Iowa Admin. Code r. 653-9.7
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024
Rule 653-9.7 - Licensure examinations(1)USMLE. a. The USMLE is a joint program of FSMB and the NBME. The USMLE is a multipart examination consisting of Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3. Steps 1 and 2 are administered by NBME and ECFMG. The board contracts with FSMB for the administration of Step 3. USMLE Steps 1 and 2 were implemented in 1992; Step 3 was implemented in 1994.b. Since 1999, Step 3 is a computerized examination offered at testing centers in the Des Moines area and other locations around Iowa and the United States.c. Applications are available at Department of Examination Services, FSMB, 400 Fuller Wiser Road, Suite 300, Euless, Texas 76039, or www.fsmb.orgu.d. Candidates who meet the following requirements are eligible to take USMLE Step 3: (1) Submit a completed application form and pay the required examination fee as specified in rule 653-8.3 (147,148,272C).(2) Document successful completion of USMLE Steps 1 and 2 in accordance with the requirements of NBME. Graduates of a foreign medical school shall meet the requirements of ECFMG.(3) Document holding a medical degree from a board-approved educational institution. If a candidate holds a medical degree from an educational institution not approved by the board at the time the applicant graduated and was awarded the degree, the candidate shall meet the requirements specified in subparagraph 9.3(1) "b"(3).(4) Document successful completion of a minimum of seven calendar months of resident training in a program approved by the board at the time of the application for Step 3 or enrollment in a resident training program approved by the board at the time of the application for Step 3.e. The following conditions shall apply to applicants for licensure in Iowa who utilize USMLE as the licensure examination.(1) Passing Steps 1,2, and 3 is required within a ten-year period beginning with the date of passing either Step 1 or Step 2, whichever occurred first. If the applicant did not pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 within the required time frame, then the requirement will be satisfied by either proof of active board certification by the ABMS or AOA or proof the delay was caused by participation in a joint M.D./Ph.D. or D.O./Ph.D. program.(2) Step 3 may be taken and passed only after Steps 1 and 2 are passed.(3) A score of 75 or better on each step shall constitute a passing score on that step.(4) Each USMLE step must be passed individually, and individual step scores shall not be averaged to compute an overall score.(5) A failure of any USMLE step, regardless of the jurisdiction for which it was taken, shall be considered a failure of that step for the purposes of Iowa licensure.(6) Successful completion of a continuous, progressive three-year resident training program is required if the applicant passes the examination after more than six attempts on Step 1 or six attempts on Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS combined or three attempts on Step 3. f. Any candidate deemed eligible to sit for USMLE Step 3 is required to adhere to the examination procedures and protocol established by FSMB and NBME in the following publications: USMLE Test Administration Standards and Policies and Procedures Regarding Indeterminate Scores and Irregular Behavior, FSMB, 400 Fuller Wiser Road, Suite 300, Euless, Texas 76039.(2)NBME. a. NBME Part Examinations (Parts I, II, and III) were first administered in 1916. The last regular administration of Part I occurred in 1991, Part II in April 1992, and Part III in May 1994.b. Successful completion of NBME Parts I, II, and III was a requirement for NBME certification.c. A score of 75 or better on each part shall constitute a passing score on that part. (3)FLEX. a. From 1968 to 1985, (Old) FLEX was a three-day examination. Day 1 covered basic science; Day 2 covered clinical science; and Day 3 covered clinical competency. Applicants who took Old FLEX shall provide evidence of successful achievement of at least two of the following:(1) Certification under seal that the applicant passed FLEX with a FLEX-weighted average of 75 percent or better, as determined by the state medical licensing authority, in no more than two sittings.(2) Verification under seal of medical licensure in the state that administered the examination.(3) Evidence of current certification by an American specialty board approved or recognized by the Council of Medical Education of AMA, ABMS, or AOA.b. From 1985 to 1994, (New) FLEX replaced the Old FLEX. New FLEX was a three-day nationally standardized examination consisting of two, one and one-half day components referred to as Component I (basic and clinical science principles and mechanisms underlying disease and modes of therapy) and Component II (knowledge and cognitive abilities required of a physician assuming independent responsibility for the general delivery of medical care to patients). The last regular administration of both components of New FLEX occurred in 1993. Two special administrations of New FLEX Component I were offered in 1994 to examinees who passed Component II but not Component Iprior to 1994. To be eligible for licensure, the candidate must have passed both components with a FLEX score of 75 or better within a seven-year period beginning with the date of initial examination. (1) Candidates who took the FLEX for the first time were required to take both components during the initial sitting. A candidate who failed either or both components must have repeated and passed the component failed, though Component II could only be repeated if the candidate had received a passing score of 75 percent or better on Component I.