If you have left medicine due to health reasons, disability, family responsibilities, or to pursue other opportunities, you might want to return to practice after your situation changes.

Even if you are semi-retired, want to work part-time, or intend to volunteer your medical services, a medical license may be required. If you have not renewed your medical license for some time, you can often renew it. See the state by state medical licensing requirements for physicians here.

In addition to licensing, you may want to or be required to retrain or work with a preceptor for some time while you regain your skills. You should begin by checking the requirements for physician reentry with your state medical board, or with the medical board of the state where you want to practice to ensure that any program you select will qualify you for the work you intend to do.

There are a number of well established re-entry and re-training programs for physicians who want to return to practice. You can also consider shadowing a physician or fulfilling CME requirements if this is sufficient for licensing and privileges where you want to work.

Re-entry programs include:

LifeGuard Services- The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society
Cedars-Sinai Reentry program
Physician Retraining and Reentry- In collaboration with UC SanDiego School of Medicine Faculty
Oregon Medical Board Reentry to Practice
Drexel University College of Medicine- Physician Refresher/Re-entry Program
University of Florida- Florida Cares- Physician Remediation
Texas A & M Mini Residency Program

Western University Reentry Program for Canadian Doctors