# Title 50 — North Dakota Board of Medicine

## Article 50-02 — Physician Licensure

## Chapter 50-02-11 — Examinations

### § 50-02-11-01. Eligibility for examination.

To be eligible for steps 1 and 2 of USMLE (United States medical licensing examination), the
applicant must be in one of the following categories:
1. A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a United States or Canadian medical
school accredited by the liaison committee on medical education (LCME).
2. A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a United States osteopathic medical
school accredited by the American osteopathic association (AOA).
3. A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a foreign medical school and eligible
for examination by the educational commission for foreign medical graduates (ECFMG) for its
certificate.
To be eligible for USMLE step 3, the applicant must (a) have obtained the MD degree or the DO
degree; and (b) have completed successfully both parts I and II of the national board examination or
steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE or part I and step 2 or step 1 and part II or FLEX component 1.
History: Effective November 1, 1993; amended effective November 1, 1995; December 1, 1996;
December 1, 2000; July 26, 2001; March 1, 2003; October 1, 2022.
General Authority: NDCC 43-17-18
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-17-18
### § 50-02-11-02. Successful completion of examination - Time limitation.

Repealed effective April 1, 2020.
### § 50-02-11-03. Limitation on attempts at examination passage.

Repealed effective August 1, 2003.
### § 50-02-11-03.1. Limitation on attempts at examination passage.

1. An applicant is permitted a maximum of three attempts to pass each step or part or
component of a licensing examination. This rule does not apply to an individual who required
more than three attempts to pass USMLE step 1 or USMLE step 2 if that individual was
enrolled in a postgraduate training program in North Dakota prior to July 10, 2005, and if:
a. The individual is still enrolled in the program when the application for licensure is
submitted to the board's office; or
b. The individual has completed the program successfully.
Parts, steps, and components may not be combined so as to enlarge the number of attempts
permitted under this rule.

2. Upon review of an individual applicant, the board may allow an exception to this rule if it finds
that it is in the best interest of the state and the applicant:
a. Is validly licensed as a physician in another state;
b. Has practiced a minimum of five years;
c. Has no disciplinary actions imposed by any other state medical licensing board within the
last ten years immediately preceding the date of application; and
d. Is certified by a specialty board recognized by the American board of medical specialties
or by the royal college of physicians and surgeons of Canada.
3. Upon review of an individual applicant, the board may allow an exception to this rule if it finds
it is in the best interest of the state and the applicant shows a documented disability as
determined by the board.
History: Effective June 1, 2005; amended effective October 1, 2011; April 1, 2020; October 1, 2022;
April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-17-18
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-17-18
### § 50-02-11-04. Examination combinations acceptable.

Any applicant who has successfully completed part I (NBME) or step 1 (USMLE) plus part II or
step 2 plus part III or step 3; or FLEX component 1 plus step 3; or part I or step 1, plus part II or step 2,
plus FLEX component 2 shall be deemed to have successfully completed a medical licensure
examination as required by subsection 4 of North Dakota Century Code section 43-17-18, if such
combination of testing was completed before January 1, 2000. The acceptable combinations include:
1. USMLE step 1 + USMLE step 2 + USMLE step 3;
2. NBME part I + NBME part II + NBME part III;
3. FLEX component 1 + FLEX component 2;
4. USMLE step 1 + NBME part II + NBME part III;
5. USMLE step 1 + USMLE step 2 + NBME part III;
6. USMLE step 1 + NBME part II + USMLE step 3;
7. NBME part I + USMLE step 2 + USMLE step 3;
8. NBME part I + USMLE step 2 + NBME part III;
9. NBME part I + NBME part II + USMLE step 3;
10. FLEX component 1 + USMLE step 3;
11. FLEX component 2 + USMLE step 1 + NBME part II;
12. FLEX component 2 + USMLE step 1 + USMLE step 2;
13. FLEX component 2 + NBME part I + USMLE step 2; or
14. FLEX component 2 + NBME part I + NBME part II.
History: Effective November 1, 1993; amended effective November 1, 1995; October 1, 2022.

General Authority: NDCC 43-17-18
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-17-18
