Does One State’s Action Affect All Your Licenses?
Yes. If you’re licensed through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), a disciplinary action in one state can impact your ability to hold — or retain — licenses in others. Even a single board decision may trigger investigations or suspensions across the compact network.
Why So Many States Get Involved?
The IMLC’s structure is based on mutual trust and shared verification. If your license becomes encumbered (restricted, suspended, revoked) in any state, that information is reported to the IMLC Commission and every other board where you hold a compact license.
What Counts as Disciplinary Action?
Examples include:
- License suspension or revocation
- Public reprimands or consent orders
- Probation or mandated supervision
- Failure to maintain CME or reporting violations
- Criminal convictions or fraud investigations
Even non-clinical issues — like failure to disclose an address change — can trigger review in certain states.
What Happens First?
Your State of Principal License (SPL) or any IMLC-participating state can initiate the disciplinary process. Once action is taken:
- The IMLC is notified
- All states where you hold licenses are alerted
- Each board decides independently whether to suspend, revoke, or restrict your license
This can happen quickly — sometimes within days of the initial board’s decision.
Can You Defend Yourself in Every State?
Not typically. Most IMLC states will rely on the findings of the original board and issue a reciprocal or “mirror” action without a separate hearing. Some may allow limited appeals, but due process is generally handled by the state where the issue occurred.
Will You Lose All Licenses Automatically?
Not always — but it's likely if the disciplinary action is serious. Some states may impose different levels of discipline (e.g., probation in one, suspension in another), but few will allow unrestricted practice if another state found cause for restriction.
How to Prevent Cascade Discipline
- Resolve minor board complaints quickly and completely
- Disclose any issues immediately to all relevant boards
- Maintain documentation of CME, address changes, and renewal compliance
- Avoid legal gray areas in practice — especially telehealth compliance
Prevention and transparency are your best defense.
Can You Reapply Through the IMLC Later?
If your license becomes encumbered, you’re disqualified from using the IMLC — even if the restriction is temporary. Only after full resolution, reinstatement, and the passage of time (typically several years) can you reapply, and approval is not guaranteed.
Final Thoughts
The IMLC gives you reach — but with that comes risk. One bad outcome can trigger licensing collapse across the board. The best way to protect yourself? Maintain clean records, resolve issues immediately, and treat every state’s rules with the same rigor as your own. Multistate practice demands multistate diligence.