DC Board of Medicine: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where is the D.C. Board of Medicine ("Board") located?

A: The Board of Medicine is one of twenty one health occupation boards that are administered by the D.C. Department of Health.  The Board offices are located at 717 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. The office is open to walk-in customers from 9AM to 4PM Monday through Friday. Telephone hours are 8:15 AM to 4:45 PM Monday through Friday. The main number is (202) 724-4900.

Q: What is the mission of the D.C. Board of Medicine?

A: The D.C. Board of Medicine (Board) regulates the practice of medicine, the practice of acupuncture with the advice of the Advisory Committee on Acupuncture and the practice of physician assistants with the advice of the Advisory Committee on Physician Assistants.

Q: How can I contact the Board of Medicine?

A: The Board is one of twenty one health occupation boards in the District of Columbia Department of Health. The main number is (202) 724-4900. For license application status, contact the Board's license vendor, Assessment Systems, Inc. (ASI) at 1(888) 204-6193. If ASI informs you that the application has been forwarded to the Board for final review, call Ms. Antoinette Stokes at (202) 724-4900 for a status report on your application.

Q: How do I update my address with the Board of Medicine?

A: Contact Assessment Systems, Inc. (ASI) -- the Board of Medicine contractor -- at 1-888-204-6193. 

Q: How does the Board accomplish its mission?

A: The Board reviews and approves licenses to practice medicine, acupuncture and physician assistants. The Board receives and resolves complaints against physicians, acupuncturists and physician assistants that are received from patients and the concerned public. When necessary to protect the health and safety of the public, the Board will take disciplinary action against physicians, acupuncturists and physician assistants who have violated the Health Occupations Revision Act of 1986 and amendments, and other applicable law and regulations. The Board also may establish model policy for the practice of certain procedures, etc. through the promulgation of law and/or rule (regulations).

Q: What are the major challenges facing the Board as it enters the new Millennium?

A: There are many opportunities for improvement of Board performance. The Board intends to improve the time from submission of an application to the time that the license is approved and issued. The Board also is desirous to improve the turnaround time to process and resolve a complaint. Over the next year, the Department of Health will be implementing a new customer service telephone system with a call center. There are also plans to revamp and update the Board's web site. Eventually, the Department hopes to place license verification services on the Internet.

Q: What is the license application process?

A: Application packets should be ordered by contacting ASI at 1(888) 204-6193. The application packet includes application instructions, the application form, and the D.C. regulations pertaining to the practice of medicine, acupuncture or physician assistant. The candidate for licensure should carefully read the entire instructions and completely fill out all parts of the application. The application MUST be notarized and be sent with the appropriate fee to be accepted. Candidates, not the Board, are responsible for ensuring that all supporting documents are sent from the appropriate jurisdiction, organization or program. Once the application is deemed complete, the application is forwarded to the Board staff for final review and presentation to the Board. The application is placed on the Board's next meeting agenda for final review and approval.

Q: What are the most common reasons why an application is delayed?

A: The most common reason for a delay is that the candidate does not provide all supporting documents (incomplete application) and/or the supporting documents are unacceptable. Unacceptable documents include: facsimile copies; uncertified or photocopied educational transcripts and unofficial copies of state license certifications - copies of licenses are NOT acceptable. Frequent missing documentation includes: lack of written documentation that a candidate truly completed a postgraduate experience and no evidence in the educational transcripts that the candidate satisfactorily completed the four courses that are required by law: biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physics.

Q: If I have a question about the requirements for licensure or a particular question about the law or my special situation, who can I contact?

A: Contact James Granger, Executive Director of the Board of Medicine at (202) 724-4900.

Q: What can a candidate do to assist the Board staff in expediting licensure?

A: Keep a file with a copy of your application, check and correspondence. Keep a log of telephone conversations with ASI and the Board staff. Ensure that all supporting documents are sent directly from the certifying agency in the acceptable format (no photocopies and no unofficial transcripts nor photocopied license certifications) to ASI. If the candidate does not receive a letter from ASI within two weeks of submission of the application, contact ASI immediately at 1(888) 204-6193. If you receive a letter from ASI, read it carefully. It contains information about missing documents that you must provide to complete your application. Please be reminded that applications contain confidential or privileged information; it is the policy of the Health Care Licensing & Customer Service Division to release application status information ONLY to the applicant. It is strictly prohibited to release information to third parties such as office staff, program directors, etc.

Q: What can I do if I feel that my application is being unreasonably delayed?

A: Contact the Board staff at (202) 724-4900 for assistance. Make sure that you leave a clear, detailed message including your full name, profession, social security number, daytime telephone number and a detailed description of the reason for your call.

Q: How do I file a customer service complaint concerning the processing of my application?

A: Contact the Board staff at (202) 724-4900. Make sure that you leave a clear, detailed message including your full name, profession, social security number, daytime telephone number and a detailed description of the reason for your call.