(2) Eligible candidates were permitted to sit for the initial examination and reapply to the board to repeat a failed component or complete the entire examination two additional times. However, candidates who failed either or both components three times were required to wait one year, during which time the candidate was encouraged to obtain additional training, before being permitted to sit two additional times for either or both components of the FLEX.(4)Combination examination sequences. To accommodate individuals who had already passed some part of the NBME Parts or FLEX before implementation of the USMLE, the USMLE program recommended and the board approved the following licensing combinations of examinations for licensure only if completed prior to January 1, 2000. These combinations are now only acceptable from an applicant who already holds a license from any United States jurisdiction. a. FLEX Component I plus USMLE Step 3 with a passing score of 75 or better on each examination;b. NBME Part I or USMLE Step 1 plus NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2 plus FLEX Component II with a passing score of 75 or better on each examination; or c. NBME Part I or USMLE Step 1 plus NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2 plus NBME Part III or USMLE Step 3 with a passing score of 75 or better on each examination.(5)COMLEX. COMLEX is a three-level examination that replaced the three-part NBOME examination. COMLEX Level 3 was first administered in February 1995; Level 2 was first administered in March 1997; and Level 1 was first administered in June 1998. All three examinations must be successfully completed in sequential order within ten years of the successful completion of COMLEX Level 1. If the applicant did not pass Levels 1, 2, and 3 within the required time frame, then the requirement will be satisfied by either proof of active board certification by the ABMS or AOA or proof the delay was caused by participation in a joint D.O./Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. program. a. A standard score of 400 on Level 1 or Level 2 is required to pass the examination. A standard score of 350 on Level 3 is required to pass the examination.b. A candidate shall have successfully completed a minimum of seven calendar months of resident training in a program approved by the board at the time of the application for Level 3 or enrollment in a resident training program approved by the board at the time of the application for Level 3.c. Successful completion of a continuous, progressive three-year resident training program is required if the applicant passes the examination after more than six attempts on Level 1 or six attempts on Level 2 CE and Level 2 PF combined or three attempts on Level 3.d. Each COMLEX level must be passed individually, and individual level scores shall not be averaged to compute an overall score.e. Level 3 may be taken and passed only after Levels 1 and 2 are passed.f. A failure of any COMLEX level, regardless of the jurisdiction for which it was taken, shall be considered a failure of that level for the purposes of Iowa licensure.(6)NBOME. a. NBOME was a three-part examination. All three parts must have been successfully completed in sequential order within seven years of the successful completion of NBOME Part 1.b. A passing score is required on each part of the examination.c. A candidate shall have successfully completed a minimum of seven calendar months of resident training in a program approved by the board at the time of the application for NBOME Part 3. Candidates shall have completed their resident training by the last day of the month in which the examination was taken.d. Successful completion of a three-year resident training program is required if the applicant passes the examination after more than six attempts on Part 1 or six attempts on Part 2 or three attempts on Part 3.e. Each NBOME part must have been passed individually, and individual part scores shall not be averaged to compute an overall score.f. Part 3 must have been taken and passed only after Parts 1 and 2 were passed.g. A failure of any NBOME part, regardless of the jurisdiction for which it was taken, shall be considered a failure of that part for the purposes of Iowa licensure.(7)LMCC. a. The board accepts toward Iowa licensure a verification of a licentiate's registration with the Medical Council of Canada, based on passing both parts of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination.b. The Medical Council of Canada may be contacted at 1021 Thomas Spratt Place, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1G 5L5 or (613) 520-2240.(8)State licensing examinations. The Iowa board of medicine administered a state licensing examination until 1968. Licensing examinations administered by the Iowa board of medicine or another U.S. jurisdiction prior to 1974 are accepted if the examination was passed according to criteria established by that state at the time and led to licensure in that state.Iowa Admin. Code r. 653-9.7
ARC 8554B, IAB 3/10/10, effective 4/14/10; ARC 0215C, IAB 7/25/12, effective 8/29/12Amended by IAB May 11, 2016/Volume XXXVIII, Number 23, effective 6/15/2016Amended by IAB January 17, 2018/Volume XL, Number 15, effective 2/21/2018