Deciding to join the physician community in Oklahoma is commendable. Oklahoma is one of the many states in the United States with a serious physician shortage, and unfortunately, its shortage is one of the most severe. More than ever, Oklahoma needs physicians, and this can be a great opportunity for international medical graduates (IMGs) to find a home here.
It is an exciting time if you're an IMG seeking medical licensure in Oklahoma, but like every other part of becoming a physician, IMG licensure is a long process. When dealing with your medical school, international medical education certifying organizations, the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, and more, issues can arise. If you are facing issues at any point in your Oklahoma medical licensure process, the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Professional License Defense Team works with IMGs throughout Oklahoma to ensure any issues you have are resolved quickly and efficiently to quickly get you back on the path to becoming an Oklahoma physician. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
Oklahoma Requirements for IMGs
As a physician, your patients' lives will be in your hands. Because your job is so important and impacts the health and safety of the public, Oklahoma has strict rules and regulations around becoming a licensed physician in the state. Becoming a physician in Oklahoma is incredibly difficult, but IMGs have even more hurdles to jump to get their Oklahoma medical license. There is even a specific law outlining Oklahoma IMG medical licensure. There are a variety of requirements you must meet as an IMG, for example, demonstrating proficiency in English, but the most significant and time-consuming are related to obtaining Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certification and passing your United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Certification
Your ECFMG certification is the biggest hurdle to overcome to get an Oklahoma medical license. It is multifaceted, requiring your international medical school to meet certain training and educational requirements, providing significant background information on your personal and professional life, passing USMLEs, and demonstrating English language proficiency.
Medical School Requirements
You cannot get ECFMG certification without graduating from an approved medical school. Approved medical schools are institutions that meet the rigorous academic thresholds set by the World Federation for Medical Education and FAIMER. Approved schools will provide their medical students with education that is on par with U.S.-accredited medical schools. Therefore, they will prepare you to practice medicine within the U.S. All international medical schools are listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (World Directory) database.
Application for ECFMG Certification
Of course, to obtain certification, you will need to submit an application. You will do this through the ECMFG online portal, the Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC) system. The application is lengthy and in-depth, but it is important that you pay close attention to the questions and answer everything honestly. If you have questions or doubts, seek assistance. You can face issues down the line if you have not been completely honest or hid information; even if this happened by accident, there could be negative consequences and an investigation later on. You cannot afford to have the process delayed or certification rejected because you were not careful and truthful in the application process.
Medical Examination Requirements
ECFMG certification requires you to pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2. Both of these exams test clinical knowledge. USMLE Step 1 tests competency in basic science; areas you will be tested on include biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, and biology. Step 2 focuses on applying the science to medical situations. You will be given a series of theoretical patient situations and will need to answer questions about diagnosis, prognosis, preventative measures, proposed care, and more.
Language Requirements
Most likely, your career in medicine in Oklahoma will be entirely in English, so a high proficiency level in English is required for ECFMG certification. Generally, you will submit a passing score on the Occupational English Test (OET) to demonstrate proficiency. Oklahoma law also requires you to submit proof of English proficiency with your licensure application.
Oklahoma IMG ECFMG Certification Issues
Issues with your ECFMG can significantly delay, if not completely, your ability to get a medical license in Oklahoma. Issues related to your ECFMG certification will be connected to actions that ECFMG refers to as “irregular behavior.” ECFMG policies define irregular behaviors as "the actions or attempted actions on the part of applicants, examinees, potential applications, others when solicited by an applicant and/or examinee, a medical school official, or any other person or entity that would or could subject the examination, certification or other processes, programs or services of ECFMG." Most often, irregular behaviors are related to dishonestly or misleading ECFMG officials in any of the various steps of the certification process. The most common ECMFG certification issues IMGs face include the following:
- Submission of falsified or altered documents
- Failing to comply with USMLE requirements
- Failure to follow ECFMG policies, procedures, or rules
- Falsification of information on the application or other ECFMG submissions
When ECFMG staff realize an irregular behavior may be associated with your application, they will first decide whether the behavior is worth investigating. Perhaps they feel the situation is better addressed by reaching out to you informally to request clarification about a potential issue. If ECFMG staff believes the behavior is serious enough to open an investigation, they will notify the ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee (Committee).
When a matter is sent to the Committee, the Committee will review your case and notify you in writing that it is investigating your alleged irregular behavior. When you receive notification, you will also be sent a copy of the ECFMG Policies and Procedures Regarding Irregular Behavior so you can see exactly which provisions you have allegedly violated.
If the allegation in any way relates to the USMLE, the Committee will also notify the relevant parties as USMLE. USMLE and ECFMG follow the same rules and regulations, so you can expect that if you are in hot water with one, you will be with the other. Addressing attacks from every angle is difficult, but your Lento Law Firm attorney frequently fights battles on all fronts and is prepared to defend you on all sides.
