How Much Does Medical Licensing Cost in Washington State

In Washington State, getting a medical license is more complicated than just passing the USMLE or COMLEX exams. Before sending in their applications, doctors, whether they are new graduates from medical schools in the United States or other countries, need to know the full financial picture. The Washington Medical Commission has strict licensing requirements that make sure patients are safe and get excellent care. However, this system of rules comes with costs that doctors should carefully plan for. 

When doctors know how much it costs to get a medical license in Washington, they can make better budgets, avoid unexpected costs, and speed up the process of getting their license. Aside from application fees, there are other costs that can be incurred quickly, such as background checks, document proof, and certifications. This guide lists all the fees you can expect to pay to get a medical license in Washington State. 

Overview of Medical Licensing in Washington State 

The Washington Medical Commission (WMC), which is part of the Washington Department of Health, oversees licensing doctors, surgeons, and physician assistants in the state. The Washington Medical Commission (WMC) has strict rules to make sure that only qualified healthcare workers treat patients in Washington. 

Medical licensing is not the same as credentialing, even though people sometimes mix them up. A medical license from the state’s regulatory body is required to legally practice medicine in Washington State. In comparison, credentialing is the process by which hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies check your credentials and decide if they will let you treat their patients or accept new patients. 

International (IMGs) and U.S. medical school graduates must both go through the same licensing process. However, IMGs have to meet more standards and pay more due to their foreign training and qualifications. 

Total Cost of Medical Licensing in Washington State 

Important Note: All fees paid to the Washington Medical Commission are nonrefundable. 

Washington Medical License Application Fees 

The baseline cost for a physician (MD) to apply for a medical license in Washington State is $511. This fee covers the initial application processing by the Washington Medical Commission. 

There are also alternative license types with different fee structures for the application fee: 

• Postgraduate Limited License (MD): $411 

• Limited Physician and Surgeon Clinical Experience (MD. CE): $497 

• Physician Assistant (PA): $136 

• Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA): $50 

Additionally, the Washington Medical Commission charges two mandatory surcharges for physicians: 

HEAL-WA Fee: $32 annually to access the University of Washington’s HEAL-WA online learning resource portal, which provides access to professional journals, research, and clinical information at a reduced cost. 

Washington Physician Health Program Surcharge: $140, assessed to support the state’s physician wellness and mental health program.  

These surcharges are non-negotiable and must be paid with your application, bringing the total direct state application cost to $683 for an MD license. 

Additional Costs Physicians Should Expect 

Beyond the state’s application fee, physicians encounter several additional expenses during the licensing process. Understanding these costs helps you plan your budget more accurately. 

License Verification and Documentation Costs 

The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) runs the Physician Credentials Verification Service (FCVS). Washington and many other states accept or require the FCVS. The FCVS speeds up the process of verifying your credentials by combining all your professional papers into a single confirmed biography. 

For doctors, the base FCVS fee is $395. This includes making your skills resume and sending a package to one person. There are additional fees that apply if you need to send more packages to other boards or organizations. 

Background Check and Fingerprinting Fees 

All applicants for medical licensure in Washington must undergo a criminal history background check. In that case, you will either get an FBI fingerprint packet or portal filing instructions from the Washington Medical Commission. Depending on where you get them, fingerprinting services range in price from $50 to $100. 

DEA Registration and Controlled Substance Fees 

You need to sign up with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) if you want to supply banned drugs. This is a government requirement that is different from your state’s medical license. The registration must be renewed every three years at the same cost. 

There is no fee to change your DEA registration address if you move your business within Washington State. If you move to a different state, though, you will have to switch your registration and may have to follow other rules that are specific to that state. 

Malpractice Insurance Cost 

While not a state licensing requirement, malpractice insurance is often mandated by hospitals and healthcare systems and is strongly recommended for all physicians. Washington’s legislation does not require doctors to have malpractice insurance, but most hospitals and surgery centers do before they will let a doctor accept patients. 

