Obtaining Your Resident Training License

All medical residents are required to have a training license prior to the start of their residency training in Pennsylvania.  Keep reading for additional information from the Pennsylvania Department of State regarding the license process and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine (SBOM).

Note: POMA is not involved in the licensing process but we do have a good working relationship with the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. As with any professional concern, POMA will advocate for and assist its members with licensing concerns.

About the Licensing Process

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania utilizes the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) to issue resident training licenses. The state has provided specific training to hospital and health systems in order to streamline the licensure process. New residents should work with the appropriate individuals in the hospital/health system to ensure that training licenses are obtained in a timely manner. Once the hospital/health system has completed their portion, an email will be sent to the resident. The resident is required to log into the system, answer the legal questions and upload supporting documents as needed. Instructions are provided on the PALS website.

Applications are processed in the date order received. Should you encounter any technical issues with submitting your application, you will need to submit a request to the PALS Help Desk as follows:

  • Go to www.pals.pa.gov
  • Click on Support in the upper right corner
  • Click on the PALS icon/tile
  • Choose “Looking for something else?”
  • When the dropdown appears, choose “Click Here”
  • When the ticket form opens, complete all required information. Under “Issue Type” select "Graduate Medical Training"