Several out-of-state psychiatrists offered positions at the Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital haven't received their Nevada medical licenses and as a result the opening of the institution's remaining 40 beds that were licensed Tuesday has been delayed.

Late Tuesday afternoon, officials within the state Department of Health and Human Services' Bureau of Licensure said confirmation that those beds had been licensed was being sent to the Rawson-Neal facility. The bureau licenses medical facilities and their beds. Once beds are licensed, they can be used, officials said.

Dr. David Rosin, medical director of the Nevada Department of Mental Health and Developmental Services, was on the East Coast on Wednesday and said he had not heard about the beds being licensed.

"That's good news,'' he said. "I have several positions to fill but I need two psychiatrists to run those 40 beds. Once I have them, hopefully relatively soon, I can open those beds.''

Last week, Rosin met with the Nevada State Medical Board, which licenses physicians to resolve licensing delays. Though he said he couldn't go into details about what the holdup might be, Rosin said the board provided him with a liaison to help resolve any issues related to the psychiatrists' applications for medical licenses.

Rosin said these individuals, at least a half-dozen, have been waiting for some time to be licensed.

Estimates are that it takes anywhere from three to nine months to be licensed in Nevada.

Lynnette Daniels, chief of licensing for the Medical Board, said out-of-state physicians are urged to apply three to six months before being offered a position to speed up the process. Psychiatrists can apply for a restricted or unrestricted license.

An unrestricted license, in addition to regular application materials, requires that individuals undergo a Special Purpose Examination Exam if they have been out of practice or haven't taken a major medical exam in the past 10 years.

A restricted license allows a psychiatrist to practice at a state hospital within 90 to 120 days of their application without taking the medical exam, but they have to work under the supervision of an unrestricted licensed psychiatrist.

"We have quite a few people applying for that type of license,'' Daniels said. "They have been practicing psychiatry and are moving to Nevada. This is a way in which to get licenses quicker, but you are restricted to a mental health center and that center will have to send us a letter of support.''

In terms of the psychiatrists who have been offered positions at Rawson-Neal, Daniels said the bulk of information the agency needs to continue the licensing process hasn't come in yet.

"Their files aren't complete,'' she said. "We have to verify some things.''

Daniels said the Medical Board verifies former employment and schooling, and does background checks.

Rawson-Neal opened in August with 150 beds. The additional 40 beds were scheduled to open in October.

Although the new beds are essential and bring the Las Vegas Valley's public psychiatric bed total to 217, they still don't meet the need considering on any given day hospital emergency rooms are holding at least 70 mental health patients, health officials have said.