Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 060 - STATE MEDICAL BOARD
Rule 060.00.10-003 - Regulation 14 - Examinations

Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 060.00.10-003

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

WHEREAS the Medical Practices Act; more specifically Arkansas Code Annotated Sec. 17-93-403(a)(2) and Arkansas Code Annotated Sec. 17-93-404, sets forth that anyone desiring a license to practice medicine in the State of Arkansas must successfully pass an examination as approved by the Board.

WHEREAS the Arkansas State Medical Board is charged with selecting said examinations. WHEREFORE the Arkansas State Medical Board designates the following examinations as appropriate examinations for licensure:

1. Those individuals desiring a license to practice medicine and having graduated from an American or Canadian medical school must show proof of satisfactory completion of one of the following exams:

(a) Federation Licensing Examination

(b) The National Board of Medical Exam

(c) The United States Medical Licensing Exam

(d) Le Medical Counsel of Canada Exam

(e) Examinations developed by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners

2. Those individuals desiring a license who have graduated from a foreign country's medical school in addition to the other requirements will show proof of successful completion of the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Exam) and one of the following exams:

(a) Federation Licensing Examination

(b) The National Board of Medical Exam

(c) The United States Medical Licensing Exam

(d) Le Medical Counsel of Canada Exam

3. Those individuals desiring a license to practice medicine as an Osteopath in the State of Arkansas, in addition to the other requirements, will show proof of successful completion of one of the following exams:

(a) Federation Licensing Examination

(b) Examinations developed by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners

(c) The United States Medical Licensing Exam

(d) The National Board of Medical Exam

(e) Le Medical Counsel of Canada Exam

4. Those individuals desiring a license by credential must show proof of successful completion of an examination accepted and stated above of one of the following:

(a) All of those listed under the first category

(b) Any State exam if it was taken prior to 1975

5.I t is recognized by the Arkansas State Medical Board that the Federation Licensing Exam (FLEX) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) are being phased out as an accepted examinations for licensure. I t is also recognized by the Arkansas State Medical Board that the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) is being phased in as the primary form of examination for state licensure. During this period of transition, the following will be accepted by the Arkansas State Medical Board as completion of an approved examination:

NBME Part I or USMLE Step I

plus

NBME Part IT or USMLE Step 2

plus

NBME Part HI or USMLE Step 3

FLEX Component I

plus

USMLE Step 3

or

NBME Part I or USMLE Step I

plus

NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2

plus

FLEX Component 2

The above combinations of examinations in no way is to imply that one cannot take the entire examination, that being those exams listed in Regulation 14-1, and passing the same. 6. All applicants for a license to practice medicine in the State of Arkansas, who choose to take the United States Medical Exam (USMLE) must comply with the following:

A. Present proof of successful completion of Steps 1, 2 and 3 of the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam) within 7 years from the time the applicant passes or successfully completes Step 1 or Step 2, whichever is completed first.

B. The applicant must successfully complete each step in no more than 3 attempts per step.

A waiver may be granted by the Board, if requested by the applicant, from the "3 attempt per step limit," for Step 1 and/or Step 2. The waiver will be granted if the Board finds that the applicant can show documentation and proof that he/she suffered from a significant health condition or personal problem, and that by its severity would necessarily cause delay to the applicant's medical education and successful completion of the step testing.

The waiver will not exceed 4 attempts per step.

A waiver may also be granted to the "3 attempt per step limit" on step 3 not to exceed 4 attempts if:

1) the applicant has completed one year of approved graduate medical education after the 3rd failed attempt and before the fourth and final attempt at step 3; or

2) the applicant can show proof that he/she is certified in a Specialty Board by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

C. The seven year period to pass all steps may be extended, not to exceed 10 years, by the Board, if the applicant:
1) Is certified in a Specialty Board by the American Board of Medical Specialties; or

2) Has completed during the 10 year period a combined MD/PhD program at a medical school within the United States.

3) Can retake the appropriate step to bring the successful completion of the 3 Steps within the 7 year time period.

D. The time period limitation set forth in Paragraph C and the limitation on the number of attempts of the step exams as set forth in Paragraph B, may begin anew, if the applicant begins his or her entire medical school education anew.

E. No further waivers will be granted except as set forth in this Regulation.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas 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.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.