Creating emeritus physician license

Free honorary licenses for retired medical providers

The West Virginia Board of Medicine can issue free emeritus, or honorary, licenses to retired physicians, podiatric physicians, and physician assistants. Applicants need at least 10 years of licensed West Virginia practice and must submit the board-approved form. They must be fully and voluntarily retired, with no active federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration. They cannot be under a professional-conduct investigation by the board or another licensing board. They also cannot have current probation or past disciplinary action that revoked, suspended, or required surrender of a license. Applicants normally need a current, valid West Virginia board license. Through July 1, 2030, the board can also issue honorary licenses for licenses that expired before July 1, 2025. Those applicants must meet all other eligibility rules. The honorary license requires no renewal or continuing education and lasts for life unless revoked or the holder returns to practice. It permits no professional practice in West Virginia or clinical activity and cannot support licensing or practice privileges in another state. It cannot become a full license; returning to practice requires license reactivation and all related requirements, including continuing education. The board must adopt application rules and a process for giving up the honorary license. Its denial and revocation rules must address active clinical practice anywhere, retirement to avoid a pending board complaint or investigation, and probation, suspension, or revocation before retirement.