The Texas Medical Board received a record 8,270 medical license applications in fiscal year 2025, marking the third consecutive year the state has processed more than 8,000 applications.
According to a March 10 news release, the increase comes as Texas’ population continues to grow. More than 31 million people now live in the state, an increase of about 400,000 from the previous year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau data cited in the release.
Texas has received 24,731 physician license applications over the past three years, the highest three-year total in the state’s history. The number of newly licensed physicians has increased 70% over the past five years, according to Texas Medical Association analysis.
Despite the increase, Texas still ranks near the bottom nationally in physician availability. The state had 205 direct care physicians per 100,000 patients in 2025, up from 177.4 in 2015, but still 43rd nationwide. The national average was 252 physicians per 100,000 patients in 2025.
State leaders and physician groups are working to expand the pipeline. The Texas Medical Association helped secure $304 million for the 2026-27 graduate medical education expansion grant program — a 30.5% increase over the previous biennium — as Texas works toward a 1.1-to-1 ratio of residency positions to medical school graduates and adds 200 additional first-year residency slots by 2033.
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