Starting residency · RI
Starting residency in Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires residents to hold a training license from the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline (Department of Health): the Limited medical registration. Rhode Island has a graduated income tax (top rate 5.99% above $186,450 for 2026).
Training license
- Status
- Training license required
- Called
- Limited medical registration (training license)
- Fee
- $65; renewal $65 (the fee rule's 'Hospital Medical Officer (Limited)' line, the statutory category that covers residents)
- Renewal
- Annual; renewable for up to four consecutive years
Who applies: Program. The application goes through the hospital or institution and is signed by its chief executive and the program director.
Board rule bars anyone without a full license from working as an intern, resident or fellow in Rhode Island without a limited registration. It covers practice at the named hospital and approved affiliated sites under supervision. A resident who practices outside the program needs a full license. IMGs need ECFMG certification. The fee rule has no line labeled for residents, so the fee rests on reading the hospital medical officer line as the resident fee.
Full license: After 2 years of progressive accredited training, for MDs, DOs and IMGs (IMGs also need ECFMG certification). A full license matters if you plan to moonlight.
Source: Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline (Department of Health)
State income tax
Graduated income tax: top rate 5.99% above $186,450 for 2026. From 2027, the FY2027 budget (H 7127) adds a surtax on income above $1 million: 1% in 2027, 2% in 2028 and 3% from 2029.
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
Rhode Island training license
Apply for your Rhode Island 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.
Related
- Compare RAP, IBR and Tiered Standard on a resident's income
- Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline (Department of Health)and your program before you apply.