INFORMAZIONI

STATE LICENSURE INFORMATION

I
Taken from U.S. Medical Licensure Statistics and Requirements by State published by the AMA.]

Nine state boards permit IMGs to take USMLE Step 3 before they have had graduate training in a U.S. or Canadian hospital. They are: California, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Tennessee and West Virginia. However, all states require at least one year for licensure. Candidates are not awarded a license until they undertake the required U.S. training and meet other requirements of the individual boards (e.g., an ECFMG certificate, personal interview, fees).

In 1971, the AMA established a special program to assist Americans wishing to return to the U.S. after attending a foreign medical school. This program, called the "/Fifth Pathway," is available to persons studying abroad who have:

  1. Completed their premedical work in a U.S.-accredited college of quality acceptable for matriculation in an accredited U.S. medical school;
  2. Studied medicine in a foreign medical school listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) World Directory of Medical Schools; and
  3. Completed all requirements for admission to practice except internship and/or social service in the foreign country.

If these criteria are met, the IMG is able to substitute the Fifth Pathway program for internship and/or social service in the foreign country. After being provided with a Fifth Pathway certificate by an accredited U.S. medical school, these Americans are eligible to enter the first year of accredited U.S. graduate training.

Although a passing score on the USMLE or the ECFMG certificate is required for licensure by most state medical boards, 18 boards now require both. (Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin).

In forty-four states, IMGs who hold Fifth Pathway certificates but do not hold ECFMG certificates can be admitted to the licensing examination (All but Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont). Fifth Pathway certificate holders must pass Steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE prior to entering ACGME-accredited residency training.

Thirty-four states will endorse the Canadian certificate (LMCC) when held by an IMG (All but Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont)

 

All licensing jurisdictions require a graduate of a foreign medical school to complete at least one year of accredited U.S. or Canadian graduate medical education before licensure. However, 14 states require two years and 29 states require three years of accredited graduate medical education. Illinois requires two years of graduate medical education for IMGs entering training programs after January 1, 1988. The requirement of each state is listed below:

Accepts Physicians Who Complete a Fifth Pathway Program as Candidates for Licensure

Endorses Canadian Certificate (LMCC) Held by an IMG

Amount of Accredited US or Canadian Graduate Medical Education Required

… to Take USMLE Step 3

…For Licensure

Alabama1

Yes

Yes

2 yrs, 10 mos

3 yrs

Alaska

No

Yes

1 yr

1 yr

Arizona

Yes

Yes

6 mos.

3 yrs

Arkansas

Yes

Yes

1 yr

1 yr

California

Yes

Yes

None

2 yrs (including 4 mos general med)

Colorado

Yes

Yes

None (must be enrolled in GME)

3 yrs

Connecticut

Yes

Yes

None

2 yrs

Delaware

Yes

No

1 yr

3 yrs

DC

Yes

Yes (oral exam may be required)

1 yr

1 yr

Florida

Yes

No

2 yrs

2 yrs

Georgia

Yes

No

1-3 yrs

3 yrs

Guam

No

No

1 yr

2 yrs (varies by specialty: Canadian GME not accepted)

Hawaii

Yes

No

None (but must be enrolled in 2nd year of GME program)

2 yrs

Idaho

Yes

No

3 yrs

3 yrs

Illinois

Yes

Yes

1 yr

1 yr (entered GME pre-1988)

2 yrs (entered GME post –1988)

Indiana

No

Yes

2 yrs

2 yrs

Iowa

Yes

Yes (with valid Canadian provincial license and fulfillment of all other licensure requirements)

7 mos

1 yr

Kansas

Yes

Yes

2 yrs

2 yrs

Kentucky

Yes

Yes

1 yr

3 yrs

Louisiana

Yes

No

None

3 yrs

Maine

Yes

Yes

1 yr (plus ECFMG cert.)

3 yrs

Maryland

Yes

Yes

None

3 yrs

Massachusetts

Yes

Yes

1 yr

2 yrs

Michigan

No

No

6 mos

2 yrs

Minnesota

Yes

Yes

None (must be enrolled in GME)

2 yrs

Mississippi

Yes

No

3 yrs

3 yrs

Missouri

Yes

No

3 yrs

3 yrs

Montana

Yes

No

3 yrs

3 yrs

Nebraska

Yes

Yes

None

3 yrs

Nevada

Yes

Yes

None

3 yrs

New Hampshire

Yes

Yes

1 yr

2 yrs

New Jersey

Yes

No

1 yr

3 yrs (1 yr if medical school completed before 7/1/85)

New Mexico

Yes

Yes

1 yr (must apply for public license)

2 yrs

New York

Yes

Yes (with valid Canadian provincial license and fulfillment of all other licensure requirements)

None

3 yrs

North Carolina

Yes

No

3 yrs

3 yrs

North Dakota

Yes

Yes

1 yr

3 yrs

Ohio

Yes

Yes

1 yr

2 yrs

Oklahoma

Yes

Yes

10 mos

2 yrs

Oregon

Yes

Yes

1 yr

3 yrs

Pennsylvania

Yes

Yes (if passed after 5/70 and in English)

None (must be enrolled in GME program)

3 yrs (1 yr if GME taken in US before 7/87)

Puerto Rico

Yes

Yes

None

1 yr

Rhode Island

Yes

Yes (with valid Canadian provincial license and fulfillment of all other licensure requirements)

1 yr

1 yr

South Carolina

Yes

No

3 yrs

3 yrs

South Dakota

Yes

Yes

1 yr

2 yrs (1 yr if US GME taken before 7/87) and completion of residency

Tennessee

Yes

Yes

1 yr

3 yrs

Texas

Yes

Yes

3 yrs

3 yrs

Utah

No

No

None

2 yrs

Vermont

No

No

1 yr

3 yrs (Canadian GME not accepted)

Virgin Islands

Yes

No

Not applicable

1 yr

Virginia

Yes

Yes

3 yrs

3 yrs

Washington

Yes

Yes (if passed after 12/69)

9 mos

2 yrs (1 yr if medical school completed before 7/28/85)

West Virginia

Yes

Yes

None

3 yrs (or 1 yr plus ABMS certification)

Wisconsin

Yes

Yes (if passed after 12/77)

1 yr

1 yr

Wyoming

Yes

Yes

2 yrs

2 yrs

Arkansas 501-296-1802

California 916-263-2389

Colorado 303-894-7690

Connecticut 860-509-7563

Delaware 302-739-4522 x203

DC 202-727-5365

Florida 904-488-0595

Georgia 404-656-3913

Hawaii 671-475-0251

Idaho 208-334-2822

Illinois 217-785-0820

Indiana 317-232-2960

Iowa 515-281-5171

Kansas 913-296-7413

Kentucky 502-429-8046

Louisiana 504-524-6763

Maine 207-287-3603

Maryland 410-764-4777

Massachusetts 617-727-3086

Michigan 517-373-9102

Minnesota 612-642-0538

Mississippi 601-354-6645

Nevada 402-688-2559

New Hampshire 603-271-1203

New Jersey 609-826-7100

New Mexico 505-827-5022

New York 860-509-7563

North Carolina 919-828-1212

North Dakota 701-223-9485

Ohio 614-466-3963

Oklahoma 405-848-2189

Oregon 503-229-5770

Pennsylvania 717-783-1400

Rhode Island 401-277-3855

South Carolina 803-737-9300

Tennessee 615-367-6231

Texas 512-305-7010

Utah 801-530-6767

Vermont 802-828-2673

Virginia 804-662-9908

Washington 360-753-2287

West Virginia 304-558-2921

Wisconsin 608-266-2811

Wyoming 307-778-7053

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