To practice medicine in Louisiana one must have the following:
Medical Degree
- Doctor of Medicine
- Doctor of Osteopathy
Passed Board as MD or DO
- State board examination
- National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Parts 1, 2, and 3
- Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX)
- United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
- Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA)
- National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME)
A physician may be licensed to practice medicine without passing a specialty board exam.
As a Family Medicine physician, your initial specialty board certification takes place through the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM). The criteria can be found on the ABFM’s website, www.theabfm.org
License to Practice Medicine
The Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) is responsible for determining the qualifications of applicants for licensure, enforcing the medical practice act through the rule making process and renewal of licenses to practice. The LSBME has a dashboard, LaMED, which assists applicants in keeping up to date on their application and the process.
For more information on licensure, go to the LSBME website www.lsbme.louisiana.gov.
Prescribing
A licensed physician may prescribe non-controlled medications. In order to be able to prescribe controlled substances per Title 21 United States Code Controlled Substances Act § 802, a physician must obtain the following:
License from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
DEA licenses are granted by the DEA’s Diversion Control Division. For details see https://deadiversion.usdoj.gov/index.html
Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) license
CDS licenses are administered by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy. For details of application see https://www.pharmacy.la.gov/