From the Florida Board of Medicine

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Applicants to become a licensed Medical Doctor must meet either the requirements for Licensure by Endorsement or Licensure by Examination to proceed with the application process.

LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT

For Licensure by Endorsement, the requirements are as follows and can be found in Chapter 458.313 F.S.:

• Be a graduate of an Allopathic US Medical School of a school recognized and approved by the US Office of Education (AMG) and completed at least one year of approved residency training

OR

• Be a graduate of an allopathic international medical school (IMG) and have a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

OR

• Be a graduate who has completed the formal requirements of an international medical school except the internship or social service requirement, passed parts I and II of the NBME or ECFMG equivalent examination, and completed an academic year of supervised clinical training (5th pathway) and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

And both of the following:

• Passed all parts of a national examination (NBME, FLEX, or USMLE) and

• Licensed in another jurisdiction and actively practiced medicine in another jurisdiction for at least two of the immediately preceding four years; or passed a board-approved clinical competency examination within the year preceding filing of the application or; successfully completed a board approved postgraduate training program within two years preceding filing of the application.

LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION

For Licensure by Examination, applicants who do not hold a state license or who have not passed a national examination, the requirements are as follows and can be found in Chapter 458.311 F.S.:

• Be a graduate of an Allopathic US Medical School of a school recognized and approved by the US Office of Education (AMG) and completed at least one year of approved residency training

OR

• Be a graduate of an Allopathic international medical school (IMG) and have a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

OR

• Be a graduate who has completed the formal requirements of an international medical school except the internship or social service requirement, passed parts I and II of the NBME or ECFMG equivalent examination, and completed an academic year of supervised clinical training (5th pathway) and completed an approved residency of at least 2 years in one specialty area

And one of the following:

• Passed all parts of a national examination (NBME, FLEX, or USMLE) or currently licensed in the U.S. or Canada, and has actively practiced pursuant to such licensure for at least 10 years, has passed a state board or LMCC examination, and passed the SPEX examination

OR

• licensed on the basis of a state board exam prior to 1974, and is currently licensed in at least three other jurisdictions in the U.S. or Canada, and practiced pursuant to such licensure for at least 20 years

Effective July 1, 2012, section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed.  Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:

   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;

   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;

   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;

2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;

3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;

4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;

5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

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For additional information, click below to visit the Medical Doctor Unrestricted licensing webpage.