Physician

What you need to know about the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

Graphic of the United States with the number 39 representing states in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

Updated February 21, 2024.

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is an agreement between its member states to expedite and streamline the state licensing process for physicians. It helps doctors obtain medical licenses in other states faster and with less hassle. This is especially helpful for those who work locum tenens in multiple locations and tend to accumulate multiple state licenses. Here’s what you need to know about IMLC licensure.

The IMLC simplifies the process of working in multiple states

The IMLC is great for patients because it makes it easier for physicians to come to their state and practice medicine. This is especially true for patients who live in underserved areas, where the hospitals and clinics may rely heavily on locum tenens physicians. From a doctor’s perspective, the IMLC also makes taking on assignments in these locations more attractive because there’s less administrative hassle.

For example, Dr. Siamak Karimian has been working as a full-time locum tenens physician for more than 15 years. He holds medical licenses in more than 30 states. Most of these licenses he obtained on his own before the IMLC even existed. But for the last two or three licenses, he followed the pathway made possible by the Compact, describing the process as “a piece of cake” in comparison to figuring things out on his own.

Which states belong to the IMLC?

The IMLC currently has 39 states as members, plus Washington D.C. and the territory of Guam. Not all of the members participate in the IMLC to the same extent, so be sure to note the differences.

Map of the United States showing which states have implemented or introduced legislation for the IMLC

Member states that have implemented the IMLC 

  • Alabama*
  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut*
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Georgia
  • Guam
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont*
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

*Alabama, Connecticut, and Vermont are not currently “States of Principle Licensure” (SLP). This means you are able to get a license issued for these states through the compact when you qualify through another SPL, but none of these states qualify as a SPL for licensing in other states.

What to know: Physician tips: What it takes to get licensed in a new state as a locum

Member states in the process of implementation

Member states who have passed IMLC licensure legislation, but implementation is either in process or delayed:

  • Hawaii
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island

States that have pending IMLC legislation

States must pass legislation to join the IMLC, and three more states currently have legislation related to the IMLC pending:

  • Florida
  • Massachusetts
  • New York
  • North Carolina

States that are not members of the IMLC

With so many states involved to one degree or another, it might be easier to keep track of the eight nonmember states:

  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Florida
  • New Mexico
  • Oregon
  • South Carolina
  • Virginia

Keep in mind that these states could introduce legislation to join at any time, so if you’re licensed in one of these states, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll never have the option to join the IMLC.

State of principal licensure

A state of principal licensure is the state where the physician holds a medical license and is the physician’s primary state of residence. When applying to the Compact, this state will verify your qualifications and eligibility and issue a Letter of Qualification on your behalf.

When you apply to the IMLC, you’ll need to identify your SPL. If your medical license is held by one of these three states, you cannot join the Compact using that state license:

  • Alabama
  • Connecticut
  • Vermont

However, if your state of principal licensure is another Compact member state, you can obtain a medical license for any of these three states through the Compact.

IMLC licensure going forward

With a growing physician shortage, the ability to practice medicine where you’re needed the most is more important than ever. The IMLC makes it easier for many physicians to quickly obtain state licenses and provide care outside of their home state, which ultimately benefits everyone.

We have open locum tenens jobs in every IMLC state. Check out our job board to view the latest locum tenens job opportunities.

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