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Basic Requirements

Q: What are the basic requirements for graduates of U.S./Canadian medical schools?

A: Your school of medicine/osteopathic/podiatric medicine must be accredited by the LCME, AOA, APMA and/or the Accreditation Council of Canada.

Q: I graduated from an International medical school. How do I know if my medical school is acceptable for Oregon licensure?
A: Requirements of international medical schools include the following:

  • The medical school must be chartered in the country in which it is located.
  • The graduate must have attended at least four full terms of instruction of eight months each, with all courses having been completed by physical on-site attendance in the country in which the school is chartered. The requirement for four full terms of instruction of eight months each term may be waived for any applicant for licensure who has graduated from an international school of medicine, has substantially complied with the attendance requirements provided herein, and is certified by a specialty board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association’s Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (AOA-BOS).
  • The medical school must have provided a resident course of professional instruction, have been accredited by an accrediting organization acceptable to the Board, or been recognized by the appropriate civil authorities of the country in which the school is located as an acceptable education program. The Board may determine that the accreditation of an international medical school is not acceptable if the Board receives documentation that the medical school has had its authorization, accreditation, certification or approval denied or removed by any state, country or territorial jurisdiction or that its graduates were refused a license by any state, country or territorial jurisdiction on the grounds that the school failed or fails to meet reasonable standards for medical education facilities.

Q: What are some of the specific requirements for international medical school graduates?
A: You must have accomplished the following:

  • Obtained your MD, DO, or MBBS degree
  • You must have completed four full terms of medical school consisting of eight months each, with all courses having been completed by physical on-site attendance in the country in which the school is chartered
  • Passed the ECFMG certification exam or Fifth Pathway program
  • Passed either the FLEX, USMLE, NBME, LMCC exams, or an acceptable combination of the exams in accordance with Oregon Administrative Rules
  • Completed three years of clinical based postgraduate training in the U.S. or Canada in an accredited training program (see below for exceptions to this requirement) in no more than two specialties  

Q: How many years of postgraduate training are required?
A: For U.S. and Canadian graduates—One full year of accredited, postgraduate training in the U.S. or Canada is required to be considered eligible.

International Medical Graduates—Three full years of accredited, progressive, postgraduate training in not more than two specialties in not more than two training programs in the U.S. or Canada is required for eligibility. The following is accepted in lieu of the three year requirement:

  • Have valid certification issued by a specialty board recognized by either the American Board of Medical Specialties, or the American Osteopathic Association's Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists; or
  • Successfully completed four years of practice in Oregon (or another state under a license substantially similar to the Board's Limited License Medical Faculty—LLMF) under a LLMF in accordance with OAR 847-020-0140 (1)(b)(c) 


Q: What is needed for proof of name?
A: A copy of a birth certificate, marriage certificate, change of name, adoption, divorce, etc., is required. If you were born in the U.S. or Canada, a copy of your Birth Certificate is required. You can contact the Department of Vital Statistics in your state of birth to request this certificate or you can order one from Vitalchek.com. Marriage certificates, or any other legal document indicating a change of name, are required if your name has ever changed. For applicants born in foreign countries that do not have a birth certificate, you must provide this information in writing and provide a copy of a marriage certificate, passport, etc. Additional documents, such as a naturalization affidavit, may be required.