Healthcare providers seeking authorization to treat injured workers in New York must meet the licensing and certification requirements outlined in 12 CRR-NY 323.1.

The article outlines the required qualifications for each provider type. It explains the comprehensive application process using the Workers’ Compensation Board’s OnBoard system, including registration on the Medical Portal, mandatory training, and submission of the New Provider Authorization Request.

NY State Provider Authorization

The table below lists the types of providers who may apply for authorization to treat injured workers in New York, with the mandatory license information and certification details for each, per 12 CRR-NY 323.1.

All eligible providers must be duly licensed to practice in New York State.

How to Apply to Become an Authorized Provider

To apply for authorization to treat injured workers, eligible providers who meet the criteria above must complete the following three steps:

1. Register to use the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Medical Portal
2. Complete the required training specific to the provider’s specialty
3. Complete the New Provider Authorization Request application

We guide you through each step below, with clear instructions and helpful screenshots.

Step 1.  Register to Use the NYS WCB Medical Portal

To register to use the Medical Portal, a provider needs to have the following information:

• New York State License Number
• National Provider Identifier (NPI)
• Business address
• Individual work email address (to ensure that communications go directly to the specific provider rather than to an email inbox shared within a practice)

Once you have your information ready, navigate to the WCB web page and follow the substeps below.

1. Click the ‘Medical Portal’ option.

2. Scroll down to the ‘Health Care Providers’ section and select ‘New User Access and Administration.’

3. Click ‘Request Access to the Medical Portal.’

4. Read the Instructions and Click ‘Continue.’

5. In the Authorization Status tab, select your specialty under ‘The Registering Provider is:.’

6. For ‘The Registering Provider’s Authorization Status is,’ choose  ‘NYS Licensed Provider - Not Workers’ Compensation Board Authorized.’ 

7. Click ‘Next.’

8. In the Provider Information tab, enter all of your details.

If you have a Health Commerce System User ID and select ‘Yes,’ the page will prompt you to provide it. The WCB will assign a Health Commerce System User ID If you do not have or provide one.

9. Click ‘Submit’ in the lower right corner.

10. After you submit your application for the Medical Portal, the WCB will process the request and generate a ny.gov User ID and a temporary password. Check your email for these credentials.

11. Use the User ID and temporary password the first time you log in to the Medical Portal. After logging in, follow the prompts to create a permanent password to use for future logins.

Step 2. Complete Your Training

With your Medical Portal access in place, it’s time to complete the mandatory training. Here’s how to complete this requirement:

First, navigate to the WCB homepage.

1. Select ‘Medical Portal’

2. click ‘Log In.’

3. Log in using the ny.gov User ID and permanent password you created.

4. Under Medical Provider, select ‘Training,’ then ‘Training Requirements for Provider Authorization.’

You will see a list of courses by provider type, along with links and instructions for accessing the courses via the learning management system CourseMill. Providers must complete all required training before submitting a New Provider Authorization Request application.

Step 3. Complete the New Provider Authorization Request Application

With your Medical Portal access in place and your mandatory training complete, you’re almost ready to open your practice to workers’ comp patients. The final requirement is formally requesting authorization to treat injured workers.

Before you begin, note that providers must complete the New Provider Authorization Request online application in one sitting–you cannot save it and come back later. Have the following information on hand before you begin:

• NPI number
• Mailing and practice address(es)
• New York State license number
• Board certification(s), if applicable
• Certificate of completion of an approved residency program (if you have completed a residency)
• Disciplinary information
• Curriculum vitae/resume
• (Physician Assistants Only) A complete Supervising Physician Affirmation Letter 

With your information ready, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the WCB homepage and log in to the Medical Portal, as you did in Step 2 (above) to complete your required training.
2. In the Medical Portal, access the New Provider Authorization Request online application.
3. Complete the application and attach all necessary documentation (e.g., certifications, CV, disciplinary action).
4. Submit your application electronically per the instructions in the portal.

After you submit your application, the WCB will notify you that they received the application—this does not mean that you are authorized yet. You will receive a separate notification indicating whether or not the WCB authorized you to treat injured workers.

Providers may not treat injured workers until the WCB issues formal authorization.

Important Notes for Physician Applicants

The WCB reminds physicians applying for authorization that they must take two additional steps. First, you must demonstrate that you qualify for a specialty rating in any one of the following three ways:

• Demonstrate that you have current, active certification in the medical specialty for which you applied. The certification must come from a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association. If you’re subject to periodic recertification or maintenance of certification, demonstrate your participation in maintenance of certification.

• Demonstrate that you completed a residency or fellowship in the medical specialty for which you applied. The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association must have accredited the residency or fellowship.

• Demonstrate that you completed a residency accredited by the Canadian Excellence in Residency Accreditation (CanERA) or one of CanERA's recognized historic equivalents (e.g., the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) which satisfies the training requirements of a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or American Osteopathic Association.

Additionally, physicians must select a medical society to review your New Provider Authorization Request application. Either the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) or the New York State Osteopathic Society (NYSOMS) reviews each physician’s applications. When you complete the application, select the society you wish to perform the review.

Physicians who select MSSNY must also select a county medical society to review their application; choose the county in which you practice most often.

The medical societies may charge a processing fee. After the medical society submits its recommendation to the WCB, the WCB will review the application and notify the physician of their final decision regarding authorization to treat injured workers.

The county medical society has 45 days to submit its recommendation to the WCB. If the society fails to respond, the WCB chair may complete the review without the society’s approval.

Authorization for NY Hospitals

Hospitals may submit a collective application for each provider type listed above. In such cases, the application must:

• Confirm that the hospital currently employs all providers they list in the application
• Confirm that all providers meet the qualifications required for board authorization

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