Arkansas Offering Licensure Pathways for IMGs

THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL BOARD OFFERS AN APPLICATION FOR THIS PATHWAY. 

There are four pathways through which an International Medical Graduate may receive a license from the Arkansas State Medical Board.  The applicant must meet ALL of the requirements in the first, second, third, OR fourth pathway listed below in order to qualify for licensure.  If you meet some of the requirements in each different pathway, that does not meet the requirements for licensure.

The First Pathway

1. Graduate of a foreign medical school whose entrance requirements and course of instruction have been approved by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
2. Complete three (3) years of U.S. accredited postgraduate education. This can be internships, residencies, fellowships or a combination thereof.
3. ECFMG Certification
4. Have taken and passed all three (3) steps of the USMLE, with no more than three (3) attempts per step.

The Second Pathway

1. Graduate of a foreign medical school whose entrance requirements and course of instruction have been approved by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
2. Completed one (1) year as an intern or resident in an accredited postgraduate medical education program in the United States and be currently enrolled in an accredited postgraduate program in Arkansas.
3. ECFMG Certification
4. Have taken and passed all three (3) steps of the USMLE with no more than three (3) attempts per step.

The Third Pathway

1. Graduate of a foreign medical school whose entrance requirements and course of instruction have been approved by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
2. Complete three (3) years foreign postgraduate education (internship or residency).
3. One (1) year or more of U.S. ACGME Fellowship Training OR be ABMS Board Certified
4. ECFMG Certification
5. Have taken and passed all three (3) steps of the USMLE with no more than (3) attempts per step.

The Fourth Pathway

1. Graduate of a foreign medical school whose entrance requirements and course of instruction have been approved by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
2. Been offered full-time employment as a physician from a healthcare provider that operates in a medically underserved population in Arkansas as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 254b.
3. Hold an active, unencumbered license to practice medicine in a foreign country.
4. Have actively practiced medicine during the four-year period preceding the date of application.
5. Hold an active, valid ECFMG certificate
6. Pass the examination used by the ECFMG

*Approval of a medical license via the fourth pathway will result in a Provisional license that authorizes practicing medicine only within the clinical programs approved by the sponsoring physician who is licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board. The applicant for this license will be required to appear before the full Board with their sponsoring physician and must maintain employment with the original healthcare provider that operates in this state for at least three (3) consecutive years after licensure. The Provisional license will be valid for a period of one year, and must be renewed annually with the approval of the Board. At the end of the second year of practice with the provisional license, the physician is eligible for an active, unrestricted license to practice medicine in this state after review and approval of the Arkansas State Medical Board. See the attached ACT971.

The Administrative License 

If you do not meet qualifications in any of the four (4) pathways listed above, the opportunity to obtain licensure is still available if you choose to apply for an Academic License.  The qualifications to apply for an Academic License are listed below:

1. Submit a completed application to the Board
2. $120.00 fee
3. Serving as a faculty member in the State of Arkansas under the supervision of a faculty member licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board at an academic medical program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association, operated in the State of Arkansas and established by and under the control of a medical school located in the State of Arkansas and accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or approved by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to seek accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

** The academic license to practice medicine in the State of Arkansas shall authorize the practice of medicine only within the clinical and educational programs in the State of Arkansas that are established and administered by a medical school located in the State of Arkansas and accredited by an accrediting agency recognized  by the United States Department of Education or approved by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to seek accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. **

The application for licensure can be found on the Arkansas State Medical Board website at (under “For the Practitioner” and “Medical Doctor/Osteopathic Doctor”).

Contact us for assistance with licensure and employment search.