In order to practice medicine in Oregon, you must gain a state medical license. If you have earned your credentials from a foreign program, this can be a complicated process, as international medical school graduates must adhere to a strict set of statutory and regulatory requirements. The Oregon Medical Board is responsible for licensing physicians and lays out the precise steps that International Medical Graduates must follow in order to obtain medical licensure in Oregon. International medical graduates make valuable additions to the medical profession in the United States, often offering unique perspectives, experiences, and sets of expertise, and obtaining state licensure is a critical step to joining the pool of physicians in Oregon.
If you are an international medical graduate seeking a medical license to practice in Portland or another Oregon city, the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Professional License Defense Team has many years of experience assisting medical graduates of foreign programs seeking state licensure across the nation, and we can help you negotiate with the Board and navigate any issues that may arise throughout the process. Call 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form now to inquire about our highly qualified representation.
How Does the Oregon Medical Board Evaluate Foreign Medical Schools?
The Oregon Medical Board is responsible for examining the academic and professional qualifications of international medical graduates to determine eligibility for an Oregon medical license. The Board views international medical schools in Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia as equivalent to U.S. medical schools. However, in addition to demonstrating fluent spoken and written English, graduates from other international medical schools must demonstrate a variety of factors. The Oregon Medical Board requires that graduates from other international medical schools show that their school provides a resident course of professional instruction and has been accredited by an acceptable organization, among other requirements. Typically, the Board also requires that graduates attend courses in person for a duration of four full eight-month terms. The Oregon Medical Board also takes the determinations of other states and countries very seriously, and they may find that an international medical school does not meet the proper standards for the graduate to obtain an Oregon medical license if it has previously been denied approval or certification elsewhere.
What Exams Are Required for International Medical Graduates in Oregon?
An essential step for international medical graduates seeking licensure from the Oregon Medical Board is passing a written licensing examination. Formerly, different states allowed various assessments to qualify for licensure, namely, the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NMBE) assessment. Now, every state, including Oregon, utilizes the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) for allopathic physicians and the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) for osteopathic physicians as a single path to licensure regardless of where international medical graduates completed their education. In Oregon, graduates must complete Step 1 and Step 2 (Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills) of the USMLE prior to beginning residency in the United States. After beginning residency, graduates must complete Step 3 of the USMLE or Level 3 of the COMPLEX-USA. After passing the third part of the assessment, graduates can then apply for a state training license or a full state medical license. If applying for a training license at this time, graduates must apply for and receive a full Oregon medical license prior to completing their U.S. residency.
Oregon Licensing Board International Medical Graduate Examination Issues
Since you cannot qualify for an Oregon medical license without a passing exam score, issues with exam preparation, performance, and behavior can have a significant bearing on the process and be a major source of concern. For example, USMLE officials can invalidate test scores based on complaints or allegations about your behavior and interactions with proctors during an exam, any prohibited items brought into the exam room, and even allegations of discussing questions and answers during or after the exam.
The Oregon Medical Board also places strict restrictions on when and how you must pass the USMLE or COMPLEX in order to be eligible for an Oregon medical license. In Oregon, graduates will have unlimited attempts to pass the first two steps of the exam, but only three attempts to pass the third step before a year of board-approved postgraduate training is required prior to the fourth and final attempt. Additionally, graduates typically must pass Step 3 of the exam within seven years of passing Step 1 or 2. Sometimes, the Board can raise concerns with the timing of your exams and the number of attempts that you've reported based on your submitted documentation. Any of these complaints can seriously delay or inhibit your ability to apply and qualify for an Oregon medical license if not dealt with properly. If you are facing examination issues while trying to obtain a medical license in Oregon, we can help you navigate USMLE procedures for complaints and accusations regarding your test preparation and performance.
What Certifications are Required for International Medical Graduates in Oregon?
Unless you are a graduate of a Canadian medical school, have completed your postgraduate training in Canada, or have been certified by a specialty board, you must pass certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) prior to beginning U.S. residency in order to qualify for an Oregon medical license. International medical graduates must also receive this certification prior to qualifying for Step 3 of the USMLE exam. This certification is critical as it is the national standard for evaluating international qualifications when admitting an international medical school graduate into the U.S. healthcare system. The Oregon Medical Board may also waive this requirement with evidence of the graduate's successful completion of a Fifth Pathway training program, which allows international medical graduates to obtain certification from a joint foreign and U.S. medical school program.
