DHHS Internet Website - Public Health

Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon
Application Procedures/Requirements

To obtain a license by examination on the basis of Medical education received in the United States, an applicant must:

1. Have graduated from an accredited school or college of osteopathic medicine; and
2. Have successfully completed one year of approved graduate medical education or approved graduate osteopathic medical education; and
3. Have successfully passed a licensing examination; and
4. Maintenance of Competency: Meet one of the following within the three years immediately preceding the application for licensure:

• Have been in the active practice of the profession of medicine and surgery in some other state, a territory, the District of Columbia, or Canada for a period of one year; or
• Have had at least one year of approved graduate medical education; or
• Have completed at least 75 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
• Have completed a refresher course in medicine and surgery approved by the Board; or Have completed the special purposes examination approved by the Board.

5. Have attained at least the age of 19; and
6. Have good moral character.

To apply for an Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon licensure by examination, you must submit the following:

1. Completed  application and  Criminal Background Check (now required for initial licensure), including all required regulatory information i.e. malpractice and misdemeanor/felony conviction documentation (Link to Malpractice); and
2. Fee of $300.00; and
3. A certified final transcript sent directly from the medical school is the only acceptable document to verify your completion of medical school; and
4. Official documentation showing successful completion of one year of approved graduate medical education or graduate osteopathic medical education on the  Certificate of Post-Graduate Medical Education form provided; and
5. Official documentation showing passing scores obtained on all parts of the licensing examination, submitted directly to the Department from the official repository of scores: and
6. Certification from each state where applicant has ever held a license that such license has never been suspended, revoked, limited, or disciplined in any manner. If there are any disciplinary actions, the nature of such actions is to be included; and
7. Documentation of meeting one of the provisions of Maintenance of Competency.
8. Photocopy of current Federal DEA Certificate if you prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances.

To obtain a Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon license by reciprocity, an applicant must:

1. Have successfully passed a reciprocity examination; and
2. Have been duly licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery in some other state or territory of the United States of America or in the District of Columbia under conditions and circumstances which the board shall find to be comparable to the requirements of the State of Nebraska for obtaining a license to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery; and
3. Maintenance of Competency: Meet one of the following within the three years immediately preceding the application for licensure:

• Have been in the active practice of the profession of medicine and surgery in some other state, a territory, the District of Columbia, or Canada for a period of one year; or
• Have had at least one year of approved graduate medical education; or
• Have completed at least 75 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
• Have completed a refresher course in medicine and surgery approved by the Board; or Have completed the special purposes examination approved by the Board.

4. Have graduated from an accredited school or college of osteopathic medicine; and
5. Have successfully completed one year of approved graduate medical education or one year of approved graduate osteopathic medical education: and
6. Have attained at least the age of 19; and
7. Have good moral character.

To submit an application for an Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon by reciprocity an applicant must submit the following:

1. Completed  application and  Criminal Background Check (now required for initial licensure), including all required regulatory information i.e. malpractice and misdemeanor/felony conviction documentation; and
2. Fee of $300.00; and
3. A certified final transcript sent directly from the medical school is the only acceptable document to verify your completion of medical school; and
4. Official documentation showing successful completion of one year of post graduate medical education or one year of approved graduate osteopathic medical education, if applicant is a graduate of an accredited school or college of medicine; and
5. A certification from each state where applicant has ever held a license that such license has never been suspended, revoked, limited, or disciplined in any manner. If there are any disciplinary actions, the nature of such actions is to be included; and
6. Documentation of meeting one of the provisions of Maintenance of Competency; and
7. Documentation that he/she successfully passed a reciprocity examination; and
8. Photocopy of current Federal DEA Certificate if you prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances.