Here in the United States, becoming a physician means years of medical school and training, plus passing of multiple exams including the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) series and those required of physician hopefuls in certain specialties, like the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) series.
But most states have additional licensing requirements that must be met before graduates from medical school can begin practicing. And of the states and commonwealths nationwide, California and Texas have reputations as the toughest for securing medical licensure.
Physician hopefuls in both California and Texas must disclose any and all include all citations, infractions, misdemeanors and felonies, right down to speeding tickets, and you must pass state and federal criminal background checks. California can withhold licenses for issues like nonpayment of taxes or court-ordered child support, as well.
California has strict rules on time lapses between completing certain phases of training and filing for licensure. For instance, a US or Canada-trained medical student must complete 12 continuous months of training in a single program to be eligible for licensure, and must be licensed by the end of the 24th month of training. An IMG must complete 24 months of training, with the final 12 months being continuous and in a single program, and be licensed by the end of the 36th month of training. California also requires that you pass Step 3 of the USMLE within four attempts before being licensed.
Texas also imposes limits on examination attempts, requiring students to pass each part of their exams within three attempts, with few exceptions for those who already have been licensed in good standing in another state for at least five years or held a Texas PIT permit for a specified length of time. Plus, all applicants are required to pass the Texas Medical Jurisprudence Examination in three attempts with a score of 75 or better.
Only students trained at medical schools recognized by the Medical Board of California are considered for licensure, though some may be eligible provided they meet certain additional requirements. And the Texas Medical Board may require additional information or investigation of your school if it’s not listed in its document titled, “Schools Whose Graduates Do Not Have to Prove Substantial Equivalence of Their Education.”
No matter where you hope to practice, passing all parts of your USMLE and COMLEX exams on the first or second attempt will help boost your chances of licensure success because it proves that you have a solid grasp of the medical practice. WOLFPACC can help you do just that by teaching you a more effective way of approaching the study and practice of medicine. Developed by founder and CEO Hans Wolf, MD, the WOLFPACC approach has proven successful via high USMLE and COMLEX pass rates, invitations to bring the courses to numerous schools, and even requests to fully revamp the course structure of multiple medical schools.
Ensure your competitive edge by calling 904-209-3140 and talking with a WOLFPACC enrollment specialist today.
