Contact Information
- Alaska State Medical Board (SMB)
- Main Phone: (907) 269-8163
- Email: [email protected]
Summary of Process
Physician License Application
Fees
$825 total fees.
Timeline
Initial review within 10-14 weeks of receipt of the application.
If the licensing examiner finds items missing in your application, they will notify you in your MyAlaska account. We suggest you start checking your MyAlaska licensing portal for updates regularly 8-10 weeks after completing your application.
Application
You can complete your Physician license application online at my.alaska.gov. This is the recommended way to complete your application for quickest response.
You can also download the paper application by following this link, found on the Medical Board’s Application & Forms landing page.
You can also access the Medical Board’s very helpful FAQ Page as you work through this application. Also, on our FAQ page at the bottom of this guide, review every answer to the questions our team is asked most often.
MyAlaska Portal
You can access your licensing portal by setting up an account at this link. If the licensing examiner finds items missing in your application, they will notify you in your MyAlaska account. We suggest you start checking your MyAlaska licensing portal for updates regularly 8 weeks after completing your application.
Other Critical Steps
DEA Clearance Report
You are required to request a clearance report from the Drug Enforcement Administration for your DEA registration. Use the form included in the Application and send your request to:
Drug Enforcement Administration
300 5th Avenue, Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98104
DEA Registration
You will need an Alaska address on your DEA license confirmed before you can work your first assignment. This is not a prerequisite for your license to be granted, but you will need to register your DEA license in Alaska prior to starting work in the state in order to prescribe legally.
There are two ways to ensure you have a DEA license registered in the state you will work in. Some providers decide to purchase an additional DEA license to devote to locums work, but most choose to simply transfer their existing DEA license to Alaska immediately prior to their assignment starting. Whichever path you choose, you can apply for a new license or make changes to your existing DEA registration at the DEA website.
Keep in mind if you choose to transfer your existing DEA license to a new state, the process can take up to 5 business days so you must account for that transition time.
Opioid Education Requirement
All providers with a DEA registration must have received education in pain management and opioid use and addiction for their PA license. Attestation of opioid education is required to qualify for a new license for a physician, podiatrist or physician assistant. Courses must be Category 1 of AMA-approved education, Category 1 or 2 of AOA-approved education, or for a PA-C it can be NCCPA-approved education.
To fully document compliance with the opioid education requirement, the title/description of the program on your Certificate of Completion should specifically reference all three areas of the required subject matter: pain management, opioid use, addiction.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
Any provider with prescriptive authority is required to register with the PDMP in Alaska. This can be done online for free on the PDMP website.
We recommend reading this guide to help you get started with the process of registering with the PDMP.
Business License
Even though your business license is not required to practice medicine in Alaska, it is required to do business as a locum tenens independent contractor.
You will need both an Alaska business license and an Alaska professional license in order to work as an independent contractor with WMS. Please note that you must have your AK business license in place before your first assignment begins. Most providers choose to set up a simple Assumed Business Name (sole proprietorship) for their contract work, but some create LLCs or register existing LLCs in Alaska as foreign entities. We suggest you discuss this decision with a Certified Public Accountant if you have questions about tax implications for busines type.
- To setup a sole proprietorship, visit this website
- Your primary line of business should be “62-Health Care and Social Assistance”
- Your NAICS code should be 621999.
- Registering an LLC or other Corporation
- If you have an existing LLC that you would like to register in Alaska, or want to form a new Corporation, you can get started on this page.
- Forms and Fees page is where you will choose your type of corporation and begin filing. Remember to select the “Foreign” option if you are registering a corporation from outside Alaska.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take for my licenses to post?
Processing times depend mostly on how thorough your application is. The board typically reviews applications 10-12 weeks after application. From then, if your application is 100% complete with no remaining items, you can expect your temporary license to be granted within 10 business days of that review. All told, the fastest you will get your license is about 2.5 months after applying. If the board has to request corrections, answers to disclosure questions or further documentation, you may see processing times increase to 3-4 months.
When can I expect a response from the Medical Board?
The Alaska Medical Board processes applications in date order received, meaning they will not even look at your application until your turn comes. Response times are currently about 10-14 weeks. Once your application is reviewed, the board will update your MyAlaska account with whatever they still need.
We suggest you make your first outreach to your licensing examiner about 8-10 weeks after applying and introduce yourself, asking if they’ve had the opportunity to review your application. If you reach out to your licensing examiner earlier than that 8-week mark, you will not receive a response.
What is the best way for me to follow up with my licensing examiner?
You can keep up to date on who your licensing examiner is, according to your last name, by following this link and scrolling to the bottom of the page. Email is the most reliable means of contact with the Medical Board, but you can always try a phone call.
Once your application has been reviewed and the licensing examiner followed up with further requests, we suggest you keep an eye on your MyLicense account instead of emailing the licensing examiner. Everything you need to know about action required will be there.
Do I need to get this notarized?
If you are filling out the online application, you must notarize and scan in the signature page. If you are filling out the paper application, simply include that notarized page in your application when you mail it in.
Please make sure to have the notary signature page (Pg. 13) completed and mail the original notarized copy of that page with your application.
IT‘S TIME TO START YOUR LIFE’S
NEXT CHAPTER
Rediscover your love for medicine, and redefine what service means. Reset your expectations for what life can offer, and reinvigorate yourself in this beautiful country of ours. Wilderness Medical Staffing wants to put you on the path to life’s next chapter today.
IT‘S TIME TO START YOUR LIFE’S
NEXT CHAPTER
Rediscover your love for medicine, and redefine what service means. Reset your expectations for what life can offer, and reinvigorate yourself in this beautiful country of ours. Wilderness Medical Staffing wants to put you on the path to life’s next chapter today.
Wilderness Medical Staffing (WMS) is a team of experienced staffing experts. We provide locum tenens staffing of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. We specialize in placing excellent, compassionate providers in rural clinics, hospitals, and communities across the continental Northwest and Alaska.
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