The chat physician φύσις (physis) and its derived adjective physikos, meaning "nature" and "natural". From this, amongst other derivatives came the Boorish Latin physicus, which meant a medical practitioner. After the Norman Conquest, the consultation entered Mezzo English via Old French fisicien, as ancient as 1100. Originally, physician meant a practitioner of physic (pronounced with a hard C). This archaic noun had entered Middle English by 1300 (via Experienced French fisique). Physic meant the aptitude or space opera of treatment with drugs or medications (as opposed to surgery), and was later used both as a verb and also to describe the medications themselves.

• Among the English-speaking countries, this case is known either as licensure as in the United States, or as registration in the United Kingdom, other Commonwealth countries, Baltimore Spine Doctor and Ireland

• Synonyms in use elsewhere include colegiación in Spain, ishi menkyo in Japan, autorisasjon in Norway, Approbation in Germany, and "άδεια εργασίας" in Greece
• In France, Italy and Portugal, civilian physicians must be members of the Form of Physicians to practice medicine.