Domestic Graduate Requirements

1. Graduate of an accredited medical or osteopathic school located in the United States, its territories, or
   Canada.
2. Successfully complete one year of U.S./Canadian graduate, clinical medical training in a program
   accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American
   Osteopathic Association (AOA) or the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada, or the
   College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or other graduate training approved, in advance, by
   the board as meeting standards similar to those of a national accrediting organization.
3. Successfully complete the USMLE, COMLEX, National Board, LMCC, FLEX, or state exam.
   Applicants licensed in another state must pass the SPEX exam within three attempts if it has been
   more than 10 years since taking the initial licensing exam unless currently certified by a specialty
   board of the American Board of Medical Specialties, of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau
   of Professional Education, of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the
   College of Family Physicians of Canada.

International Graduate Requirements

1. Graduate of a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
2. Successfully complete one year of graduate, clinical medical training in a program accredited by a
   national accrediting organization approved by the board unless 1) admitted as a permanent immigrant
   to the United States as a person of exceptional ability in sciences pursuant to rules of the U.S.
   Department of Labor or 2) issued a permanent immigrant visa as a person of extraordinary ability or
   as an outstanding professor or researcher and has a valid medical license in another country. See
   Minn. Stat. §147.037 Subd. 1(d) for details.
3. ECFMG certificate.
4. Successfully complete the USMLE, FLEX, LMCC, or state exam. Applicants must pass the SPEX
   exam within three attempts if it has been more than 10 years since taking the initial licensing exam
   unless currently certified by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical Specialties, of the
   American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional Education, of the Royal College of
   Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Applicants must have passed steps 1, 2 and 3 within three attempts. Four attempts are allowed if currently licensed in another state and currently certified by a specialty board of ABMS, AOABPE, RCPSC, or CFPC. USMLE Step 3 must be passed within 5 years of Step 2 or before the end of residency training. Applicants must pass each step with passing scores as recommended by the USMLE program. Combinations of FLEX, National Board, and USMLE (as outlined in the USMLE bulletin) may be accepted by the Board as comparable to existing exam sequences, but all exams must be passed within three attempts and completed prior to the year 2000

Applicants must have passed levels one, two and three with passing scores within three attempts.

1. Eligibility requirements for medical licensure in Minnesota based on the FLEX exam are as follows:
   1. Applicants who took and passed FLEX prior to 1985 must have passed in one sitting within five
   attempts.
2. Applicants who took and passed FLEX between 1985 and 1990 may pass in two sittings providing it
   is within five attempts.
3. Applicants who have made up to five attempts to pass FLEX (some attempts before 1985 and some
   between 1985 and 1990, inclusive) may pass in two sittings between 1985 and 1990.
4. Applicants taking FLEX after 1990 may pass in two sittings within three attempts.

The latest score is the “official score”. Passing score is a weighted average of 75 prior to 1985;
thereafter, the passing score is 75 on each component.

A physician must have a residency permit to participate in a residency program unless licensed by the Board. The residency permit is program specific; therefore, a separate residency permit is required for each residency program until a physician is licensed.

Minnesota does not require the following physicians to be licensed while:

1. practicing at a federal facility providing s/he is licensed elsewhere.
2. in actual consultation here providing s/he is licensed in another state or country.
3. serving as a camp doctor in Minnesota; however, physicians must register with the board. There is
   no fee involved.
4.  a student practicing under the direct supervision of a preceptor and attending a recognized medical
   school.
5.  performing the duties of an intern or resident or engaged in postgraduate work approved by the board
   as meeting standards similar to those of a national accrediting organization provided the student has
   a residency permit issued by the Board.
6.  employed in a scientific, sanitary or teaching capacity by a bona fide educational institution or state
   health department while engaged in such duties.
7.  providing medical services at a competitive athletic event if physician is registered with the Board and
   is licensed in another state.

Each licensed physician must obtain 75 hours of continuing medical education (CME) category 1 credit every three years as a condition of licensure renewal. The Board accepts (re)certification or current Maintenance of Competency issued by ABMS, RCPSC, CFPC or AOA in lieu of CME. Newly licensed physicians commence their three year cycle on their birth month following the initial date of licensure. Physicians under Emeritus registration and licensees in full-time residency or fellowship training at a professionally accredited facility are exempt from the continuing medical education requirement.

Medical licenses must be renewed annually based on birth month. Renewal notices are sent approximately 45 days prior to expiration. It is the physician’s responsibility to keep the Board advised of their current address. The Board is obligated to mail the renewal information to the address on file.
Failure to receive the renewal information does not relieve physicians of their renewal obligation. Physicians practicing in Minnesota without a current, valid license are practicing illegally which may result in potential liability or disciplinary action. Physicians not practicing in Minnesota who allow their license to lapse are cancelled after two years due to nonrenewal and must reapply and meet the requirements in place at the time in order to resume practice in Minnesota.