Physician (MD, DO)

MD, DO Applications

Eligibility

Criminal Offenses

Fees

Preliminary Education Requirements

Medical Education and Training Requirements

Acceptable Examinations

Recent Clinical Practice

Application Instructions

License Restoration

Supervision Agreement

Forms and Helpful Links

Eligibility

Completion of preliminary education
Completion of medical education and training
Passage of an acceptable medical licensure examination sequence
Recent clinical practice

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements at the time an application is submitted. Applications submitted by individuals who do not meet eligibility requirements are subject to denial by the board. Application fees are not refundable and an applicant will be required to reapply once eligibility requirements can be met.

Criminal Offenses

Q: What must be disclosed on the application regarding arrest/criminal history?

A: If you have ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony you must disclose the incident(s) on the application, regardless of whether the criminal records were subsequently sealed or expunged. This includes serious traffic offenses such as reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, hit and run, evading a peace officer, failure to appear, and driving under suspension. Matters in which you were diverted, deferred, pardoned, or pled nolo contendere must also be disclosed. If you are in doubt as to how to respond to the application questions, full and honest disclosure is recommended.

To verify your criminal history, the Board requires submission of fingerprints for a criminal records check completed by both the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Both entities maintain records, often beyond the time that courts keep them, and these records will be reported to the Board as a result of the criminal records check.

Failure to provide truthful responses to the questions on the application may result in disciplinary action up to, and including, permanent denial of your application.

Explanatory Statement Disqualifying Offense List

Disqualifying Offense List

Initial Application Fees

Application $305.00

Transaction fee $3.50

Total due at submission $308.50

Preliminary Education Requirements

Applicants are required to demonstrate completion of preliminary education which shall include two years of undergraduate work in a college of arts and sciences and a high school diploma, or the equivalent of such education as determined by the Board. Preliminary education can be demonstrated by:

Production of a diploma from a medical or osteopathic medical school that, at the time the diploma was issued, was a medical school accredited by the LCME or an osteopathic medical school accredited by the AOA constitutes prima facie evidence that the individual has completed the requisite preliminary education
Production of an ECFMG certificate constitutes prima facie evidence that the individual has completed the requisite preliminary education
Completion of sixty semester hours or its equivalent shall be considered two years of under-graduate work

Medical Education and Training Requirements

US/Canadian Medical Graduates

Graduates of medical schools located in the U.S. or Canada and accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) must successfully complete one year of graduate medical education (GME) or its equivalent as determined by the Board.

Foreign Medical Graduates

Graduates of foreign medical schools must successfully complete not less than two years of GME through the second-year level of training or have completed a Fifth Pathway program plus 1 year of GME or its equivalent as determined by the Board and hold a valid ECFMG certificate unless they have completed a Fifth Pathway program.
In addition, graduates of all other medical schools must demonstrate proficiency in Spoken English by at least one of the following:
- Passage of the Clinical Skills Assessment examination given by ECFMG on or after 7/1/98;
- Fulfillment of preliminary education requirements (i.e., completion of two years of undergraduate college work) in the U.S;
- Possession of a current medical license (including temporary licenses, training certificates, etc.) in the U.S. pursuant to which the holder has actively practiced medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery, including accredited graduate medical education training, for the last five years (must have been actively practicing medicine in the U.S. for at least nine full months during each of the five years) immediately preceding the date of the application;
- A score of at least 26 in Speaking and 26 in Listening with a total score of 90 on the TOEFL iBT offered by the Educational Testing Service, regardless of citizenship or country of birth. Prior to July 2006, the Test of Spoken English was required with a minimum score of 40 (between 7/95-7/06) or 230 (prior to 7/95); or
- Completion of a Fifth Pathway program.
Please be advised that the TOEFL, TWE and ECFMG’s English language proficiency test (taken prior to 7/1/98) are tests of English comprehension, not proficiency in spoken English, and thus do not fulfill the TOEFL iBT requirement. To apply for the TOEFL iBT contact the Educational Testing Service directly.

Acceptable Medical Licensure Examination Sequences

USMLE/COMLEX-USA

An applicant shall have passed the USMLE or COMLEX-USA within a ten-year period and achieved a recognized passing performance on each step or level. No applicant shall have failed any step or level more than three times.
The board may grant a waiver to any applicant that does not meet the requirements of the paragraph above, in accordance with rule 4731-6-05 of the Ohio Administrative Code.

