Services for Medical Students and Graduates

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The individual states and territories set their own rules and regulations for granting licenses to practice medicine within their jurisdictions. NBME certification provides a permanent record of qualification for licensure for Diplomates certified before implementation of USMLE and for Diplomates certified based on passing certain combinations of NBME and USMLE examinations.

The NBME certifies its examination scores to medical licensing authorities at the request of the NBME Diplomate so long as the NBME or NBME/USMLE score history includes at least one passing NBME Part score (Part I, September 1991 or earlier; Part II, April 1992 or earlier; or Part III, May 1994 or earlier). Some jurisdictions may have additional regulations concerning endorsement of NBME certification. Therefore, physicians seeking licensure in a particular jurisdiction are advised to obtain complete information from the licensing authority.

Based on the full implementation of the USMLE Program in 1994, the National Board of Medical Examiners approved discontinuation of the NBME Certification Program for individuals with no prior passing Part scores and who passed their first USMLE Step after December 31, 1994. National Board Certification, however, will continue as a credential for licensure for those certified as Diplomates.

With the full implementation of USMLE, the successful completion of USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3 is reported to state licensing authorities by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), not by the NBME.

The requirements for certification as an NBME Diplomate include:

1. Receipt of the MD degree from a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)*;
2. Successful completion of Parts I, II, and III or USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3; or a combination of Part I or USMLE Step 1, Part II or USMLE Step 2, and Part III or USMLE Step 3; and
3. Completion, with a satisfactory record, of one full year (twelve months) in a graduate medical education program accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Accredited internships in Canada were recognized as meeting this requirement.
4. * “Accredited medical school” applies to schools in the United States or Canada with MD programs accredited by the LCME and only to those MD programs within such schools.

All examination requirements for NBME certification must be met within a seven-year period beginning with the first examination passed. If the seven-year limit expires, a USMLE Step 1 and/or Step 2 may be utilized for the purposes of repeating a Part I and/or Part II that was passed more than seven years earlier. For those participating in special, extended educational programs, consideration may be given to an extension of the seven-year limit. Candidates seeking an extension should contact the NBME Examinee Records Office. The NBME does not recertify persons it has previously certified.

For purposes of certification by the NBME, three attempts to pass a Part or Step are routinely accepted. The NBME will consider the extraordinary circumstances pertaining to any additional administrations.

Submit your request for score documents online. Credit card payments are accepted.

Please click here to go to the NBME Licensing Examination Services website and submit your request.