Want to Change Your License Status to Active Retired? Here's How.

Once you determine that an Active-Retired license is the most appropriate license status for your circumstances, the next step is deciding when and how to transition to Active-Retired status. Before making any changes, you should carefully consider your anticipated retirement date, any ongoing patient care responsibilities, and other professional obligations to ensure there is no interruption in compliance with licensure requirements.

There are two ways to change a license from Active to Active-Retired status, depending on whether you are making the change outside of the renewal period or during the renewal process. The appropriate method will depend on your individual circumstances and the timing of your retirement from practice.

The first way to change your license status is through a “Change of Status” request. This option is available at any time and can be found by logging into your Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) account and scrolling down to the Professional License Details section. Click on the blue REQUEST button next to your license number and a box will populate with several options. You want to select “Change of Status.” You will be asked a series of questions and prompted to pay a $5 fee. If your “Change of Status” is approved, your license status will update to Active-Retired immediately. This option is most used outside of the renewal period, when a licensee wishes to change their status before the next renewal is due. If you use this option during a license renewal year, but before your license expires, you’ll need to remember to complete a license renewal application for your Active-Retired license.

The second way to change your license status is through the license renewal application, which is available in PALS  during the designated renewal period in each even-numbered year. The license renewal application contains a question asking whether you would like to change your license status to Active-Retired. If you answer “yes” to changing your license status, your license will remain Active through its current expiration date and then change to Active-Retired status. For example, if you are a MD, your license will remain Active through December 31, 2026. If you addressed any discrepancies and nothing is outstanding on your renewal application, your license will renew to Active-Retired on January 1, 2027. This is the best option for licensees who plan to continue practicing through the end of the year during a renewal year, as it allows them to maintain Active status while practicing and have the transition to Active-Retired status occur as part of the renewal process.

If you are not concerned about changing your license status immediately, completing the change through the renewal application may be a convenient alternative to submitting a separate status change request.