Timeline for licensure procurement for International Medical Graduates

updated 09.06.11

PGY 1 year:

• Take the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step III as soon as possible in your first year. Use program CME funds available to pay for this.

PGY 2 year:

• December: Apply for license with the Texas Medical Board with required paperwork other than completion of required training letter.
• January or February: Take the jurisprudence exam. This exam can be taken in January or early February of PGY 3 year, and you must pass with a 75.

PGY 2 year:

• Apply for the ABFM Board Certification exam online: Jan. 30 - Feb. 28

After graduation:

• Take the Board Certification Exam in mid-June
• When your license comes, apply for a Federal DEA number and Texas DPS certificate. You must have a license to apply for these prescription-writing documents.
• Then, once you have a practice site, apply for Medicare and Medicaid numbers. These numbers are site specific.
• Apply to Insurance carriers, HMOs, and PPOs.

Cost:

• USMLE III – $700
• Jurisprudence exam
• Application for licensure in Texas – $885 in 2009
• ABFM Board Exam – Early fee $1,200; can be as much as $1,900 if you procrastinate* (see timeline below)

Requirements for license: (link)

• Education – includes information on substantial equivalence and foreign education evaluations – 9/24/08
• Postgraduate Training
• Examinations – includes information on exam attempts
• Professional Character – includes information on fingerprinting

ABFM Certification, Recertification, and Sports Medicine Exams — 2009