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Washington (WA)

Washington Medical License Renewal, 2026

Biennial (2 years) for MDs. Annual (1 year) for DOs. renewal through the Washington Medical Commission (WMC). MD licenses renew every two years on your birthday; DO licenses renew every year on your birthday. Verified from the board's own pages, August 2026.

Renew at the WA board portal →
Quick Facts: Washington Medical License Renewal
Medical Board Washington Medical Commission (WMC)
Renewal Cycle Biennial (2 years) for MDs. Annual (1 year) for DOs.
CME Hours Required 200 hours
Renewal Fee MD active 2-year renewal: $996 total = $824 base renewal + $32 UW HEAL-WA online access surcharge + $140 Washington Physician Health Program surcharge (RCW 18.71.310(2)). DO active 1-year renewal: $461 total = $375 renewal + $16 HEAL-WA + $70 substance use disorder monitoring surcharge. Fees effective April 17, 2025 (WSR 25-07-080); all fees non-refundable.
Processing Time Online is fastest; mailed renewals take about two weeks, walk-in payments three to seven business days; WMC's goal is all renewals processed within seven business days of receipt (wmc.wa.gov/licensing/renewals).
Renewal Due Your birthday
Late fee MD: $300 late renewal penalty

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

When it is due
MD: "Licenses must be renewed every two years on the practitioner's birthday" (WAC 246-919-990; postgraduate limited licenses renew annually on program dates). DO: licenses must be renewed every year on the physician's birthday (WAC 246-853-990).
Fee
MD active 2-year renewal: $996 total = $824 base renewal + $32 UW HEAL-WA online access surcharge + $140 Washington Physician Health Program surcharge (RCW 18.71.310(2)). DO active 1-year renewal: $461 total = $375 renewal + $16 HEAL-WA + $70 substance use disorder monitoring surcharge. Fees effective April 17, 2025 (WSR 25-07-080); all fees non-refundable.
Late fee
MD: $300 late renewal penalty (retired active: $100). DO: $190 late renewal penalty (inactive: $155; retired active: $100). Waived only if the license expires on a day the department is closed and payment is received the next business day (WAC 246-12).
If you miss the deadline
No grace period for practice: once expired, "The practitioner must not practice until the credential is returned to active status" (WAC 246-12-040). Expired one renewal cycle or less: pay late penalty + current renewal fee + applicable surcharge and meet current CE. Expired more than one cycle but under three years: abbreviated application, all of the above plus expired credential reissuance fee (MD $262.50, DO $250) and written declarations of no discipline and CE completion for the two most recent years. WMC quotes the MD over-two-years total at $1,558.50 ($996 + $300 + $262.50). Expired three or more years: same, plus any additional competency requirements the regulatory entity imposes.
Processing time
Online is fastest; mailed renewals take about two weeks, walk-in payments three to seven business days; WMC's goal is all renewals processed within seven business days of receipt (wmc.wa.gov/licensing/renewals).
MD vs DO
This state runs separate MD and DO requirements. MD: 200 hours per 4-year cycle: at least 200 hours in Category 1, 6 hours of suicide prevention, 1 hour of opioid prescribing, 2 hours of cultural competency. DO: 150 hours per 3-year cycle: at least 60 hours in Category 1, 6 hours of suicide prevention, 1 hour of opioid prescribing, 2 hours of cultural competency.

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

Follow these steps to renew your medical license with the Washington Medical Commission (WMC):

  1. Complete your CME for the cycle (200 hours) (see details below)
  2. Log in to the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) renewal portal
  3. Complete the renewal application and answer the attestation questions
  4. Pay the renewal fee (MD active 2-year renewal: $996 total = $824 base renewal + $32 UW HEAL-WA online access surcharge + $140 Washington Physician Health Program surcharge (RCW 18)
  5. Submit and save your confirmation

2 Washington CME Requirements

MD: 200 hours per 4-year cycle.

DO: 150 hours per 3-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 Washington physicians most commonly make during renewal:

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The reminder email above covers this renewal. The app goes further: it watches your WA 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 Washington MD license due for renewal? ▾
Every two years on your birthday (WAC 246-919-990). WMC sends a renewal notice about 90 days before expiration, and you can renew up to 90 days early. Postgraduate training limited licenses renew annually on program dates instead.
How much does renewal cost? ▾
For an active MD, $996 for the two-year renewal: $824 base plus a $32 UW HEAL-WA surcharge and a $140 Washington Physician Health Program surcharge. An active DO pays $461 per year ($375 + $16 + $70 surcharges). Credit card payments add a 2.5% convenience fee; ACH has no fee. All fees are non-refundable.
How do I renew online? ▾
Through HELMS, reached via Secure Access Washington at https://secureaccess.wa.gov/. Log into SAW, add the HELMS service, confirm your information, and complete the renewal. Online renewal works only within 90 days of expiration, for active unrestricted licenses, with no status change.
What happens if I miss my birthday deadline? ▾
You may not practice until the license is returned to active status. Within one renewal cycle of expiration, you pay the $300 late penalty (MD) or $190 (DO) plus the full renewal fee and surcharges and must meet current CE. Past one cycle, add an expired license reissuance fee ($262.50 MD, $250 DO), an abbreviated application, and declarations of no discipline and recent CE; the MD total at that point is $1,558.50.
Is there a reduced fee if I am retired? ▾
Yes. WMC offers a retired active MD license: $140 for the two-year renewal if you live in Washington and volunteer without compensation, $372 otherwise (in-state not volunteering, or out-of-state); the retired active late penalty is $100. DOs have a retired active renewal of $195 plus the $16 and $70 surcharges.
Do DOs renew the same way as MDs? ▾
No. DOs are licensed by the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery under DOH, renew every year on their birthday, and pay $461 annually. They use the same HELMS/SAW portal, but the fee schedule (WAC 246-853-990) and CME rules differ from the MD side.

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

From the board's own pages, 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].

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