Social Security Number Requirements and Specific Limited Licensing Questions

FAQ regarding Licensure in Massachusetts

Social Security Number Requirements

Q: Why do I need to provide my social security number?

A: Massachusetts General Law, chapter 30A, section 13A, requires the Board of Registration of Medicine to have every applicant provide his or her social security number as a condition of issuing or renewing a license.

Specific Limited Licensing Questions

Q: Where can I obtain information about a limited or training license?

A: A limited license is issued to physicians enrolled in clinical postgraduate training programs in health care facilities in Massachusetts. All such training must be done in ACGME or AOA accredited programs, or in a fellowship program in a training facility that conducts on its premises ACGME or AOA approved programs. A physician who holds or who has ever held a full medical license in Massachusetts is not eligible for a limited license. You can find further information regarding the eligibility requirements for limited license in this FAQ and on the Board’s website at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/physician-licensing-fees-and-eligibility-requirements

Please contact the postgraduate program coordinator and/or the graduate medical education office at the Massachusetts hospital where your training will be undertaken to answer your questions concerning limited license requirements.

These professionals specialize in all aspects of the limited license process, and they maintain close contact with the Board staff. Limited license applicants should not call the Board.

Q: What are the requirements for a limited license?

A: Below is a complete listing of the eligible requirements for limited licensure:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Possess Good Moral Character.
• Pre-Medical Education: Completion of two or more academic years at a legally chartered college or university, which must include courses in biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, or their equivalent as determined by the Board.
• Medical Education: Completion of four academic years of instruction, of not less than thirty-two weeks in each academic year, in a legally chartered medical school, and receipt of the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its equivalents from a school accredited by the LCME or AOA.
  • International medical graduates only: Receipt of a degree of Doctor of Medicine, or its equivalent from a program determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to the medical school programs accredited by the LCME/AOA.
  • IMG – Off-Site Clinical Rotations/Substantial Equivalency Waiver: IMG’s who completed more than 3 months of any medical school clinical study off-site of their medical school and without supervision by the medical school faculty must submit a request for a waiver of substantial equivalency of medical education.
    • The Board has determined the medical education received at the following schools is substantial equivalent to that of an LCME/AOA accredited medical school. Graduates of these schools do not need to request a waiver of substantial equivalency:
      • St. George’s University School of Medicine;
      • SABA University;Ross University School of Medicine;
      • The American University of the Caribbean; and
      • American University of Antigua College of Medicine.
• ECFMG Certificate: International medical graduates only. Possession of an ECFMG certificate which is valid on its face and valid as of the date of licensure.
• Examination requirements:
  • USMLE Steps 1 and 2; or
  • COMLEX Levels 1 and 2; or
  • All parts of MCCQE (LMCC).
• ACGME/AOA Approved Position: Proof of an appointment to an ACGME or AOA approved postgraduate training program in Massachusetts or a fellowship in Massachusetts health care facility, which conducts on its premises ACGME or AOA approved programs.
• MassHealth enrollment.
• Certify compliance with applicable laws of the Commonwealth.
• Sign and swear to the contents of his/her limited license application.
• Pay limited license application fee in full.

Q: How often is a limited license renewed?

A: A Limited license authorizes a limited licensee to practice medicine in a specified training program in Massachusetts; therefore, a limited license is valid based upon a licensee’s specific training dates and will be issued for up to one academic year. A limited license must be renewed at the end of each training year, if the licensee will be continuing postgraduate training.

A limited license certificate is issued following approval of the limited license and is sent to the training institution.

Q: What is the Board’s examination requirement for a limited license?

A: Board regulations require that an applicant for a limited license must submit evidence of having achieved a passing score on Steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE, Levels 1 and 2 of the COMLEX exams, or all parts of the MCCQE.

Q: Is a limited licensee able to “moonlight”?

A: A physician with a limited license may engage in "internal moonlighting" in accordance with Board Policy 2022-01. Specifically, limited licensees may engage in patient care activities outside of the limited licensee’s specialty training program provided that the activities:

1. Occur under the direction of a faculty member associated with the training program;
2. Occur at the health care facility on the limited license or at the facility’s approved affiliates;
3. Are in the same specialty as the limited licensee’s specialty training program or are approved by the program director as a training area related to the specialty; and
4. Comply with limitations set in ACGME guidelines pertaining to moonlighting.

Moonlighting under a limited license outside of the parameters set forth in Board Policy 2022-01 is prohibited.

Q: When can a limited licensee apply for a full license?

A: A limited licensee may apply for a full license once they meet all full license eligibility requirements. Specifically, to be eligible for a full license, all physicians must meet the following requirements:

• The age, moral character, pre-medical education, medical education and ECFMG Certification requirements are the same for both limited and full medical licensure.
• In addition, a physician must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a full license:
  • Examinations: An applicant must have achieved passing scores on the three Steps of the USMLE, the three Levels of the COMLEX exam, or all parts of the MCCQE.
    • 7 Year Time Limit: All Steps of the USMLE and all Levels of the COMLEX must be completed within 7 years.  The Board may, in certain circumstances, grant a waiver of the 7 year time limit.
    • Step/Level Attempt Limit: Each Step/Level must be passed by the 4th attempt.  No waiver is available for applicants that did not pass a Step/Level by the 4th attempt.
    • Of note, the Board also accepts completion of the FLEX, NBME or a state examination.  Please see  the Physician Licensing Fees and Eligibility Requirements page for more details regarding the examination requirements.
  • Postgraduate training: Two years of ACGME, AOA or Canadian accredited postgraduate training.  The Board may grant a waiver of this requirement and accept, as a substitute, non-accredited subspecialty clinical fellowship training completed at a facility which conducts ACGME, AOA or Canadian accredited training in the parent specialty; and/or clinical teaching experience at an LCME accredited medical school, if the majority of the teaching experience documented is clinical teaching with supporting evidence of either special honors or awards which the applicant has achieved or articles the applicant has published in reputable medical journals or medical textbooks.
  • Completion of opioid and pain management training.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in electronic health records.
  • Completion of training in child abuse or neglect recognition and reporting.
  • Completion of domestic and sexual violence education and training.
  • MassHealth enrollment.
  • Certify compliance with applicable laws of the Commonwealth.
  • Submit a complete full license application and sign and swear to the contents of his/her full license application.
  • Pay full license application fee in full.

Once a full license is approved, the physician’s limited license automatically expires.  A full license is not tied to a physician’s training.  To maintain active licensure in Massachusetts, the physician must submit a full license renewal application and pay the renewal fee prior to his or her license expiration date.

Date published:	August 28, 2026
Last updated:	August 28, 2026