of a residency prior to licensure. However, the Board recognizes the challenges of employing a resident immediately following graduation. In order to accommodate graduating residents and their prospective employers, while recognizing the statutory requirements for licensure, the following procedure has been put into place:

    A medical resident approaching graduation may apply to the Board for a Physician license as much as (but no more than) 6 months in advance of the graduation date. (December 31 for a graduation date of June 30.) The application must include a letter from the residency director attesting that the applicant is in good standing and is expected to graduate on time.
    The Department will process the application.
    Once the application has been declared “complete” (including the letter from the residency director) it will be sent to the Executive Officer for review. If necessary, it will be brought before the Board at its next available public meeting. The Board may require further information from the applicant or the residency before a full-term Physician license is issued.

  • I’m a health facility administrator. I need to get a specialist on staff quickly to serve...

    I’m a health facility administrator. I need to get a specialist on staff quickly to serve a pressing need in the community. Can the process go faster?

    The Board has implemented a rule allowing for “expedited process” of an application that meets certain criteria. To see the criteria, please see ARM 24.156.603. There is no special form for applying by expedited process; you should alert the Board office if the application meets the criteria.
    In general, the Business Standards Division's Licensing Bureau staff address each application as it arrives, then update incomplete applications as additional information is received. There is no prohibition on making staff aware of special circumstances surrounding a particular applicant; however, there also is no obligation for staff to take those circumstances into consideration when reviewing a license application.
    In general, the best way to insure a smooth and less time-consuming review process is to get the Board all the information it needs as quickly as possible. That includes information detailing any personal or professional issues an applicant has in his/her background.

  • Application: $375.

    "Active" Renewal: $375 (every two years.)

    "Inactive" Renewal: $190 (every two years.)

  • Physician licenses are good for a maximum of two years and expire on March 31 of the expiration year. A license may be renewed for another two years.
  • Yes. Online renewals are allowed at any time after the expiration date, but there is a substantial penalty for late renewal.

    During the first 45 days after the expiration date (the "late renewal period"), the license is considered “lapsed.” The licensee may continue to practice, but must renew as a “late renewal” and pay the late fee.

    Any license not renewed within the 45-day “late renewal period” becomes “expired.” A licensee may not practice on an "expired" license. An “expired” license may be renewed at any time within two years following the expiration date, but with the late fee added.

    If not renewed within two years following the expiration date, a license is “terminated” and dropped from the licensing database. It then ceases to exist. A physician whose license has been “terminated” and wants to practice medicine in Montana must apply for a new license.
  • Are Physicians in Montana required to acquire Continuing Medical Education to acquire or renew...

    Are Physicians in Montana required to acquire Continuing Medical Education to acquire or renew a license?

    No. Montana does not require Physicians to acquire CME in order to acquire or renew a license.

Physician Assistant

Frequently Asked Questions

  • An applicant for a Physician Assistant’s license should review the qualifications for licensure in Montana by reviewing the state laws and regulations. 
    Montana statutes governing physician assistant licensing begins at MCA 37-20-101 and the Administrative rules begin at ARM 24.156.1601.
    The criteria includes:
    a. Good moral character
    b. Is a graduate of a physician assistant training program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or, if accreditation was granted before 2001, accredited by American Medical Association's Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health education programs.
    c. Has passed an examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of a Physician Assistants, Inc., (NCCPA)
  • An applicant for Physician Assistant licensure will need to submit the following:

    • A completed application
    • $375.00 application fee
  • The Supervision Agreement form is in the "Forms" area of this website. You must submit the signed Supervision Agreement to the Board.
  • How long will it take to receive my physician assistant license once the Board receives the...

    How long will it take to receive my physician assistant license once the Board receives the completed application and all other materials?

    If the application is "routine," and there are no circumstances that require Executive Officer or Board review, a Physician Assistant license typically is issued within 10-14 days. 

  • The total amount of time depends on a number of factors, including:

    • How quickly the applicant provides all required information. If an application arrives and is incomplete, a Board application specialist will inform the applicant about what still must be received.
    • Concerns about an applicant’s history that make the application “non-routine.” In this case, the applicant may be notified to submit additional information or may be required to appear before the Board at one of its regularly scheduled meetings.

    If the application is considered "non-routine" there may be a delay in the processing of the application.  The applicant may be notified to submit additional information as required or may be required to appear before the Board for a personal interview during a regularly scheduled Board meeting.

  • No, Montana does not issue temporary licenses for Physician Assistants.
  • A Physician Assistant with fewer than 8,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience shall practice medicine with a collaborative agreement between the physician assistant and one or more collaborating providers, who may be:

