The State Board of Medicine ­regulates the practice of medicine through the ­licensure, registration and ­certification of members of the medical profession in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The board regulates medical doctors; physician assistants; ­radiology technicians; respiratory therapists; nurse-midwives; acupuncturists; practitioners of oriental medicine; perfusionists; behavioral specialists; and athletic trainers. The board also has authority to take disciplinary or corrective action against individuals it regulates. This article addresses ­common questions that new physicians, ­current physicians, and other medical professions (and those advising them) may have regarding medical licenses in the state of Pennsylvania.

The following professions require an individual to obtain a license through the State Board of Medicine: medical ­physician and surgeon, physician assistant, temporary physician assistant, nurse-midwife, ­nurse-midwife prescriptive authority, ­respiratory therapist, temporary respiratory therapist, athletic trainer, temporary athletic trainer, acupuncturist, physician acupuncturist, genetic counselor and provisional genetic counselor.

To acquire a license in any of the ­aforementioned professions, an applicant must complete an application, either online or in paper form, and submit the application to the board. If any questions arise regarding responses/answers to questions in the application, it is best to contact a health care attorney to ensure all questions are responded to accurately and proficiently.