In Washington State, the average cost of medical malpractice insurance for doctors varies significantly based on their specialty: 

• Primary Care Physicians (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine): $4,000–$8,000 annually 

• Surgical Specialists: $15,000–$50,000+ annually 

• High-Risk Specialties (OB/GYN): $50,000–$100,000+ annually

Medical Licensing Cost for IMGs in Washington 

International Medical Graduates face additional licensing requirements and costs beyond what U.S. medical school graduates encounter. 

ECFMG Certification: Before taking the USMLE, IMGs must obtain Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification, which costs $160. This is a prerequisite credential and must be obtained before you can sit for the USMLE exams. 

USMLE Exam Costs: The three-level USMLE examination approximately costs: 

• Level 1: $330 

• Level 2 CK: $330 

• Level 3: $330 

• Total: ~$990 for all three levels 

International test delivery surcharges apply if you’re taking the USMLE outside the U.S., adding up to $1,000 per exam in some cases. 

Additional IMG-Specific Costs

• Translation and notarization of credentials: $150 to $500, based on how complicated 

• Additional Requirements for Verification: IMGs may need to send more paperwork than just FCVS, which could mean they need more verification requests that cost $395 or more. 

• Longer Processing Time: IMGs usually must wait longer for processing, which can slow down their ability to make money. 

Other than the costs of graduating in the U.S., IMG-specific costs range from $2,000 to $3,500, based on whether you took tests abroad. 

Washington Medical License Renewal Cost 

In Washington, it is necessary to update medical licenses every two years. Long-term financial planning is easier when you know how much renewals cost. 

• Two years renewal fee (MD): $996 

• Initial entry fee: $511  

This renewal fee is a lot higher than that because it is valid for two years. The renewal comes with the following required fees: 

• $32 for HEAL-WA 

• $140 extra for the Washington Physician Health Program 

Late Renewal Fee: You will have to pay the full renewal fee plus a $300 late renewal fee if you do not renew your license before it ends, which is usually on your birthday. This means that it costs $1,296 instead of $996 to renew late. 

Costs of Continuing Medical Education (CME)

The WMC does not take these costs directly, but doctors must keep up with CME to meet renewal standards. Depending on your field and whether you take official CME courses or just go to workshops, CME courses usually cost between $200 and $1,000 a year. 

Factors That Can Increase Medical Licensing Costs 

Several common mistakes and circumstances can increase your licensing costs significantly: 

• Incomplete or Incorrect Documentation: Sending an incomplete application or incorrect information, you will have to resubmit it, which could cost you more money and take longer to process. 

• Delays in Credential Verification: If schools or previous companies are slow to send proof, your application will stay in processing, which will delay the issuance of your license and the credentialing process. 

• Multiple State Verifications: If you need verification sent to more than one state, like if you want to train in more than one state, each extra FCVS package costs extra, and you may get calls for verification more than once. 

• Background Check Issues: If your background check requires more information that needs to be explained further, the WMC may ask for more paperwork or an investigation, which could make the process take longer and cost more if you want it to proceed immediately. 

• Lost or Expired Documents: If you lose papers in transit, you will have to ask for copies, which cost more in copy and shipping fees. 

• International Medical Graduate Status: As an international medical graduate (IMG), you may have to go through more steps to verify your identity. For example, the ECFMG may look over your foreign qualifications, and World Education Services (WES) may conduct an evaluation, which will cost an extra $200 to $500. 

Can You Reduce Medical Licensing Costs in Washington? 

While some costs are fixed, physicians can take steps to minimize expenses and avoid unnecessary fees: 

• Prepare Documents Early: Start asking for formal papers and proofs at least 6–8 months before you want to apply. This lowers the chance that papers will be lost or late, which would mean that they have to be re-asked for at a cost. 

• Avoid Application Errors: Check your application twice before sending it in. Resubmitting something after making a mistake can take time and cost extra money. You might want to have a more experienced coworker or a licensed professional look over your application. 

• Use FCVS Strategically: If you want to apply to more than one state, the FCVS profile is a $395 one-time fee that lets you send it to more than one board. It is cheaper to do this than to handle different checks for each state. 