Exams Administered Before January 2000

One of the following examination sequences with all steps, parts, levels or components having been administered prior to January 2000. The score achieved on each step, part, level or component must have equaled or exceeded the figure established by the USMLE program, the National Board of Medical Examiners, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners or the federation as a passing score for that step, part, level or component, respectively.
- Part I of the National Board of Medical Examiners examination or step 1 of the USMLE, part II of the National Board of Medical Examiners examination or step 2 of the USMLE, and part III of the National Board of Medical Examiners examination or step 3 of the USMLE or component 2 of the FLEX
  
  or
- Part I of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners examination or level 1 of the COMLEX-USA, part II of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners examination or level 2 of the COMLEX-USA, and part III of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners examination or level 3 of the COMLEX-USA.
Component 1 of the FLEX and Step 3 of USMLE
- The component and step must have been administered prior to January 2000. A performance of seventy-five or above must have been achieved on component 1. The performance achieved on step 3 must have been recognized by the USMLE program as a recommended passing performance.
Component 1 and 2 of the FLEX. Both components must have been administered prior to January 2000. The score achieved on each component must have equaled or exceeded the figure established by the FLEX program as a passing score for that component.

Exams Administered Before 1985

A written state medical board of the United States licensing examination other than the FLEX, USMLE or COMLEX-USA administered prior to June 1982 without previous or subsequent FLEX, USMLE or COMLEX-USA failure
A single three-day FLEX administered prior to June 1985. The FLEX weighted average must be 75 or above for the entire examination as reported by the Federation of State Medical Boards or must be 72 or above if the examination was taken during the first two years of a state’s administration of the FLEX and such score was accepted by that state as a passing score
A written examination provided by the National Board of Examiners for Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons for the administering state.

Endorsement of Diplomate or Licentiate Status

If other eligibility requirements are met, diplomate status with the National Board of Medical Examiners or the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, or licentiate status with the Medical Council of Canada, may be directly endorsable to Ohio, without further examination requirements.

Recent Clinical Practice

The State Medical Board of Ohio may require additional training or examination, or both, of any applicant who for more than two years immediately preceding the date of application has not been engaged in the clinical practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine as an active practitioner.

Application Instructions

Step 1: Request FCVS Physician Profile (Core Credentials Packet)

The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) is provided through the Federation of State Medical Boards. FCVS verifies documents related to your identity, education, training and more from primary sources. Your FCVS profile can be updated with additional credentials whenever needed.
Since the credentials verification process can take a significant amount of time, it is important to complete your FCVS application for credentials verification before working on the rest of your application. Physicians who have not used FCVS will need to complete an initial FCVS application. Physicians who have an existing FCVS profile will need to complete a subsequent FCVS application to update the profile. All physicians must designate the State Medical Board of Ohio to receive the profile during the FCVS application process.
Once the FCVS application is completed, they will email you a completion letter which confirms information has been released to the state medical board(s) you selected.

Step 2: Request FBI and Ohio BCI Background Record Checks

The board strongly encourages prospective applicants to complete their background checks as soon as they know that they will be applying for Ohio licensure. There is no need to wait until an application is submitted to start the background check process. The board will retain the background check results for up to one year upon receiving them. Once an application has been submitted to the board, its status will be updated to reflect receipt of the results.

Results MUST be sent directly from the vendor to the State Medical Board of Ohio; the board will not accept results from the applicant or a third party.
All applicants for licensure are required to complete an FBI and Ohio BCI criminal records check. View instructions in the background check packet or by watching the instructional video below.

Step 3: Complete and Submit the Ohio Physician Licensure Application

The Ohio physician licensure application must be submitted and paid online through eLicense.ohio.gov.
The $305, nonrefundable application fee can be paid with Visa, MasterCard or Discover.
Click here to start the application

Applicants are not required to submit license verifications from other states or jurisdictions in which they are licensed, unless specifically requested by board staff.

Please note: the Medical Board is unable to confirm receipt of background checks or other supporting documents prior to an application being submitted.

Once an application has been submitted, any documents that have been previously received will be attached to the application. Please allow the Board 10 business days to perform an initial review of your application. After that time, you may check the status of your application by logging into eLicense and navigating to your license application. Select the Options tab and the Review Status option. Any outstanding items will be listed in the ‘Comments’ section at the bottom of the page.

Supervision Agreement

Before initiating supervision of one or more physician assistants, a physician shall enter into a supervision agreement with each physician assistant who will be supervised. Supervision agreements are no longer submitted to the State Medical Board of Ohio for approval, but must be kept in the records maintained by the supervising physician, and be readily accessible for on-site inspection. Since supervision agreements are no longer filed with the Board, there is no expiration nor renewal of them. They are living documents that remain active and can be amended at any time until terminated. For convenience, you may use the forms located here (see Supervision Agreement Applications).

Physician (MD, DO)

MD, DO Applications

​On This Page:

Completion of preliminary education

Completion of medical education and training

Passage of an acceptable medical licensure examination sequence

Recent clinical practice

Q: What must be disclosed on the application regarding arrest/criminal history?

