Texas licensing disaster
Looking for advice from anyone who has dealt with Texas licensure issues related to the USMLE timeframe rule.
I’m ABFM board certified already have an academic/faculty hospitalist position lined up in Texas. TMB recently informed me I’m currently ineligible because my USMLE exams were not completed within the required timeframe.
Although the Medical Practice Act, Texas Occupations Code Annotated §155.051(c), Examination Required, does
allow for the time limit for examinations to be extended to ten years, it was not applicable to your situation either.
This section specifically provides that:
(c) The time frame to pass each part of the examination described by Subsection (a) is extended to 10 years and the anniversary date to pass each part of the examination described by Subsection(b) is extended to the 10th anniversary
if the applicant:
(1) is specialty board certified by a specialty board that:
(A) is a member of the American Board of medical Specialties; or
(B) is a member of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists; or
(2) has been issued a faculty temporary license, as prescribed by board rule, and has practiced under such a
license for a minimum of 12 months and, at the conclusion of the 12-month period, has been recommended to
the board by the chief administrative officer and the president of the institution in which the applicant practiced under the faculty temporary license.
There are exceptions in the statute, and you may be eligible for one in the future, but not at this time. The
exception applicable to your situation - Tex. Occ. Code, Sec.* 155.0561 (see attached) allows exceptions to exam
requirements* **for individuals who meet certain additional requirements.
This applies to an applicant who:
• is fully licensed and has been actively practicing, after completion of an acceptable training program, in
another state, Canada or US territory for at least one year; and
• has never held a medical license subject to any restriction, disciplinary order or probation; and
• has no pending investigations by a licensing authority or law enforcement; and
• has never been subject of peer review that has resulted or may result in limitation, restriction, suspension or
other adverse action of privileges.
Location Address:
My options are:
- Retake and pass USMLE Step 2 CK (within 3 attempts before 2031), OR
- Be fully licensed and actively practice for at least one full year in another US state, Canada, or territory before reapplying under the exception pathway.
I’m trying to understand:
Has anyone successfully appealed or obtained Executive Director review in a similar case?
Did anyone take the “practice one year elsewhere” route and later get approved in Texas? And at this point why will I take the hassle of reapplying and relocating etc…
Which states are generally friendlier for physicians with exam timeframe issues?
Has anyone used Ontario/CPSO licensure as a bridge before eventually obtaining Texas licensure?
Is it worth involving a healthcare licensing attorney at this stage?
Also since it’s a faculty position- would it be worth applying for a faculty temporary license if full didn’t work out.
I’m also wondering if anyone has successfully obtained a faculty temporary license first for an academic appointment and then transitioned to full licensure afterwards.
Would appreciate any advice or similar experiences.