Oregon Licensing Board International Medical Graduate Certification Issues
Another critical step in the Oregon medical licensure process, ECFMG certification, can be a major cause of concern for international medical graduates seeking a license from the Oregon Medical Board. ECFMG requires graduates to utilize their Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC) application to share records of personal and professional information for consideration. Even if in error, if the ECFMG flags any of this information as incomplete or inconsistent, this can seriously delay your certification and, therefore, your subsequent ability to complete examinations and qualify for a license. Furthermore, even the format of various documents and transcripts must meet EPIC standards in order to be accepted and considered, and questions surrounding authenticity can make yet another hindrance in the complicated process of securing an Oregon medical license. The experienced Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you through the process of obtaining ECFMG certification to ensure that the career that you have worked so hard for is not held up by any application issues.
Is Postgraduate Training Required for International Medical Graduates in Oregon?
Postgraduate training can consist of an internship, residency, or fellowship. If you have graduated from an international medical school in Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, or Australia, you are required to complete one year of postgraduate training at an accredited program in the United States or Canada to be eligible for an Oregon medical license. For graduates of international medical schools in other countries, you must complete three years of postgraduate training at an accredited program with two or fewer specialties. Valid organizations for accreditation include the ACGME, the AOA, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Exceptions to the three-year training requirement include those graduates who are certified through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association/Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (AOABOS), those who have been certified by a specialty board, and those who have practiced under a limited license for four years in Oregon or another state of the United States with the same or similar limited license requirements.
Oregon Licensing Board International Medical Graduate Academic Progress Issues
A common issue that can arise for international medical graduates seeking an Oregon medical license has to do with their performance while at their international medical school. When the Oregon Medical Board reviews your license application, they will not only look at which school you graduated from, but they will also review your performance at that school in order to determine whether you meet the standards required to obtain a state medical license in Oregon. If you withdrew from too many classes, retook too many classes, or simply did not score high enough on exams, this can serve as a major hindrance to your ability to obtain your license. In these cases, we can help you work with the Board to appeal certain concerns, engage in negotiations, and advocate for you and your record to help make sure that you have the best chance possible at obtaining an Oregon medical license.
Oregon Licensing Board International Medical Graduate Character and Misconduct Issues
Another major concern that can arise with the Oregon Medical Board is any report of prior issues with your behavior, character, conduct, or professionalism. Even if you have met all of the necessary requirements and certification for licensure, the Oregon Medical Board can and will consider character and fitness issues that took place outside of school in order to safeguard against potential future malpractice concerns. Considering the added stress that international medical students undergo in transferring their career in medicine to the United States, it is not uncommon for past incidents or character issues to come back and cause issues throughout the licensing process. Our experienced team of attorneys knows how to handle medical boards across the country, including in Oregon, advocating for our clients and helping them to put their best foot forward. We also understand how to engage with schools to rectify any record of misconduct that could harm your career.
Oregon Licensing Board International Medical Graduate Immigration Issues
Unfortunately, even with a perfect academic record, a stellar history of character and fitness, and all of the necessary academic and professional examinations and qualifications, immigration issues can still complicate the license application process and bring up issues with the Oregon Medical Board. The ECFMG certification does take into account immigration issues, and its Visitor Sponsorship Program can assist in helping international medical graduates who are not citizens of the United States obtain J-1 visas. It is possible, however, that despite going through the visa process at the ECFMG stage, various factors pertaining to your immigration status can hold up your Oregon medical license. Fortunately, the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Teams understand how immigration issues impact this process with the Oregon Medical Board and can help you handle immigration and Board officials to ensure that your immigration status does not prevent you from carrying out your medical career in the United States.
How the Lento Law Firm's Premier Professional License Defense Team Can Help
In addition to facing a strict and often daunting process of examination and certification, international medical graduates in Oregon are often vulnerable to a whole host of potential issues and pitfalls that can delay or even inhibit the licensing process. If you are an international medical graduate seeking Oregon medical licensure, the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team can assist you at all stages of the process.
When you've found yourself at odds with the Board, and you are concerned that your state license may be in jeopardy, it is important that you don't wait. Obtaining a state license is key to establishing a medical career in the United States, and anything that prohibits you from obtaining proper approval from the Oregon Medical Board can put all of your hard work and dedication at stake. Our Team of experienced attorneys has the experience and know-how to handle the Board and help you achieve the best possible outcome so you can enjoy a rewarding medical career in the United States. Call us at 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form now to obtain the representation you need to resolve any Oregon Medical Board licensing issues that you may be facing.
