Mississippi is a proud member of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), a voluntary agreement among participating states that offers physicians a faster, streamlined pathway to licensure in multiple states. The Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure (MSBML) participates in the Compact as a member licensing board.
Jump to: About the IMLC | Mississippi's Role | Eligibility | Benefits for Licensees | How to Apply | Contact & Resources
About the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is a legal agreement among member states and territories designed to reduce the administrative burden of obtaining medical licenses in multiple jurisdictions. Established in 2013 and operational since early 2017, the Compact is administered by the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission (IMLCC).
Rather than submitting separate, full applications to each state, a physician who qualifies for the Compact receives a single Letter of Qualification (LOQ) that can be used to obtain licenses in any participating member state. Each state still issues its own individual license — the Compact simply streamlines how you get there.
As of early 2026, the Compact includes 43 member states and 2 U.S. territories, representing 58 licensing boards and more than 117,000 Letters of Qualification issued to date.
Mississippi's Role in the Compact
MSBML participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact as a full member state. This means Mississippi-licensed physicians may use the Compact to obtain licenses in other member states, and physicians licensed in other member states may use the Compact pathway to obtain a Mississippi license.
Mississippi may serve as a physician's State of Principal License (SPL) if the physician meets one of the following conditions:
- Mississippi is the physician's primary state of residence
- At least 25% of the physician's medical practice occurs in Mississippi
- The physician's employer is located in Mississippi
- Mississippi is the physician's state of residence for U.S. federal income tax purposes
When Mississippi serves as the SPL, MSBML processes the Letter of Qualification and coordinates with the IMLCC on the physician's behalf.
Eligibility Requirements
Approximately 80% of U.S. physicians meet the eligibility criteria for the Compact. To qualify, a physician must:
- Hold a full, unrestricted medical license in a participating Compact member state (the State of Principal License)
- Have graduated from an accredited or IMED-listed medical school
- Have completed ACGME- or AOA-accredited graduate medical education (residency)
- Have passed the USMLE, COMLEX-USA, or equivalent examination, with no more than three attempts per component
- Hold current specialty board certification through ABMS or AOABOS
- Have no disciplinary history, criminal history, controlled substance actions, or active investigations
Note: Canadian medical graduates are generally ineligible unless their graduate medical education program holds ACGME or AOA accreditation.
Benefits for Licensees
The Compact offers significant advantages for physicians who practice or wish to practice across state lines, including those who provide telehealth services, work for multi-state health systems, or serve military and underserved populations:
- Faster licensure — licenses can often be issued within days of qualification
- Single application — one LOQ application covers all member states
- Reduced administrative burden — no need to manage separate full applications for each state
- Flexibility — add additional states at any time for a $100 handling fee plus state fees
- Redesignation — change your State of Principal License for free if your circumstances change
- Centralized renewals — renew your Compact licenses through the IMLCC website
How to Apply
Applications are submitted directly through the IMLCC's online portal. The process involves nine steps:
- Confirm your eligibility on the IMLCC website
- Create an account and complete the online application
- Select your State of Principal License
- Submit your application form and supporting documentation
- Pay the $700 non-refundable application fee
- Submit fingerprints for a background check (within a 60-day window)
- Pay individual state licensure fees for each state where you wish to be licensed
- Receive your licenses (typically within days of qualification)
- Provide any additional documentation requested by your SPL board
Your Letter of Qualification remains valid for 365 days from the date of issue. If you need to obtain licenses in additional states after that period, a new LOQ application (and $700 fee) is required.
Contact & Resources
For Compact-specific questions — including application status, eligibility determinations, and multi-state licensing — contact the IMLCC directly:
- Phone: 303-997-9842 (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–8 PM Eastern)
- Email: Available through the IMLCC support portal at imlcc.com
For questions about your existing Mississippi license, renewals, or MSBML-specific requirements, please contact MSBML.