Section 17-4605. NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

 

4605.1To qualify for a license by examination, an applicant shall receive a passing score on the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX), the National Board of Medical Examiners Examination (NBME), or the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

 

4605.2The applicant who took the FLEX prior to January 1, 1985, shall have attained a passing score of a FLEX weighted average score of seventy-five (75) or higher at a single sitting.

 

4605.3An applicant taking the FLEX on or after January 1, 1985, shall take both components of the FLEX at a single sitting if the applicant is taking the examination for the first time. Thereafter, an applicant who has not passed the FLEX may take one (1) or both components of the FLEX at subsequent sittings.

 

4605.4An applicant taking the FLEX on or after January 1, 1985, shall have attained a passing score of a FLEX seventy-five (75) or higher on both components of the examination.

 

4605.5An applicant who has not attained a passing score described in § 4605.2 or § 4605.4 on both components of the FLEX examination after three (3) attempts shall complete one (1) additional year of postgraduate clinical training that meets the requirement of § 4602.4 before being eligible to take the examination again.

 

4605.6An applicant who has not attained a passing score described in § 4605.2 or § 4605.4 on both components of the FLEX examination after six (6) attempts shall not be eligible for a license in the District by examination or other means.

 

4605.7For purposes of §§ 4605.5 and 4605.6, the term "an attempt" means each time an applicant sits for the FLEX examination, regardless of how many components the applicant takes.

 

4605.8An applicant who is relying on the FLEX examination administered in another jurisdiction as a qualifying examination shall receive under sitting requirements identical to applicants taking the examination in the District a passing score of the following:

 

(a)A FLEX weighted average of seventy-five (75) if the examination was taken prior to January 1, 1985; or

 

(b)A FLEX seventy-five (75) on both components of the examination if the examination was taken after January 1, 1985.

 

4605.9An applicant who is relying on the NBME examination shall be a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners.

 

4605.10An applicant who is relying on the USMLE shall have successfully passed Steps 1, 2, and 3.

 

4605.11An applicant taking Step 3 of the USMLE shall furnish proof satisfactory to the Board that the applicant:

 

(a)Has passed Steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE; and

 

(b)Has completed at least six months of a program of postgraduate clinical training that meets the requirements of Section 4602.4.

 

4605.12An applicant who has not obtained a passing score on Step 3 of the USMLE after three (3) attempts shall complete one (1) additional year of postgraduate clinical training that meets the requirements of Section 4602.4 before being eligible to take Step 3 again.

 

4605.13An applicant shall complete all remaining portions of the USMLE within seven (7) years after passing Step 1 or Step 2 of the examination. However, the seven (7) year time frame may be extended at the discretion of the Board.

 

4605.14Applicants applying for licensure by examination may rely on any of the examination combinations shown below, provided that an acceptable combination is completed prior to January 1, 2000.

Display Table

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 5999, 6004 (August 5, 1988); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 42 DCR 5019 (September 1, 1995); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 52 DCR 6834 (July 22, 2005).