Failure to provide truthful responses to the questions on the application may result in disciplinary action up to, and including, permanent denial of your application.

Application $305.00

Transaction fee $3.50

Total due at submission $308.50

Applicants are required to demonstrate completion of preliminary education which shall include two years of undergraduate work in a college of arts and sciences and a high school diploma, or the equivalent of such education as determined by the Board. Preliminary education can be demonstrated by:

Production of an ECFMG certificate constitutes prima facie evidence that the individual has completed the requisite preliminary education

Completion of sixty semester hours or its equivalent shall be considered two years of under-graduate work

US/Canadian Medical Graduates

Graduates of medical schools located in the U.S. or Canada and accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) must successfully complete one year of graduate medical education (GME) or its equivalent as determined by the Board.

Foreign Medical Graduates

In addition, graduates of all other medical schools must demonstrate proficiency in Spoken English by at least one of the following:

Passage of the Clinical Skills Assessment examination given by ECFMG on or after 7/1/98;

Fulfillment of preliminary education requirements (i.e., completion of two years of undergraduate college work) in the U.S;

Completion of a Fifth Pathway program.

USMLE/COMLEX-USA

​An applicant shall have passed the USMLE or COMLEX-USA within a ten-year period and achieved a recognized passing performance on each step or level. No applicant shall have failed any step or level more than three times.

The board may grant a waiver to any applicant that does not meet the requirements of the paragraph above, in accordance with rule 4731-6-05 of the Ohio Administrative Code.

Exams Administered Before January 2000

Part I of the National Board of Medical Examiners examination or step 1 of the USMLE, part II of the National Board of Medical Examiners examination or step 2 of the USMLE, and part III of the National Board of Medical Examiners examination or step 3 of the USMLE or component 2 of the FLEX

or

Component 1 of the FLEX and Step 3 of USMLE

​​The component and step must have been administered prior to January 2000. A performance of seventy-five or above must have been achieved on component 1. The performance achieved on step 3 must have been recognized by the USMLE program as a recommended passing performance.

Component 1 and 2 of the FLEX. Both components must have been administered prior to January 2000. The score achieved on each component must have equaled or exceeded the figure established by the FLEX program as a passing score for that component.

​Exams Administered Before 1985

A written state medical board of the United States licensing examination other than the FLEX, USMLE or COMLEX-USA administered prior to June 1982 without previous or subsequent FLEX, USMLE or COMLEX-USA failure

A written examination provided by the National Board of Examiners for Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons for the administering state.

​Endorsement of Diplomate or Licentiate Status

If other eligibility requirements are met, diplomate status with the National Board of Medical Examiners or the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, or licentiate status with the Medical Council of Canada, may be directly endorsable to Ohio, without further examination requirements.

The State Medical Board of Ohio may require additional training or examination, or both, of any applicant who for more than two years immediately preceding the date of application has not been engaged in the clinical practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine as an active practitioner.

Step 1: Request FCVS Physician Profile (Core Credentials Packet)

The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) is provided through the Federation of State Medical Boards. FCVS verifies documents related to your identity, education, training and more from primary sources. Your FCVS profile can be updated with additional credentials whenever needed.

Once the FCVS application is completed, they will email you a completion letter which confirms information has been released to the state medical board(s) you selected.

Step 2: Request FBI and Ohio BCI Background Record Checks

Results MUST be sent directly from the vendor to the State Medical Board of Ohio; the board will not accept results from the applicant or a third party.

All applicants for licensure are required to complete an FBI and Ohio BCI criminal records check. View instructions in the background check packet or by watching the instructional video below.

Step 3: Complete and Submit the Ohio Physician Licensure Application

The Ohio physician licensure application must be submitted and paid online through eLicense.ohio.gov.

The $305, nonrefundable application fee can be paid with Visa, MasterCard or Discover.

Click here to start the application

​​Applicants are not required to submit license verifications from other states or jurisdictions in which they are licensed, unless specifically requested by board staff.

​Please note: the Medical Board is unable to confirm receipt of background checks or other supporting documents prior to an application being submitted.

State Medical Board of Ohio

30 East Broad Street, 3rd Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

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On This Page:

An applicant shall have passed the USMLE or COMLEX-USA within a ten-year period and achieved a recognized passing performance on each step or level. No applicant shall have failed any step or level more than three times.

The component and step must have been administered prior to January 2000. A performance of seventy-five or above must have been achieved on component 1. The performance achieved on step 3 must have been recognized by the USMLE program as a recommended passing performance.

Exams Administered Before 1985

Endorsement of Diplomate or Licentiate Status

Applicants are not required to submit license verifications from other states or jurisdictions in which they are licensed, unless specifically requested by board staff.

Please note: the Medical Board is unable to confirm receipt of background checks or other supporting documents prior to an application being submitted.