n 1  :  the state or condition of having a license granted by official or legal authority to perform medical acts and procedures not permitted by persons without such a license <applicant must have RN >  : also  :  the granting of such licenses <a state board of medical >   2  :  approval of a drug or medical procedure by official or legal authority for use in the practice of medicine <the was based on the results of randomized clinical trials of the vaccine's protective efficacy -E. D. Shapiro et al>  .
 
   
 
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