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Arizona (AZ)

Arizona Medical License Renewal, 2026

Biennial (2 years) for both MD and DO renewal through the Arizona Medical Board. MD renewal is due on or before your birthday every other year; DO licenses expire December 31 of your assigned renewal year. Verified from the board's own pages, August 2026.

Renew at the AZ board portal →
Quick Facts: Arizona Medical License Renewal
Medical Board Arizona Medical Board
Renewal Cycle Biennial (2 years) for both MD and DO
CME Hours Required 40 hours
Renewal Fee $500 (MD active license, 2-year renewal). DO: $636 biennial, non-refundable.
Processing Time MD paper renewals: allow 4-6 weeks (board form instructions); MD online renewals generate an email confirmation when approved, no published timeline. DO online renewal updates the public profile within minutes unless disclosures or status changes require staff review.
Renewal Due Your birthday (MD); assigned Dec 31 (DO)
Late fee MD: $350 penalty in addition to the $500 fee if renewed more than 30 days after the birthday due date

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i Deadlines, fees, and what happens if you are late

When it is due
MD: every other year on or before the licensee's birthday (A.R.S. 32-1430(A); the on-year depends on your license record, check your profile at azmd.gov Doctor Search). DO: December 31 of either even-numbered or odd-numbered years depending on the licensee's assigned renew-by date; the DO renewal portal opens on or about October 1.
Fee
$500 (MD active license, 2-year renewal). DO: $636 biennial, non-refundable.
Late fee
MD: $350 penalty in addition to the $500 fee if renewed more than 30 days after the birthday due date ($850 total on the paper form). DO: $175 late fee in addition to the $636 fee if renewing January 31 through April 30 ($811 total).
If you miss the deadline
MD: renewal within 30 days after the birthday incurs no penalty; from 31 days to 4 months after the birthday you renew with the $350 penalty; the license automatically expires 4 months after the birthday and an expired MD must reapply for licensure (A.R.S. 32-1430(A) and (D)); practicing on an expired license violates the Medical Practice Act. DO: renew by midnight December 31; renewals through January 31 incur no penalty; February 1 through April 30 requires the $175 late fee; the license expires May 1 and the board states there is no reinstatement of an expired DO license, you must reapply as a new physician, which the board says can take up to 6 months with no guarantee of relicensure.
Processing time
MD paper renewals: allow 4-6 weeks (board form instructions); MD online renewals generate an email confirmation when approved, no published timeline. DO online renewal updates the public profile within minutes unless disclosures or status changes require staff review.
MD vs DO
This state runs separate MD and DO requirements. MD: 40 hours per 2-year cycle: 3 hours of opioid prescribing. DO: 40 hours per 2-year cycle: at least 24 hours in Category 1, 3 hours of opioid prescribing.

1 Step-by-Step: Renewing Your Arizona Medical License

Follow these steps to renew your medical license with the Arizona Medical Board:

  1. Complete your CME for the cycle (40 hours) (see details below)
  2. Log in to the Arizona Medical Board renewal portal
  3. Complete the renewal application and answer the attestation questions
  4. Pay the renewal fee ($500 (MD active license, 2-year renewal))
  5. Submit and save your confirmation

2 Arizona CME Requirements

MD: 40 hours per 2-year cycle.

DO: 40 hours per 2-year cycle.

Tracking your CME across multiple states is one of the most time-consuming parts of credential management. CredentialDOMD automatically monitors your CME progress and alerts you when you're falling behind, so you never miss a requirement.

3 Common Pitfalls to Avoid

These are the mistakes Arizona physicians most commonly make during renewal:

Track your Arizona license, CME, and DEA in one place

The reminder email above covers this renewal. The app goes further: it watches your AZ renewal window, counts your CME hours against the requirement, and tracks your DEA registration alongside your license. Built by a practicing neurosurgeon who uses it daily. Free during beta.

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4 Frequently Asked Questions

When is my Arizona MD license renewal due? ▾
Every other year on or before your birthday (A.R.S. 32-1430(A)). You can renew up to 30 days after your birthday without penalty; after that a $350 late penalty applies, and the license automatically expires 4 months after your birthday.
How much does renewal cost? ▾
MD: $500 for the 2-year renewal, plus a $350 penalty if postmarked 31 or more days after the due date. DO: $636 biennial, plus a $175 late fee if renewing January 31 through April 30; all DO fees are non-refundable.
What happens if I let my license lapse? ▾
MD: the license automatically expires 4 months after your birthday and you must reapply for licensure; practicing after expiration violates the Medical Practice Act. DO: the license expires May 1 with no reinstatement; you must reapply as a new physician, which the board says can take up to 6 months with no guarantee of relicensure.
Can I renew on paper? ▾
MD: yes, the board publishes an MD Paper Renewal form and asks you to allow 4-6 weeks for processing, though online renewal is preferred. DO: no, the process is entirely online through the Thentia licensee portal and the board will not process mailed checks.
Do I need to submit CME certificates with my renewal? ▾
Only if selected for audit. MDs attest to 40 hours per cycle and submit the CME Audit Form with proof (including the 3 hours of opioid prescribing CME) only when audited. DOs attest and are also subject to random audit; the DO board holds the physician responsible for recordkeeping and lets you log CME in the Licensee Portal.
When does the DO renewal window open? ▾
The DO renewal portal opens on or about October 1 of the renewal year, and renewal notices are mailed the last Friday in October. Renew by December 31 to avoid issues; January 1-31 is a no-penalty grace period.

Medical License Renewal in Nearby States

CA California License Renewal TX Texas License Renewal FL Florida License Renewal NY New York License Renewal

✓ Where this comes from

Double-checked against a second official source, August 2026. These are the primary sources we read:

Boards change fees and rules; always confirm on the board page before you pay. Report anything out of date to [email protected].

Take this guide with you

Get this guide by email: the Arizona portal link, the renewal fee and deadline, and the full checklist. Free.