Medical license
| Part of a series on |
| Medical law |
|---|
| Principles |
| Medical treatment |
| Regulation |
|
| Administrative law |
| Criminal law |
| Tort |
| Applications of medicine to law |
| Studied by |
| Category |
A medical license is an occupational license that permits a person to legally practice medicine. In most countries, a person must have a medical license bestowed either by a specified government-approved professional association or a government agency before they can practice medicine. Licenses are not granted automatically to all people with medical degrees. A medical school graduate must receive a license to practice medicine to legally be called a physician. The process typically requires testing by a medical board. The medical license is the documentation of authority to practice medicine within a certain locality. An active license is also required to practice medicine as an assistant physician, a physician assistant or a clinical officer in jurisdictions with authorizing legislation.
A professional may have their license removed due to if they are not deemed fit to practise, such as due to a lack of competence, health reasons, or ethical violations.: 6 The license will limit a professional's scope of practice.