4731-6-16. Eligibility for medical or osteopathic licensure by endorsement of licenses granted by other states [RESCINDED]

(A) An applicant for a certificate to practice medicine or surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery, who holds a license from another state, is eligible for consideration without further examination under section 4731.29 of the Revised Code if the requirements of paragraphs (B) to (D) of this rule are met, and the applicant meets the eligibility requirements as set forth in sections 4731.09, 4731.091, 4731.14 and 4731.142 of the Revised Code for licensure by Ohio examination.

(B) The license from another state being endorsed into Ohio must be current and in good standing and must be a full and unlimited license to practice all branches of medicine or surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery. An exception can be made by the board in those cases where an applicant cannot renew his or her license in the other jurisdiction for purposes of endorsement due to residency or similar requirements, or in those cases where an applicant is on probation in the other jurisdiction and the board determines that it is able to impose sufficient conditions to ensure public safety.

(C) The applicant for endorsement must have passed one of the following examinations:

(1) A written state medical board of the United States licensing examination other than the FLEX, USMLE or COMLEX-USA administered prior to June 1982 without previous or subsequent FLEX, USMLE or COMLEX-USA failure; or

(2) A single three day FLEX administered prior to June 1985. The FLEX-weighted average must be seventy-five or above for the entire examination as reported by the federation, or must be seventy-two or above if the examination was taken during the first two years of a state's administration of the FLEX and such score was accepted by that state as a passing score; or

(3) Component 1 and component 2 of the FLEX administered after June 1985. A score of seventy-five or above must have been achieved on each component as reported by the federation. Both components must have been passed within a seven year period; or

(4) Part I of the national board of medical examiners examination or step 1 of the USMLE, part II of the national board of medical examiners examination or step 2 of the USMLE, and part III of the national board of medical examiners examination or step 3 of the USMLE or component 2 of the FLEX. All steps, parts or components must have been administered prior to January 2000. The score achieved on each step, part or component must have been recognized by the USMLE program, the national board of medical examiners or the federation as a passing score for that step, part or component, respectively; or

(5) Component 1 of the FLEX and step 3 of the USMLE. The component and step must have been administered prior to January 2000. A score of seventy-five or above must have been achieved on component 1. The score achieved on step 3 must have been recognized by the USMLE program as a recommended passing score; or

(6) USMLE steps 1, 2 and 3. All three steps must have been passed in accordance with paragraph (C)(3) of rule 4731-6-14 of the Administrative Code and the score achieved on each step must have been recognized by the USMLE program as a recommended passing score; or

(7) A written examination provided by the national board of osteopathic medical examiners for the administering state; or

(8) COMLEX-USA levels 1, 2 and 3. All three levels must have been passed in accordance with paragraph (C)(3) of rule 4731-6-14 of the Administrative Code and the score achieved on each level must have been recognized by the COMLEX-USA program as a recommended passing score.

(D) Notwithstanding paragraphs (A) to (C) of this rule, and in addition to grounds otherwise contained in Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code and Chapter 4731-6 of the Administrative Code, the board may refuse an applicant for endorsement who has not been engaged in any of the following activities during the two years immediately prior to the date ofapplication;

(1) The active clinical practice of medicine or surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery;

(2) The taking of graduate medical education as defined in section 4731.091 of the Revised Code;

(3) The attendance as a student at a medical or osteopathic school.

(E) For purposes of division (E) of section 4731.29 of the Revised Code the term "actively practicing ... in the United States" includes the taking of graduate medical education as defined in section 4731.091 of the Revised Code.

(F) An applicant will be excused from the requirement to demonstrate proficiency in spoken English under the terms of division (E)(1) of section 4731.29 of the Revised Code if the applicant's license or licenses from another state have been unrestricted and he or she was actively practicing medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in the United States for at least nine full months during each of the five years immediately preceding the date of his or her application. In this rule, "license" includes a training certificate or its equivalent issued to those applicants who have been actively practicing medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in the United States as part of graduate medical education as defined in section 4731.091 of the Revised Code.

Effective: 7/31/2019
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 4/9/2019
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4731.05
Rule Amplifies: 4731.09, 4731.29, 4731.142, 4731.14 , 4731.091
Prior Effective Dates: 02/29/1988 (Emer.), 06/06/1988 (Emer.), 11/01/1988 (Emer.), 12/19/1988, 02/10/1989, 08/15/1993, 12/01/1999, 09/30/2001, 12/31/2004, 10/31/2013