The Committee's written notification and a copy of ECFMG policies will include a few different things. First, there should be a statement of the allegations against you and a citation of the specific policies you have violated. There will then be a request to you that you provide the Committee with a written explanation conveying your side of the story and defense of these allegations, including a timeline for submission. The notice will also state that you have the right to a hearing and to be represented by an attorney.
As soon as you receive this notice, call the Lento Law Firm. Our Professional License Defense Team will immediately begin drafting your defense. Based on the facts of your case, we will weigh and discuss the pros and cons of requesting a Committee hearing with you. The Lento Law Firm attorney will handle all aspects of your defense, both written and oral communications with the Committee; you should never be communicating with the Committee on your own.
After the Lento Law Firm attorney has presented your case, whether through a written response alone or in conjunction with a hearing, the Committee will review your case and decide if disciplinary action is appropriate. When deciding if you are guilty of the allegation, the Committee will use the preponderance of the evidence standard. This simply means that they have decided that when considering all the evidence, you are more likely than not to have participated in the misconduct. When you are found guilty of the allegations, the Committee may choose to:
- Bar you from future examinations
- Bar you from ECFMG programs and services
- Invalidate the results of your USMLE examinations
- Withhold or reject your ECFMG certification
- Report the behaviors to the UESMLE Committee for Individualized Review, Federal of State Medical Boards, and other relevant state or international medical licensing authorities
While you have the right to appeal the Committee's decision in some cases, it can be complicated, and eligibility for appeal is limited. For example, cases can typically only be appealed when there is new evidence that was not available to be presented before the Committee's decision. Because appeals are difficult, retaining the Lento Law Firm at the start is always your best option. Our Professional License Defense Team is well-versed in ECFMG Committee appeals and has successfully represented Oklahoma IMGs. If you are looking for an attorney for your appeal, contact us immediately because there is only a short time frame, 30 days, in which you can file an appeal. The Lento Law Firm attorney will handle all of the logistics of your appeal, which, if accepted to be heard, will be presented at the Committee's next scheduled meeting.
Oklahoma IMG ECFMG Issues and Visa Status
When you are having ECFMG issues, you have a lot of things to address with various ECFMG parties involved, potentially USMLE and others; the last thing on your mind may be your U.S. legal residency status. Unfortunately, issues with your ECFMG certification can also become immigration issues when your J-1 Sponsorship is through the ECFMG Exchange Sponsorship Program. ECFMG is obligated to ensure that the people it brings into the U.S. for this program remain upstanding members of society. Fortunately, there are not too many issues IMGs often face that require ECFMG officials to contact the U.S. Department of State. The type of issues that would rise to this level are issues with the judicial systems (arrests, criminal charges, etc.) and allegations that involve sexual exploitation or abuse.
Oklahoma IMG USMLE Issues
USMLE issues can be a bit different from ECFMG, but they are intertwined since you must meet all USMLE requirements to obtain ECFMG certification. The most common USMLE-related issues Oklahoma IMGs face are related to the following:
- Registering for a USMLE that you are not eligible to sit for
- Soliciting exam materials
- Reproducing exam materials
- Attempting to or discussing exam content with former or potential examinees
- Providing false information on your USMLE exam application
- Impersonating another applicant and taking the exam on their behalf
- Providing unauthorized assistance to examinees at any point before, during, or after the exam
- Taking notes into the testing center
- Failure to comply with any USMLE rules, policies, or instructions
- Taking photos or videos during the examination
- Cheating on the exam
- Attempting to manipulate exam scores
There are a few things you can anticipate happening when facing USMLE and ECFMG issues. While your issue is pending and you are a USMLE examinee, you can expect the following until the situation is rectified:
- Your examination application will not be processed
- You will not be permitted to sit for the exam
- Your exam results will be withheld
As soon as USMLE officials become aware of your potential misconduct, they will notify you. The USMLE disciplinary process is similar but slightly different from the ECFMG process. For example, USMLE will set a hearing date immediately, which will be included in the notification it sends to you. Like the ECFMG process, you will also be asked to submit a written defense within a short period of time after receiving notification.
The USMLE disciplinary process is handled by the USMLE Committee for Individualized Review (CIR). USMLE policies allow you to be represented by an attorney, and you should absolutely contact the Lento Law Firm upon receiving notification from CIR. Your USMLE hearing is important, and like you would not represent yourself in court, you should not represent yourself at a USMLE hearing. You only get one chance to defend yourself before CIR; there are no appeals. Generally, CIR will disqualify examinees for one to three years for misconduct, but they do have the authority to ban you from taking any future USMLEs or using your scores. Your future is on the line, and you need the Lento Law Firm there, vigorously defending your innocence.
Oklahoma IMG Licensing Representation
The Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team is here for IMGs throughout the state of Oklahoma. We want to help you get your Oklahoma medical license as quickly and painlessly as possible. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
