Professional Licensing

  • important update: please read

    COVID-19 - Changes and Updates

    In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and implement Governor Whitmer’s recommendations regarding social distancing and public gatherings, the Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) has closed its lobbies to visits from the public. In order to implement Governor Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order, BPL staff have transitioned to working remotely.

    • Our customer service team is hard at work to help you, but wait times are higher than normal for phone calls. For all licensing related questions – status of your application, requirements for licensure, etc. – please email us at BPLHelp@michigan.gov and we will respond as quickly as we can. Also, when given the option by BPL staff, we strongly encourage you to send documents needed for licensure to BPLData@michigan.gov instead of through the U.S. Mail.
       
    • To file a complaint against a licensee, please send your complaint to BPL-Complaints@michigan.gov or select the “File a Complaint” box below.
       
    • For disciplinary matters, submit documentation or make inquiries related to disciplinary actions to BPL-Monitoring@michigan.gov.

    Information about this outbreak is changing rapidly.  You can stay informed by regularly visiting www.Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and www.CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

    LARA COVID-19 Guidance For Licensees

  • Important information about licensing

    Licensing Guide Updates

    Given the current COVID-19 pandemic and national and state declarations of emergency, Governor Whitmer and LARA Director Orlene Hawks recognize the critical need for current graduating medical and nursing students to be licensed as quickly as possible.

    It is important that applicants submit completed applications with the necessary information so that LARA can expeditiously issue licenses. The online application can be completed by  www.michigan.gov/miplus. 

    Applicants seeking licensure for health professions licensed under Article 15 of the Public Health Code, with exams currently being scheduled in testing centers have until July 1, 2020, 11:59 pm to qualify for the exam waiver. Individuals who apply at 12:00 am on July 2, 2020 or thereafter where the entity offering the exams is scheduling exams, those professions and applicants will not be eligible for an exam waiver. Please note that applicants who apply from now until July 1, 2020, 11:59 pm where the exam is waived, the applicant will need to meet all the other requirements for licensure in order to be approved to receive the license.

    Additionally, in accordance to Executive Order 2020-61 which was re-issued by EO 2020-100, BPL will continue to waive the licensing test requirement for professions under Article 15 of the Public Health Code where the testing center is not open or is not administering the licensing exam. Also note, BPL will not have the legal authority to waive exam requirements for applications received after the emergency expires. For additional information please review the Exam Waiver Guidance below.

    In addition, those receiving a license whose exam was waived during the state of emergency, will be required to take and pass the exam in order to keep his/her license post the state of emergency.  Licensees in this situation will be given 6 months from the end of the declared state of emergency to take and pass the exam, failure to do this will result in the license being null and void and no longer in effect.  For questions regarding this notice, please contact BPL-Help@michigan.gov or call 517-241-0199.

    For further information on these types of licenses:

  • TEMPORARY Nursing License PDF icon
  • Nursing License PDF icon
  • Michigan Medical Doctor Educational Limited License PDF icon
  • Michigan Osteopathic Physician Educational Limited License PDF icon
  • Foreign License Waiver Form PDF icon
  • Exam Waiver Guidance PDF icon

Welcome to the Bureau of Professional Licensing

  • WELCOME TO THE BUREAU OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSING

    The Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) is responsible for licensing and regulating over 700,000 individuals who are regulated by either the Michigan Occupational Code or the Public Health Code. BPL is also responsible for maintaining the Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP) and the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS).

    Mission Statement

    The mission of the Bureau of Professional Licensing is to protect, preserve and improve the health, safety and welfare of Michigan’s citizens through the licensing and regulation of occupational and health professionals. The Bureau is designed to make the regulatory system simple, fair and efficient.