State licensing for medicine is extraordinarily basic.
For example, anyone with a medical license is technically permitted by the state to do heart surgery. Why don't they? They don't because there are rigorous **private** controls on who can gain access to an operating room where heart surgery takes place.
We have highest standards of medical care in the world because of the private controls placed on physicians by hospitals and their private board certification organizations.
Next week I will have both knees replaced. I have confidence in the surgeon. My family doctor referred me to him. He does most of the knees in our county and surrounding areas. He is privately board certified in his field. I have acquaintances who have had their knees replaced by him. And...The hospital has an excellent reputation. None of my decisions were based upon his having a state license to practice medicine.
I don’t really think the fight about licensing is over doctors. It’s about lawyers, and why it is that the legal profession can get you thrown in jail for giving friendly advice about legal matters.