 |
Basic Rights to for Granting a License
to Practice Medicine
Protecting the Public's Health |
Basic Requirements for Granting a License to Practice Medicine
The following is a synopsis of the licensing application requirements as outlined in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 13, Article 2 Licensing. Licensing requirements are set forth in statute and cannot be waived by the Board.
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements to receive a license to practice medicine in the state of Arizona:
- Graduate from an approved school of medicine or receive a medical education, which the board considers to be of equivalent quality (see graduates from an unapproved medical school below).
- Successfully complete a 12-month hospital internship, residency or fellowship program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
- Complete and obtain a passing score on a medical licensing examination administered by any U.S. state or Canadian province or successfully complete one or a combination of the following tests:
- United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
- National Board of Medical Examiner's Examination (NBME)
Certification from the Licensing Council of Canada also meets this requirement
Applicants who completed the examination requirements listed above more than ten years prior to the time of application must also hold a current certification from an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or may be required to pass a Special Purpose Licensing Examination (SPEX).
Graduates from an Unapproved Medical School (Outside the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico)
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements in addition to those listed above for graduates of an approved medical school:
- Must be able to read, write, speak, understand, and be understood in the English language.
- Must be either certified by the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), or complete 36 months as a full-time assistant professor or higher position in an approved school of medicine, or complete a Fifth Pathway program. A Fifth Pathway is a program for American citizens who attended a foreign medical school that spent a year of supervised clinical clerkships in ACGME approved programs.
- Must successfully complete an ACGME approved 24-month hospital internship, residency or fellowship program. This is in addition to the 12 months required for graduates of an ACGME approved medical training program for a total of 36 months.
General Provisions
The Board may conduct a records review and physical and psychological assessment to ensure that an applicant is mentally and physically capable to safely practicing medicine. Applicants must not have committed any act or engaged in unprofessional conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action by the Arizona State Board of Medical Examiners.
Have a question or suggestion for improvement?
Send email to [email protected].
Return to AMB Home Page