Starting residency · NH
Starting residency in New Hampshire
New Hampshire requires residents to hold a training license from the New Hampshire Board of Medicine (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification): the Resident Training License. New Hampshire has no state income tax on wages.
Training license
- Status
- Training license required
- Called
- Resident Training License
- Fee
- $55; renewal $55
- Renewal
- Board rule says the license expires 4 years after issue; the state fee rule lists a 2-year term. It ends if the resident leaves the program.
Who applies: Resident; the GME director and the program director sign to certify enrollment.
State law has no resident exemption and directs the licensing office to issue training licenses to residents and fellows. The license covers practice only within the training program and its affiliated facilities, under supervision, so it does not cover moonlighting. Applicants need USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 results; IMGs also need ECFMG certification.
Full license: After 2 years of ACGME or AOA training (PGY-1 and PGY-2), for all graduates; IMGs also need ECFMG certification. A full license matters if you plan to moonlight.
Source: New Hampshire Board of Medicine (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification)
State income tax
No state income tax on wages.
Source: taxfoundation.org
Match Day to your first loan payment
Assumes you enroll in RAP or IBR when the grace period ends, recertify once a year, and file each tax return by April. Your servicer's dates govern.
Mid-March
Match Day
You learn where you'll train. Your program sends its residency (GME) agreement and onboarding steps.
March–April
New Hampshire training license
Apply for your New Hampshire training license as soon as your program sends instructions. Applications often need school records and background checks that take weeks.
April–June
Credentialing and onboarding
Hospital credentialing, health screening, payroll and benefits forms, and a DEA registration if your program requires one.
Late June–July 1
Move and start
Intern orientation usually starts in the last week of June. When the first paycheck arrives depends on the hospital's payroll schedule, so budget for a few weeks of moving costs without one.
About 6 months after graduation
Federal loan grace period ends
Payments start 6 months after you leave school. Choose a plan before then, or request residency forbearance, during which interest accrues and months don't count toward PSLF.
First year of payments
Payments use last year's income
RAP and IBR use the adjusted gross income on your most recent tax return, which for most new residents is a student year. Payments rise after you recertify with a resident's income.
One board licenses MDs and DOs. New Hampshire's interest and dividends tax was repealed starting with tax year 2025; it never taxed wages.
Related
- Compare RAP, IBR and Tiered Standard on a resident's income
- New Hampshire physician non-compete law, for when you sign your first attending contract
- All states
General information, checked on the date above. Board requirements and fees change; confirm with the New Hampshire Board of Medicine (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification)and your program before you apply.