Alabama Administrative Code › Title 540 - ALABAMA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS › Chapter 540-X-3 - CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION › Section 540-X-3-.04 - Examination Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1)
			 Applicants for a certificate of qualification shall achieve a passing score on
			 one of the licensure examinations listed below:
(a) The United States Medical Licensing
			 Examination (USMLE).
1. Applicants who are
			 not dual degree candidates as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)3. below, shall
			 have achieved a passing score on Step 3 in not more than three administrations.
			 These applicants shall have passed Steps 1, 2 and 3 within a seven-year period.
			 The time period for completion of Steps 1, 2 and 3 begins when the applicant
			 initially passes his or her first Step. The Board shall not accept scores from
			 a re-examination of a previously passed Step of the USMLE. The seven-year
			 period is determined on a calendar year to calendar year basis. These
			 applicants shall not have attempted to pass Steps 1, 2 and 3 a combined total
			 of more than ten (10) times.
2.
			 Applicants who are not dual degree candidates as specified in subparagraph
			 (1)(a)3. below and who are currently board certified by one or more of the
			 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the
			 American Osteopathic Association shall not be required to pass Steps 1, 2 and 3
			 within the seven-year period specified in subparagraph (1)(a)1. above; however,
			 these applicants shall be limited to a combined total of ten (10) attempts to
			 pass Steps 1, 2 and 3 as set forth in subparagraph (1)(a)1.
3. Applicants who are dual degree candidates
			 as defined in these rules shall have achieved a passing score on Step 3 in not
			 more than three administrations, and shall have completed Steps 1, 2 and 3
			 within a ten (10)-year period, except that the Board may approve, within its
			 discretion and at the request of the applicant, a longer period not to exceed
			 15 years. The time period for completion of Steps 1, 2, and 3 begins when the
			 applicant initially passes his or her first step. The time period for
			 completion is determined on a calendar year to calendar year basis. The Board
			 shall not accept scores from a re-examination of a previously passed step of
			 the USMLE.
4. For purposes of the
			 United States Medical Licensing Examination, dual degree candidates are defined
			 as the following:
(i) The applicant is
			 pursuing the M. D. or D. O. degree and the Ph.D. degree in an institution or
			 program accredited by the LCME and a regional university accrediting body;
			 and
(ii) The applicant is a student
			 in good standing, enrolled in the institution or program; and
(iii) The Ph.D. studies are in a field of
			 biological sciences tested in the USMLE Step 1 content, including, but not
			 limited to anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology,
			 pathology, genetics, neuroscience and molecular biology.
5. If an applicant fails to achieve a passing
			 score on Step 3 in three administrations, the Board may approve one additional
			 attempt to pass Step 3 after demonstration by the applicant of additional
			 education, experience, or training acceptable to the Board.