G:\LICENSE\License Ack_MD_DO 021918.docx
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Inc.
Institutional Policy
LICENSURE, RESIDENT EDUCATIONAL LICENSE, and DEA NUMBER REQUIREMENTS
FOR HOUSESTAFF
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to outline licensure, Resident Educational License and DEA
number requirements for housestaff in Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospital, Inc.
(MCWAH) programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
POLICY
All MCWAH housestaff are required to acquire and maintain proper medical licensure and a
DEA number as outlined below:
1. Housestaff must obtain a Wisconsin Resident Educational License (REL) by the start of
their first year of graduate medical education (GME) training.
2. Housestaff must pass the Step 2 CK and CS of the United States Medical Licensing
Examination (USMLE) or the Level 2 CE and Level 2 PE of the COMLEX-USA of the
National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) prior to the end of their first
year of GME training. Failure to pass these examinations will result in non-promotion to
the second year of training or non-renewal of the training agreement.
3. Housestaff must pass Step 3 of the USMLE or of the COMLEX-USA within 6 months of
successfully completing one year of GME training.
4. Housestaff must possess an unrestricted Wisconsin medical license after 28 months of
GME training. Failure to possess an unrestricted license may result in: non-promotion to
the next level of training, unpaid leave of absence or non-renewal of the training
agreement.
5. Candidates accepted into a MCWAH fellowship program must have an unrestricted
Wisconsin medical license prior to beginning training.
6. Visiting housestaff who rotate in a MCWAH program must obtain either a Wisconsin
Resident Education License or a full and unrestricted Wisconsin medical license and
appropriate professional liability insurance prior to the start of the rotation.
7. Housestaff must renew their REL or Wisconsin license prior to expiration.
8. Licensed housestaff, with the exception of housestaff who are in specialties which do not
order and administer controlled substances or who never write prescriptions, must also
obtain a DEA number within three months of receiving their Wisconsin license and renew
it prior to expiration while in a MCWAH training program. All prescriptions for scheduled
drugs must have the DEA number of a physician licensed in Wisconsin. Most pharmacies
in the community require a DEA number on all prescriptions. Non-licensed housestaff
must have their prescriptions co-signed by a licensed physician with a DEA number.
9. Wisconsin law requires licensed physicians to complete 30 hours of continuing medical
education for biannual medical license re-registration. Participation in a program of
graduate medical education for three continuous months satisfies this requirement.
Verification of such participation will be provided if needed. (Wis. Admin. Code § Med