What the Podiatry Compact Borrowed From the Physician Compact

The Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards says plainly that the podiatry compact "is modeled after the existing Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)," the compact through which physicians get expedited licenses in member states. The IPMLC's own history page says its drafting task force wrote the model law "modeled after the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) legislation," with technical help from the IMLC Commission's executive director. Reading the two side by side shows what podiatrists can expect, and where podiatry made different choices. The podiatry compact is not active.

What did the podiatry compact copy?

The structure is nearly identical:

• Separate state licenses. Both compacts streamline the application, not the license. The IMLC says its licenses "are still issued by the individual states," and the IPMLC site uses the same sentence. The podiatry model law calls the result an "expedited license," a full, unrestricted license from each member state (Section 2(d)).
• A home state. Both require a state of principal license where you hold a full, unrestricted license and that is your primary residence, where at least 25% of your practice occurs, where your employer is located, or your federal tax residence (podiatry model law, Section 4).
• A letter of qualification. In both, the home state's board checks eligibility, runs a fingerprint-based background check and issues a letter of qualification before any other state issues a license (Section 5).
• Renewal and discipline links. Both route renewals through the Commission, keep a shared database of public actions, and let discipline in the home state carry over to every compact license (Sections 7, 8 and 10).
• Location of the patient. Both restate that practice occurs where the patient is, so each state keeps jurisdiction over care delivered to its residents.

Where do the eligibility rules differ?

The IMLC's physician information page and Section 2(m) of the podiatry model law (version dated May 27, 2026) diverge on several points:

• Exam attempts. Physicians must have passed each component of the USMLE, COMLEX-USA or an equivalent "in no more than three attempts for each component." The podiatry model law requires APMLE Parts I, II and III but sets no attempt limit. See APMLE attempt limits by state.
• Schools. The IMLC accepts graduates of an accredited medical school "or a school listed in the International Medical Education Directory." The podiatry compact requires a podiatric medical school accredited by CPME, which leaves internationally trained podiatrists out.
• Training. Physicians need ACGME- or AOA-accredited graduate medical education. Podiatrists need a CPME-approved residency.
• Certification. The IMLC requires "a current specialty certification or time-unlimited certification" from an ABMS or AOABOS board. The podiatry model law requires that you hold "specialty certification from a specialty board recognized by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education" and does not mention lifetime certificates.
• Clean record. Both exclude discipline, criminal history, controlled substance actions and open investigations. The podiatry model law spells out its terms: discipline related only to nonpayment of fees does not count, and "offense" means a felony, gross misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor related to the practice of podiatry.

The IMLC says "approximately 80% of U.S. physicians meet the criteria for licensure through the Compact." No comparable estimate has been published for podiatry. The certification requirement alone suggests the share of podiatrists who qualify could be lower. See who would qualify for the podiatry compact.

How do costs compare?

The IMLC charges a non-refundable application fee, plus the license fee for each state you choose. A Letter of Qualification is valid for one year, and adding states during that year carries a separate handling fee, according to its physician information page. The podiatry compact has no fees at all yet; the model law lets each member state charge for expedited licenses and lets the Commission write fee rules (Section 6). Do not assume podiatry will match the physician fees.

Who would run the podiatry compact's systems?

FPMB has a memorandum of understanding with the IMLC Commission for technical and administrative help, according to FPMB's license portability page and the IPMLC site. In November 2025 the IMLC Commission voted to create a subsidiary to offer its licensing portal and support services to other compacts. Its December 2025 announcement says the subsidiary will focus on giving "smaller, fledgling compacts" access to its technology for a fee and names podiatry among the professions that need their own compacts. That could shorten the build once the podiatry compact activates, but no agreement for podiatry has been announced.

Does the physician compact's history predict podiatry's timeline?

Not much. The IMLC became operational in April 2017, according to its physician information page. The podiatry compact still needs four enacting states under Section 20(b) of its model law. Iowa has enacted it, and Maryland has enacted it contingent on four other states. After activation, the IPMLC's own summary says compacts "can take up to 24 months to become fully operational." Podiatry is a much smaller profession with fewer boards, which may make some steps simpler and funding harder. Nobody can give a launch date.

Should a podiatrist plan around the compact today?

Not yet. If you have watched physician colleagues use the IMLC, expect a similar process for podiatry one day, with a narrower door. For licenses you need now, use each state's current route: podiatry license by endorsement covers the options. To hear when the compact moves, join the free Compact Notification List on the state license index, and a Podiatry Licensure Readiness Review ($149, credited toward your first application) checks your options today. The full model-law walkthrough is in the podiatry compact, explained.