    • A licensed physician; or
    • A licensed physician assistant with 8,000 or more hours of postgraduate clinical experience.  [MCA, 37-20-203] [ARM 24.156.403 (j)] 
  • A collaborating provider must follow Board of Medical Examiners statutes and rules, including those pertaining to physician assistant collaborative agreements and responsibilities as a collaborating provider. A collaborating provider must exercise appropriate direction and guidance over the physician assistant in accordance with all statues and rules of the Board of Medical Examiners, in particular in particular 37-20-203, MCA and ARM 24.156.405. A collaborating provider will retain professional and legal responsibility for the care and treatment of patients by the physician assistant. A collaborative provider may impose restrictions at his or her at discretion, including additional limitations on prescribing and dispensing of drugs above those granted by the Board, pursuant to 37-20-203, MCA, and those restrictions will be reflected in the collaborative agreement.
    • “Collaborative agreement" means the interaction and relationship that a physician assistant has with a collaborating provider as described, in which:
      • the physician assistant and collaborating provider are cognizant of the physician assistant's qualifications and limitations in caring for patients:
      • the physician assistant consults with the collaborating provider while remaining responsible for care provided by the physician assistant; and
      • the collaborating provider gives direction and guidance to the physician assistant.  [MCA, 37-20-203]
    • A physician assistant with a collaborative agreement shall:
      • practice under written policies and procedures established at a practice level that:
        • describe how collaboration will occur;
        • and describe methods for evaluating the physician assistant's competency, knowledge, and skills; and
      • provide a copy of the written policies and procedures and documentation of compliance to the board upon the board's request.  [MCA, 37-20-203, ARM 24.156.405 (k) and (o)]
  • Under what circumstances does a revision to the “supervision agreement” have to be submitted...

    Under what circumstances does a revision to the “supervision agreement” have to be submitted to the Board for approval?

    None. Only new supervision agreements are submitted to the Board for approval. However, when a supervision agreement is terminated by either the Physician or Physician Assistant, it is the responsibility of both the Physician and PA to notify the Board of the date of termination.

  • Prior to the Physician Assistant beginning practice in a new working relationship with a supervising Physician.
  • A physician assistant with fewer than 8,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience shall practice medicine with a collaborative agreement between the physician assistant and one or more collaborating providers, who may be:

    • a licensed physician; or
    • a licensed physician assistant with 8,000 or more hours of postgraduate clinical experience.  [MCA, 37-20-203] [ARM 24.156.403 (j)] 
  •  All dispensing activities allowed by Montana law must comply with MCA 37-2-104, and with the packaging and labeling guidelines developed by the Board of Pharmacy under MCA Title 37, Chapter 7.
  • What is the maximum period a Physician Assistant is authorized to prescribe, dispense or administer of schedule II drugs listed in 50-32-224, MCA?

    34 days as in MCA 37-20-404, which has been effective since October 1, 1995.

  • Statutes on prescribing are found in Title 37, Chapter 7 and Title 50 of the Montana Code Annotated.  Administrative Rules are found under ARM Title 24, Chapter 174.
  • Please review rule ARM 24.156.1623
  • As stated in ARM 24.156.1621, you must report the following:
    1.  A physician assistant shall report to the board within 30 days from the date of a final judgment, order, or agency action, all information related to malpractice, misconduct, criminal, or disciplinary action in which the physician assistant or the physician assistant's supervisor, based on the physician assistant's conduct, is a named party.
    2. A physician assistant shall, within 10 days of receipt of a complaint from the Board, provide the Board with the name of the supervising physician who is responsible under the supervision agreement to which the complaint is related.
    3.  A physician assistant with suspected or known impairment shall self-report to the Board or the Board endorsed professional assistant program (MPAP).
    4.  A physician assistant is obligated to report suspected or known impairment of other health care providers to the appropriate licensing board, agency or to the endorsed professional assistance program.
    The Board also requests that you report the termination of a supervision agreement and any address or name change within 30 days.

    The Board also requests that you report the termination of a supervision agreement and any address or name change within 30 days.

Podiatrists

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The licensing requirements for podiatrists are outlined in Montana statutes, beginning at MCA 37-6-301.
    Administrative rules for podiatrist license applications begin at ARM 24.156.1002.

  • Begin by downloading an application from the BOME website. Look for in the “Forms” area of this website. The form will include information on documentation you will need to submit to the Board.
  • The application fee for a podiatrist license is $375.00. The fee for a two-year license renewal is $375.00.
  • The process of reviewing a license application begins when the main application is received. An application specialist will contact you regarding any missing or incomplete information.
  • During the review process, applications fall into two categories: “routine” and “non-routine.”
    A “routine” license application is one in which BOME staff find no items of concern.
    A “non-routine” application—in which an applicant discloses past disciplinary issues, criminal justice issues, civil proceedings or other items of concern— may take additional time to be declared “complete,” depending on how much additional information the applicant must submit and how quickly that information is delivered once it’s requested.
    Once a “non-routine” application is declared “complete,” it is forwarded to the full Board for review at a regular scheduled public meeting. Those meetings occur every two months, which can mean a more lengthy delay for the applicant.
  • I want to be certified to do ankle surgery in Montana. Do I have to do anything else beyond...

    I want to be certified to do ankle surgery in Montana. Do I have to do anything else beyond applying for a license?

    Yes, you also must apply for a Montana certification in ankle surgery. You must demonstrate that you either have been Board-certified in ankle surgery, certified for the procedure in another state, or that you have completed an approved surgical residency. You also must pay an additional $75.00 fee.
    The standards for certification can be found at ARM 24.156.1003.

Telemedicine

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Board no longer issues Telemedicine licenses. MCA 37-3-102 includes telemedicine as part of the “practice of medicine.” "The Boards rule on Telemedicine is ARM 24.156.813."
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