Temporary Licensure

The board may issue a temporary license authorizing a physician to participate in a board-approved activity in Iowa. Temporary licensure is granted on a case-by-case basis and depends upon the applicant's education and training, experience and licensure status elsewhere, and upon the intended use of the temporary license. Temporary licensure is not intended to be the means for a physician to practice medicine in lieu of or before a permanent license is granted nor is it intended for locum tenens.

Board-approved activity means one of the following:

  1. Covering for an Iowa-licensed physician who unexpectedly is not available to provide medical care to his or her patients 
  2. Demonstrating or proctoring that involves providing hands-on patient care to patients in Iowa 
  3. Conducting a procedure on a patient in Iowa when the consultant's expertise in the procedure is greater than that of the Iowa-licensed physician who requested the procedure 
  4. Providing medical care to patients in Iowa if the physician is enrolled in an out-of-state resident training program and does not hold a resident or permanent license in the home state of the resident training program 
  5. Serving as a camp physician
  6. Participating as a learner in a program of further medical education that allows hands-on patient care when the physician does not currently hold a license in good standing in any United States jurisdiction, or
  7. Any other activity approved by the board.

A physician who seeks to practice in Iowa and does not qualify for a temporary license may be eligible for a permanent license. Refer to 653 IAC - Chapter 9 for permanent licensure requirements. Refer to the Iowa Codes, Rules and Policy for more information.

Eligibility for Temporary Licensure

To be eligible for temporary licensure the applicant shall meet ALL of the following requirements as found in rule 653 IAC - 10.5:

  • Fulfill the application requirements
  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Hold a medical degree from an educational institution approved by the board (if the applicant is an international medical graduate the educational institution must be listed in the International Medical Education Director)
  • Hold a current active and unrestricted license to practice medicine issued by any jurisdiction
  • Be fluent in the English language
  • Present a letter justifying the need for temporary licensure from the organization or individual seeking the applicant's participation in a board-approved activity

Requirements for Temporary Licensure:

  • Pay a non-refundable application fee in addition to the fee for the evaluation of the criminal history background checks by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  • Complete and submit forms provided by the board, including required credentials, documents and a sworn statement by the applicant (affidavit) attesting to the truth of all information provided by the applicant.

Application Process

For Physicians Who Hold a License in a U.S. Jurisdiction

The standard review process is used to review each application for a temporary license, except that the process identified in subrule 653 IAC - 10.5(6) shall be used for any international medical graduate who does not currently hold a license in good standing in any United States jurisdiction or for any physician who seeks temporary licensure for an activity not listed in paragraphs "1" through "6" of the board-approved activities defined in rule 653 IAC -10.1. The standard application review process is as follows​.

  1. An application is considered open from the date the application forms and the non-refundable fees are received in the board's office.
  2. After reviewing the application, staff notifies the applicant and/or designee about how to resolve any problems or deficiencies identified by the reviewer.
  3. If the final review indicates no questions or concerns regarding the applicant's qualifications for temporary licensure or the need for a temporary license, staff may administratively grant a temporary license for a specific activity, location(s) or specified duration based on the nature of the board-approved activity. The license shall not be granted for a period longer than one year.
  4. If the final review indicates questions or concerns that cannot be remedied by continued communication with the applicant, then the executive director, the director of licensure and administration, and the director of legal affairs will determine whether the questions or concerns indicate any uncertainty about the applicant's current qualifications for temporary licensure or the organization's or requesting individual's need for a licensee with a temporary license.
  1. If there is no current concern, staff will administratively grant a temporary license.
  2. If any concern exists, the application will be referred to the licensure committee.
  3. Staff shall refer to the licensure committee for review, matters that include, but are not limited to, falsification of information on the application, criminal record, malpractice history, substance abuse, competency, physical or mental illness, educational disciplinary history, or questionable need on the part of the organization.
  4. If the licensure committee is able to eliminate questions or concerns without dissension from staff or a committee member, the committee may direct staff to administratively grant a temporary license for a specific activity, location(s) or specified duration based on the nature of the board-approved activity.
  5. If the licensure committee is not able to eliminate questions or concerns without dissension from staff or a committee member, the committee shall recommend that the board:
  • Grant a temporary license for a specific activity, location(s) or specified duration based on the nature of the board-approved activity.
  • Grant a temporary license under certain terms and conditions or with certain restrictions.
  • Deny a temporary license.
  • Request that the applicant withdraw the temporary license application.
  1. The board shall consider applications and recommendations from the committee and shall:
  • Grant a temporary license for a specific activity, location(s) or specified duration based on the nature of the board-approved activity.
  • Grant a temporary license under certain terms and conditions or with certain restrictions.
  • Request that the applicant withdraw the temporary license application. The request shall not imply that the applicant is ineligible for permanent licensure if that application process is pursued.
  • Deny a temporary license. The board may deny a temporary license for any grounds on which the board may discipline a license or for lack of need for a physician's services by the organization or individual. The procedure for appealing a license denial is set forth in rule 653 IAC - 9.17.

Temporary License for Physicians Who Do Not Hold a License in a United States Jurisdiction or for Physicians Seeking Approval for Temporary License Activity

This application process is used to review applications submitted by an international medical graduate who does not currently hold a license in good standing in any United States jurisdiction or by a physician seeking temporary licensure for an activity not listed in paragraphs "1" through "6" of the board-approved activities defined in rule 653 IAC -10.1 Following is the application review process for applicants with exceptions:

  1. An application is considered open from the date the application forms and the non-refundable fees are received in the board's office.
  2. After reviewing the application, staff will notify the applicant and/or designee about how to resolve any problems or deficiencies identified.
  3. If the final review indicates no questions or concerns regarding the applicant's qualifications for temporary licensure or the need for a temporary license, staff shall submit the application to the licensure committee for review and recommendation to the board about whether to grant a temporary license to the physician and whether the license should be granted for a specific activity, location(s), or specified duration based on the nature of the board-approved activity.
  4. The board shall consider applications and recommendations from the licensure committee and shall:
  • Grant a temporary license for a specific activity, location(s) or specified duration based on the nature of the board-approved activity.
  • Grant a temporary license under certain terms and conditions or with certain restrictions.
  • Request that the applicant withdraw the temporary license application. The request shall not imply that the applicant is ineligible for permanent licensure if that application process is pursued.
  • Deny a temporary license. The board may deny a temporary license for any grounds on which the board may discipline a license or for lack of need for a physician's services by the organization or individual. The procedure for appealing a license denial is set forth in rule 653 IAC - 9.17.

Fees

Click here to check the fee for a Temporary Licensure application.

How to Apply

Read about the temporary licensure application process.

Temporary License Application Cycle

If an applicant does not submit all materials within 90 days of the board office's first documented request for further information, the application shall be considered inactive. The board staff will notify the applicant of this change in status. An applicant whose application is inactive must reapply and submit a new non-refundable application fee and a new application, documents and credentials.

Renewal of a Temporary License

When the temporary license is granted the board will inform the licensee that the license may be renewed within the year if the same need for a temporary license continues. The board will not send a notice of renewal.

To apply for renewal of a temporary license, the licensee shall submit the following:

  1. A request for renewal;
  2. The renewal fee;
  3. Written justification for the renewal from the organization or individual seeking the applicant.

Failure of the licensee to renew a license before the expiration date shall cause the license to become inactive. The individual shall not practice in Iowa until securing a permanent medical license or until becoming eligible for a second temporary license.​

Click here to check the fee for a Temporary Licensure renewal.

Printed from the Iowa Board of Medicine website on March 21, 2023 at 10:01am.