Applying for a License? Hurry Up and Wait
Are you thinking about applying for a license in Texas or getting a training license? Do you have a job offer and they want you to start soon? Well, bad news….be prepared to wait.
The reality is it is taking several months for people to get through the licensure process. Officially, the Board is saying it is taking four months to get a license; what is not said is that is the timeline once all the documents are received. Add a month or more to the process and that assumes you are organized.
If you have to answer “yes” to anything on the application, such as malpractice history, past criminal record, etc., it will take even longer.
If you are thinking about applying, I would suggest a couple of things:
1. Be organized. Get your material together before you apply.
2. Read the directions carefully. A minor mistake will derail your application for months.
3. Follow-up. The application requires documents be sent by third parties. Follow-up on those to ensure that documents have been submitted. It is also critical to follow-up with the Board.
4. If you have a problem, get help. If you have significant issues, you need to get professional assistance from someone with experience before the Board. Some of the rules, the process, and just getting prepared require the time and attention of someone who has expertise with the system.
Please do not think of attempting to mislead the Board. Answering “no” when you should answer “yes” will lead to very serious issues should the Board discover the lie. Generally speaking, the Board will refuse to license a person when they believe they have been misled. Answering “yes” will take more time and will require additional explanation and documentation; however, explaining a “yes” response is much easier than explaining a “No” response that the Board believes should have been a “yes” response.
Denial of a license is a reportable event to the various data banks, including the National Practitioners Data Bank and the Federation of State Medical Boards. If you have a license in another state, a denial in Texas could affect your license in the other state.
Jon Porter can be contacted at www.healthlicensedefense.com
