1. (a) Whereas the Arkansas Medical Practices Act, Arkansas Code § 17-95-201 et seq., Arkansas Code § 17-95-301 et seq., and Arkansas Code § 17-95-401 et seq., more specifically Arkansas Code §§ 17-95-403(a)(2) and 17-95-404, sets forth that anyone desiring a license to practice medicine in the State of Arkansas must successfully pass an examination as approved by the Arkansas State Medical Board.
2. (b) Whereas the Arkansas State Medical Board is charged with selecting said examinations.

3. (c) Wherefore the Arkansas State Medical Board designates the following examinations as appropriate examinations for licensure:

   1. (1) Those individuals desiring a license to practice medicine and having graduated from an American or Canadian medical school must show proof of satisfactory completion of one (1) of the following exams:

      1. (A) Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX);
      2. (B) The National Board of Medical Examiners Examination (NBME);
      3. (C) The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE);
      4. (D) Le Medical Counsel of Canada Examination; or
      5. (E) Examinations developed by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners;

   2. (2) Those individuals desiring a license who have graduated from a foreign country’s medical school in addition to the other requirements will show proof of successful completion of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (ECFMG) and one (1) of the following examinations:

      1. (A) Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX);
      2. (B) The National Board of Medical Examiners Examination (NMBE);
      3. (C) The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE); or
      4. (D) Le Medical Counsel of Canada Examination;

   3. (3) Those individuals desiring a license to practice medicine as an osteopath in the State of Arkansas, in addition to the other requirements, will show proof of successful completion of one (1) of the following examinations:

      1. (A) Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX);
      2. (B) Examinations developed by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners;
      3. (C) The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE);
      4. (D) The National Board of Medical Examiners Examination (NBME); or
      5. (E) Le Medical Counsel of Canada Examination; and

   4. (4) Those individuals desiring a license by credential must show proof of successful completion of an examination accepted and stated above of one (1) of the following:

      1. (A) All of those listed under the first category; or
      2. (B) Any state examination if it was taken prior to 1975.

4. (d)

   1. (1) It is recognized by the Arkansas State Medical Board that the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) and the National Board of Medical Examiners Examination (NBME) are being phased out as accepted examinations for licensure.
   2. (2) It is also recognized by the Arkansas State Medical Board that the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is being phased in as the primary form of examination for state licensure.
   3. (3) During this period of transition, the following will be accepted by the Arkansas State Medical Board as completion of an approved examination: NBME Part I or USMLE Step 1 plus NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2 plus NBME Part III or USMLE Step 3 FLEX Component 1 plus USMLE Step 3 or NBME Part I or USMLE Step 1 plus NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2 plus FLEX Component 2
5. (e) The above combinations of examinations in no way implies that one cannot take the entire examination, that being those examinations listed in subdivision (c)(1) of this section, and passing the same.

6. (f) All applicants for a license to practice medicine in the State of Arkansas who choose to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) must comply with the following:

   1. (1) Present proof of successful completion of Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX); and

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Successful completion of each step in no more than three (3) attempts per step.
      2. (B)

7. (i) A waiver may be granted by the Arkansas State Medical Board, if requested by the applicant, from the “three (3) attempts per step limit” for Step 1 and/or Step 2.

   1. (ii) The waiver will be granted if the Arkansas State Medical Board finds that the applicant can show documentation and proof that he or she suffered from a significant health condition or personal problem, and that by its severity would necessarily cause delay to the applicant’s medical education and successful completion of the step testing.

      1. (iii) The waiver will not exceed four (4) attempts per step.

      2. (C) A waiver may also be granted to the “three (3) attempts per step limit” on Step 3 not to exceed four (4) attempts if:

         1. (i) The applicant has completed one (1) year of approved graduate medical education after the third failed attempt and before the fourth and final attempt at Step 3; or
         2. (ii) The applicant can show proof that he or she is certified in a specialty board by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
8. (g) The limitation on the number of attempts of the step examinations as set forth in subdivision (f)(2) of this section may begin anew if the applicant begins his or her entire medical school education anew.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "History: Adopted March 12, 1992; Amended May 7, 1993; Amended June 5, 1998; Amended October 7, 2010; Amended June 9, 2011; Amended December 4, 2014; Amended March 22, 2022; Effective July 11, 2022."