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Home > License Types and Status

License Types and Status

License Types

Numerical = MD Permanent License

Prefix CP = Camp Physician License - This is only valid for a specific time and place during the summer.

Prefix EC = Educational Certificate - This is for physicians who are in ACGME approved postgraduate training (residency). It is only valid at the hospital administering the residency.

Prefix PA = Physician Assistant - This license is for physician assistants who will be working with physicians who hold a permanent license.

Prefix TD = Temporary Doctor License - This is a temporary license granted for the time specified, but not to exceed one year.

Prefix EL = Emergency License - This is an EMERGENCY LICENSE, NOT TO EXCEED 100 DAYS, Pursuant to 32 M.R.S.A. § 3278

Prefix AL = Administrative License - This license is for Medical Doctors who do not engage in any clinical patient practice.

License Status

Active = The licensee may practice medicine in the State of Maine.

Administratively Suspended = If the licensee has still not responded to a renewal notice by 30 days after the license expiration date, a “Suspension Notice” is sent to the licensee notifying them that their license has administratively suspended and they cannot practice medicine in Maine. *See "Understanding the MD License Lapse Process" below.

Deceased = The licensee died while holding either an active or inactive license.

Destroyed = The applicant did not complete the application process in a timely manner and the application was destroyed.

Expired = The time permitted on a temporary, educational, or camp license has run out.

Inactive = The licensee holds a permanent license, but is not allowed to practice medicine or prescribe medication in the State of Maine.

Lapsed = The licensee failed to renew their permanent license. *See "Understanding the MD License Lapse Process" below.

License Denied = The licensee's application for a Maine medical license was not granted.

Non-Renewal = The licensee's application to renew their Maine medical license was not granted.

Pending = The licensee has submitted a renewal application, but the Board has not yet approved the application.

Pending Checklist = The licensee has submitted an application which is still in the approval process.

Pending Active = The licensee has an active license and can practice and the application for renewal is pending and has not yet been approved.

Pending Inactive = The licensee has an inactive license and cannot practice and the application for renewal of inactive status is pending and has not yet been approved.

Probation = The licensee's license to practice medicine in the state of Maine has terms or conditions attached which must be met in order to retain the license. The Board will usually review the licensee's compliance at the end of probation.

Revoked = The license to practice medicine in the state of Maine has been rescinded by the Board and/or through action in the District Court.

Suspended = The licensee is not allowed to practice medicine in the state of Maine for a specific period of time.

Temporary = Used only for Physician Assistants when they have not yet taken the national certifying exam.

Terminated = Used only for Nurse Practitioners when they end their affiliation with a licensed physician.

Voluntary Surrender = The licensee has voluntarily given up their Maine medical license.

Volunteer = The physician has retired or is retiring from the active practice of medicine and wishes to donate his or her expertise for the medical care and treatment of indigent and needy patients in the clinic setting of clinics organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge.

Withdrawn = The licensee asked that the Board not renew their license. After withdrawal of your Maine license is approved, to be eligible to reinstate your license you will have to provide evidence of having actively engaged in the practice of medicine for the 12 months preceding the reinstatement application, or you will have to demonstrate current competency by passing a written examination or other practical demonstration as the Board may prescribe. You will also have to provide evidence of having achieved at least 40 category I CME credits and at least 60 Category II credits in the prior 24 months.

Withdrawn Pending = The licensee has asked to withdraw, but the Board has not yet approved the request.

Understanding the MD License Lapse Process:

  1. 60 days prior to the license expiration date, a “Notice to Renew” is sent to the licensee at their last known address (The licensee is responsible for notifying the Board of all address changes.)
  2. If the licensee has not responded by the license expiration date, a “Late Notice” is sent to the licensee notifying them that their license has expired and they will be assessed a $100 late fee plus the renewal fee to renew their license.
  3. If the licensee has still not responded by 30 days after the license expiration date, a “Suspension Notice” is sent to the licensee notifying them that their license has administratively suspended and they cannot practice medicine in Maine.
  4. If the licensee has still not responded with an administratively complete renewal application by 30 days after the license suspension notice has been sent, their license is immediately and automatically “Lapsed” and can only be reinstated by going through the license reinstatement process.
  5. The ramification of this process is that the the MD may still have an "Active" license to practice medicine during this process even if the license expiration date is past due as long as the license has not been already administratively suspended, suspended or lapsed. Grants of additional time to complete CMEs can also be extended to the licensee during this timeframe which may also result in the licensee having an "Active" license status past the license expiration date.

Below is the section of law regarding license lapse:

§3280-A. Biennial renewal of licenses; qualification; fees; reinstatement after lapse
1. Renewal of licenses. A physician licensed pursuant to section 3271 or 3275 shall apply to the board for relicensure using application forms and submitting supporting documents required by the board. Except as provided in paragraph A for initial proration of expiration dates, the board shall provide to every physician whose application is approved and accepted a proof of license renewal that is valid for no longer than 2 years.
A. Beginning with licenses expiring after July 1, 1994, regardless of the date of initial licensure or last license renewal, the license of every physician born in an odd-numbered year expires at midnight in 1995 on the last day of the month of the physician's birth. The license of every physician born in an even-numbered year expires at midnight in 1996 on the last day of the month of the physician's birth. Upon expiration, a physician must renew the license issued pursuant to this section and this license must be renewed every 2 years by the last day of the month of birth of the physician seeking license renewal by means of application to the board, on forms prescribed and supplied by the board. [1993, c. 526, §2 (NEW); 1993, c. 526, §4 (AFF).]
B. At least 60 days prior to expiration of a current license, the board shall mail to each licensee at the licensee's last known address a notice of the requirement to renew the license with appropriate application forms for the renewal. Whenever a licensee fails, prior to the expiration of the licensee's current license, to return to the board a completed application either to renew the license or to withdraw from licensure, the board shall notify the licensee as soon as possible at the licensee's last known address that the license renewal is past due. Thirty days after the notice has been sent, if the application has neither been submitted by the licensee nor returned by the United States Postal Service as undeliverable, the board shall notify the licensee by certified mail, return receipt requested, that the licensee's license has been administratively suspended for 30 days. If an administratively complete relicensure application, pursuant to subsection 3, paragraph B, has not been submitted within the 30-day period of administrative suspension, the license immediately and automatically lapses. The board may not restore the license prior to completion of the reinstatement proceedings pursuant to subsection 4. [1993, c. 526, §2 (NEW); 1993, c. 526, §4 (AFF).]