The corporate practice of medicine is a legal doctrine, which generally prohibits corporations, entities or individuals (i.e. non-physicians) from practicing medicine.

A general summary of the corporate practice of medicine doctrine is that it prohibits physicians from entering into partnerships, employee relationships, fee splitting, or other situations with non-physicians where the physician's practice of medicine is in any way controlled or directed by, or fees shared with a non-physician. Generally, physicians may enter into independent contractor arrangements with non-physicians. However, whether an independent contractor situation exists is a question of law and attendant facts.

Section 165.156 of the Medical Practice Act makes it unlawful for any individual, partnership, trust, association or corporation by use of any letters, words, or terms, as an affix on stationery or advertisements or in any other manner, to indicate the individual, partnership, trust, association or corporation is entitled to practice medicine if the individual or entity is not licensed to do so.

Section 164.052(a)(13) of the Medical Practice Act authorizes disciplinary action against any licensee for impersonation of a licensed practitioner or permitting another to use his license to practice medicine. Section 164.052(a)(17) authorizes disciplinary action against a practitioner for aiding or abetting, directly or indirectly, the practice of medicine by non-licensed individuals or entities.

Beginning in 2011, the Texas Legislature enacted laws authorizing certain types of hospitals and specific hospital districts to directly hire physicians.

Because of the highly technical aspects of this doctrine, a physician should consult with private counsel regarding any actual or contemplated arrangement. Please be advised that the Board staff is not authorized to provide private legal advice.

The following case law/legal authority may be helpful in the analysis and are available from any local law library or private counsel:

a. Garcia v. Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, 384 F.Supp. 434 (W.D. Texas 1974);

b. F.W.B. Rockett v. Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, 287 S.W.2d 190 (Tex. Civ.App.- San Antonio 1956, writ ref'd n.r.e.);

c. Watt v. Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, 303 S.W.2d 884 (Tex. Civ. App.- Dallas 1957, writ ref'd n.r.e.);

d. Flynn Brothers, Inc. v. First Medical Associates, 715 S.W.2d 782 (Tex. Civ. App.- Dallas 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.)

e. Woodson v. Scott & White Hospital, 186 S.W.2d 720 (Tex. App. 1945, writ ref'd w.o.m.)

f. Tex. Atty. Gen. Op. JM-1042 (1989)

g. Tex. Atty. Gen. Op. WW-278 (1957).

h. Tex. Atty. Gen. Op. JM 369 (1985)

i. Tex. Atty. Gen. Op. DM-138 (1992)

j. Tex. Atty. Gen. Op. M-551 (1970)

k. The Medical Practice Act, Texas Occupations Code Annotated, Title 3, Subtitle B as amended, section 162.001.

l. The Medical Practice Act, Texas Occupations Code Annotated, Title 3, Subtitle B as amended, section 162.001.

m. The Medical Practice Act, Texas Occupations Code Annotated, Title 3, Subtitle B as amended, 151.055.

n. Occupations Code, section 102.001.

The TMB does not provide a referral service or make recommendations to patient consumers regarding specific health care providers. Here are some tips on locating a new physician:

• Contact your health insurance provider – check with your group or individual health plan or employer’s benefits office. Plans will have a listing of providers who accept your insurance and can offer further guidance.

For physicians who accept Medicare payments, visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Physician Compare: https://www.medicare.gov/physiciancompare/.

For Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), visit https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip.

• Check the Texas Medical Board’s website – licensees of the Medical Board are searchable several ways including by city, zip code and specialty. Visit the following link: http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/look-up-a-license.

• Texas Health Compare – an online guide from the Texas Department of Insurance for choosing health plans and providers, available at the following link: http://www.texashealthoptions.com/compare/index.html.

• Other provider directories – another helpful resource is the National Institutes of Health’s MedlinePlus, available at the following link: https://medlineplus.gov/directories.html.

If you have been previously fingerprinted for another license or by another agency, we apologize for the inconvenience; however you will still be required to submit the fingerprint criminal history background to the TMB. Per Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 50.12, FBI fingerprinting reports are only allowed to be used for the purposes requested. Therefore, we are not able to access fingerprint results that were submitted to another agency (other states licenses, CHL permits, other background checks, etc.). Applicants or Texas licensees looking to renew their licensure must use the TMB Service Code and their Board issued 6-digit ID# on the IdentoGo website in order for our agency to receive your DPS/FBI consolidated report.  If you used any other service code other than the one assigned to the TMB, those results cannot be disclosed to our agency. Refer to the instructions provided to you by either the Licensure or Registrations Department.

Yes. You may request that one be issued once your file is complete so that you can practice until the next Board meeting, when a permanent license will be issued. The fee is $107.

NCCPA Certification is required for initial licensure in Texas but not for renewal of an active Texas Physician Assistant License.

Applications for PA licensure are submitted online.

The application-processing fee is $220.00 that must be submitted along with the completed application. In addition, there is a fee of $107 if you are requesting a temporary license.

Individual application processing time will vary according to the complexity of the application. Factors that increase complexity are “yes” answers to any of the Professionalism questions on the application.  

No. Texas law requires graduation from an accredited PA program for eligibility.

Yes, if you have requested and paid for one. The request is made by mailing in the Temporary License Affidavit with the $107 fee. A temporary license cannot be issued until all supporting documents for your online application have been received, and your file has been reviewed and determined complete by your assigned licensing analyst. The temporary license is considered a full and active license and will allow you to practice until your permanent license is issued. Permanent licenses are issued once a month.  Please see the License Issue Dates link to the left for more information.  

Yes. All physician applicants are required to submit their fingerprints for a criminal background check.

The Board assigns the first registration period. These vary in length from 12 to 24 months. First time registration fees are prorated accordingly:

Initial Registration Fee prorated amounts, as of 9/1/2023:

Initial registration of 12 months - $283.48
Initial registration of 24 months - $469.48

The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) is a service created by the Federation of State Medical Boards to streamline the credentialing and licensing process. FCVS is not a requirement for Texas licensure and is in no way a guarantee of licensure or of an expedited application process in Texas. FCVS will be of the greatest benefit to an applicant who is applying from a school that will not issue multiple sets of documents or will be applying to several other states in addition to Texas. The Federation of State Medical Boards collects information regarding an applicant's identity, medical education, postgraduate training, licensure examination history, ECFMG certification, and board action history. This information is verified by the FCVS and maintained as a primary source record of a physician's credentials. FCVS will send a standard portfolio to state boards, hospitals, managed care plans, or professional societies at the applicant's request. Please note that the Texas Medical Board may require additional documentation in place of or in addition to the documentation provided within the FCVS packet. Please contact the Federation of State Medical Boards directly concerning service fees and processing times.

As of 9/1/2015, the fee for physician licensure in Texas is $817.00.  The entire fee must be submitted before your application can be assigned and processed. This fee does not include the registration fee, which is due and payable upon issuance of your permanent license.

Yes. If you have passed a licensing examination (FLEX, NBME, NBOME, USMLE, COMLEX, LMCC or a state board examination) acceptable by the board, you may apply for licensure.