Alabama Administrative Code
Title 540 - ALABAMA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
Chapter 540-X-3 - CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION
Section 540-X-3-.12 - Requirements For Applicants For A Certificate Of Qualification By Examination To Be Administered By The Board
Universal Citation: AL Admin Code R 540-X-3-.12
Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 5, February 29, 2024
(1) Requirements relating to the administration of Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination by the Board:
(a) The Board will administer
USMLE Step 3 to applicants for a certificate of qualification who are applying
for initial licensure in the State of Alabama and who meet all qualifications
for administration of Step 3 of the USMLE. The Board will not administer the
examination to physicians other than qualified applicants for licensure in
Alabama.
(b) To be eligible to sit
for USMLE Step 3, an applicant must have obtained the M.D. or D.O. degree, as
provided in Rule
540-X-3-.02.
(c) To be eligible to sit for USMLE Step 3:
1. An applicant who graduated from a college
of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the
American Medical Association or a college of osteopathy accredited by the
American Osteopathic Association must either be currently enrolled in a
post-graduate/residency training program or have completed one (1) year of
post-graduate/residency training, as provided in Rule
540-X-3-.03(1).
2. An applicant who graduated from a college
of medicine not accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the
American Medical Association or a college of osteopathy not accredited by the
American Osteopathic Association must either have completed two (2) years of
post-graduate/residency training and be currently enrolled in the third year of
post-graduate/residency training or have completed three (3) years of
post-graduate/residency training, as provided in Rule
540-X-3-.03(2).
(d) To be eligible to sit for
USMLE Step 3, an applicant must:
1. Have
successfully completed both USMLE Steps 1 and 2; or
2. Have successfully completed combinations
of FLEX components, NBME parts and/or USMLE Steps, as established in Rule
540-X-3-.04(4).
(e) To be eligible to sit for
USMLE Step 3, an applicant must otherwise possess the qualifications for
licensure as a physician in Alabama.
(f) In order to be eligible for licensure, an
applicant shall successfully complete USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 within seven years
or shall successfully complete combinations of examinations as established in
Rule
540-X-3-.04(4).
The seven year time period begins when the applicant initially passes his or
her first Step of the USMLE. The Board shall not accept scores from a
re-examination of a previously passed step of the USMLE.
(g) An examinee who fails USMLE Step 3 may be
re-examined at any subsequent examination upon payment of the required fee and
submission of any required applications.
(h) A failure of any USMLE Step, regardless
of the jurisdiction in which the examination was administered, shall be
considered a failure of that step for purposes of Alabama licensure.
(i) Examination scores will be reported using
a two digit scaled score. A score of 75 or better on each Step (1, 2 or 3)
shall constitute a passing score on that Step. Rounding up of scores shall not
be allowed.
(j) Each USMLE Step
must be passed individually in order to successfully complete the USMLE
examination. Individual Step scores shall not be averaged to complete an
overall score.
(k) Step 3 of the
USMLE will be administered as designated by the USMLE program.
Author: Wendell R. Morgan, Patricia E. Shaner, Attorneys for the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-53; Act No. 93-148.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alabama may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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