• Consolidate Credential Requests: If you need transcripts and verifications, send a single request to all the institutions at once instead of making multiple requests. This will save you money on delivery fees and get the work done faster. 

• Stay Organized with Deadlines: If you miss the renewal date, you will have to pay a $300 late fee. Mark your calendar for renewal and do it at least 90 days early to avoid having to pay this extra fee. 

• Consider Group Licensing Services: Some professional groups and group offices offer big credentialing services at lower prices than for individuals. These can help you save 15–20% on fees for proof and paperwork. 

Should You Hire Medical Licensing Services in Washington? 

Some physicians hire professional medical license services or advisers to help them with their applications. Depending on your position, this may or may not make financial sense. 

When Hiring Services Makes Sense

• You are an IMG with complicated standards for verifying your credentials. 

• You are applying to more than one state at the same time. 

• You have a confusing work background or between jobs 

• You do not have time to handle papers and follow-ups yourself. 

• To keep your license on time, you want to make as few mistakes as possible. 

Professional licensing services usually charge between $1,500 and $5,000, but it depends on how complicated the process is and whether they can speed it up. Even though it may seem like a lot of money, the value comes from fewer mistakes, faster handling, and not having to pay late fees. 

When Professional Services is No Longer Needed 

• If you graduated from medical school in the United States and have clear qualifications. 

• You have time to take care of the entry process on your own. 

• Your papers are already in order and easy to find. 

• Only one state is running for you. 

• It is also important to think about time values. If taking care of licensing issues would take 40 to 60 hours of your time and you could be making clinical income during that time, the extra revenue you make might be enough to cover the cost of professional services.   

FAQs  

How much does a Washington medical license cost in total? 

The direct state application fee is $511 for a Maryland license and $136 to $411 for other types of licenses. With required fees, background checks, DEA registration, and verifying credentials, the total cost for the first year is between $2,100 and $2,600. This does not include costs that are not required, such as medical insurance ($4,000 to $50,000 or more a year) or CME fees. 

Are Washington medical licensing fees refundable? 

No. No matter if your application is accepted or rejected, the Washington Medical Commission will not return any fees you pay for applications, extensions, or other services linked to them. 

How long does licensing take in Washington? 

The Washington Medical Commission says that after all papers are sent in and background checks are passed, it takes less than 14 days for 99% of candidates to be reviewed and approved. But the entire process, from sending the application to getting the license, usually takes 8–16 weeks, depending on how quickly you send in the necessary paperwork. 

Is Washington expensive for IMGs compared to other states? 

Compared to other states, Washington’s licensing fees ($511) are not too high. However, IMGs have to pay the same extra fees in every state. These fees cover services like ECFMG licensing, USMLE tests, and verifying credentials. The $395 starting fee for FCVS in Washington is the same in all states that accept it.  

Does renewal cost less than initial licensing? 

No. In Washington, it costs $996 to renew for another two years but only $511 to apply for the first time. The lengthy license period of two years explains the higher renewal fee. It is usually possible to plan for renewing fees, which do not include one-time costs like DEA registration, which costs $888 every three years. 

Conclusion 

In Washington State, getting a medical license means knowing about both the state fees and the secret costs that add up quickly. The application fee for the Washington Medical Commission is only $511, but the total cost for the first year usually runs from $2,100 to $2,600 and includes verifying credentials, conducting background checks, initiating DEA registration, and other services. 

International Medical Graduates should add an extra $2,000 to $3,500 to their budget for costs that are unique to them. After getting their license, doctors should expect to pay $996 every two years in renewal fees, plus malpractice insurance costs that range from $4,000 to $100,000 or more per year, based on their specialty. 

Plan ahead, carefully prepare your paperwork, and avoid making mistakes that will cost you a lot of money and mean you must resubmit or add more documentation. Now that you know how much it will cost, you can prepare a reasonable budget and focus on giving your patients outstanding care once you are licensed to work in Washington State.