Idaho Is Overhauling Physician License Renewal in 2026

Idaho is changing how physicians renew their medical licenses. Beginning in 2026, the state is moving from its older June-based renewal to a two-year (biennial) license that expires on the licensee's birthday, and the renewal fee is being adjusted to match the longer cycle. This is a change to the renewal schedule and the fee — not to your continuing medical education (CME) coursework. If you hold an Idaho license, here is what is happening and what to do about it.

What is changing

The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), which houses the Idaho Board of Medicine, is moving physician licensing to a two-year cycle tied to your birthday. As DOPL puts it, "As of April 1st, 2026, DOPL has begun transitioning the Board of Medicine to biennial licensure."

• From: licenses that renewed on one-year or two-year cycles keyed to the month of June.
• To: two-year licenses that expire on the licensee's birthday.
• Who it affects: the license types the Board of Medicine oversees, including physicians and surgeons (MDs), osteopathic physicians (DOs), resident physicians, and physician assistants.

How the phase-in works

DOPL is not flipping everyone to the new cycle on a single day. The transition is staggered based on your birth year (even or odd) and your birthday, so renewals spread out over roughly two years and each license lands on a birthday. Because your exact first two-year expiration depends on your specific birth year and birthday, DOPL publishes a breakdown in its Board News and FAQ materials showing which cycle you fall into — check there to confirm your own date.

You will still have a renewal window. DOPL says licensees will be able to renew up to 60 days before the license expires on their birthday, unless otherwise stated.

The fee change

Because a single renewal now covers two years instead of one, the renewal fee is adjusted to match. DOPL states that once you move to the two-year cycle, "your licensing fee will double to reflect the extended renewal period." In practice, you pay for two years up front but only renew every other year, and DOPL notes licensees are charged only for whole years. Separately, DOPL has announced that select license fees change effective July 1, 2026.

We are intentionally not quoting a dollar figure here, because fee schedules change. Confirm the current physician fee on DOPL's official Board of Medicine fee page before you renew.

What is not changing

This overhaul is about renewal cadence and fees. The underlying CME requirement for Idaho physicians is not being changed by this transition — Idaho continues to tie CME to the two-year licensing period. If you want to confirm the exact number of hours and any special-topic requirements, check the Idaho Board of Medicine rules directly, since those details can be revised separately.

What to do now

1. Find your new expiration date. Your license will now expire on your birthday, so check DOPL's Board News and FAQ to see your first two-year expiration under the phase-in.
2. Budget for a two-year fee. Expect the renewal fee to roughly double relative to a one-year renewal, since it now covers two years. Confirm the current amount on DOPL's fee page.
3. Keep your CME on track. The requirement is still tied to the two-year cycle, so keep logging Category 1 credits and saving your certificates.

For a quick refresher on renewal cycles and CME by state, our guides stay current: