State guide · Alabama · Licensing
Alabama licensing requirements
Medical license application, controlled-substance registration, Medicaid enrollment, telehealth rules, and CME for Alabama.
Medical board
Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners
License timeline
60–90 days
IMLC member
Yes
CME hours
25 per 1 yrs
Renewal cycle
1 year
Separate CS registration
Yes
The information on this page is provided for general reference only and may not reflect recent regulatory or legislative changes. State licensing requirements, fees, and timelines change frequently. Always verify requirements directly with the relevant state agency or a qualified legal or compliance professional before making practice decisions. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice.
State medical license
Alabama physicians apply to the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners (ALBME) for a license; the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama issues the Certificate of Qualification. Alabama is an IMLC member.
Alabama requires graduation from an accredited medical school, postgraduate training, USMLE/COMLEX passage, and primary-source verification.
- •Apply through ALBME online portal
- •IMLC pathway available
- •Minimum 1 year postgraduate training (3 years for IMGs)
- •Initial license fee approximately $300 (Verify current)
Controlled-substance registration
Alabama requires a separate Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC) from the ALBME, in addition to the federal DEA registration. The ACSC must be issued before the DEA registration with an Alabama address.
Issuing agency: Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC)
Processing timeline: Verify — typically issued with medical license
Medicaid enrollment
Agency: Alabama Medicaid Agency
Alabama Medicaid is a fee-for-service program (with limited managed care). Provider enrollment is through the Alabama Medicaid Provider Enrollment portal.
Estimated timeline: Verify — typically 30–90 days
- •Apply through Alabama Medicaid online enrollment
- •Mostly fee-for-service program
- •Revalidation required every 5 years
Telehealth notes
Alabama permits telehealth. Alabama license required to treat Alabama-located patients. Alabama Telehealth Act provides framework for telehealth practice.
- •Alabama license required to treat Alabama-located patients
- •Audio-only telehealth permitted for many services
CME requirements
Alabama requires 25 CME hours annually, of which at least 12 must be AMA PRA Category 1.
Total hours: 25 per 1-year cycle
Mandatory topics:
Official resources
Bookmark these official agency portals for Alabama licensing, controlled-substance registration, and Medicaid enrollment.
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