64B8-5.001. Examinations

(1) Pursuant to Section 456.017(1)(c), F.S., the Board hereby approves and designates the use of the United States Medical Licensing Examination prepared by the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc. and the National Board of Medical Examiners (USMLE).

(2) Any applicant who attempts to qualify for licensure who successfully completed the USMLE first used in 1994 through December 31, 1999 must have achieved a weighted score of no less than 75 on each step in order to be eligible for licensure in Florida. Any applicant who attempts to qualify for licensure who successfully completed the USMLE on or after January 1, 2000, shall obtain a passing score on the USMLE.

(3) Any applicant for licensure who began taking an examination for licensure prior to 1994 may utilize any of the examinations set forth in subsection (3) above or a combination thereof as follows up to the year 2000:

(a) NBME Part I or USMLE Step 1 plus NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2 plus NBME Part III or USMLE Step 3;

(b) FLEX Component 1 plus USMLE Step 3, or

(c) NBME Part I or USMLE Step 1 plus NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2 plus FLEX Component 2.

(4)(a) Pursuant to Sections 458.311(1)(h) and 458.313(2), F.S., any applicant who is currently licensed in at least one other jurisdiction of the United States or Canada, the Board approves and designates the use of the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States (SPEX). An applicant must achieve a score of no less than 75 on the SPEX to be eligible for licensure in Florida. If such score is obtained outside of Florida the applicant will not be required to re-take the SPEX or pay the fee required for purchase of the SPEX.

(b) However, for purposes of complying with the clinical competency examination requirement of Section 458.313(1)(c), F.S., the Board approves the use of the SPEX if the applicant achieved a score on the SPEX of 75 or more within the year preceding the application for licensure or passed a regular or subspecialty examination by a board recognized and certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties within the year preceding the application.

(5) A passing score on the licensure examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc. (FLEX) or on the examination of the National Board of Medical Examiners as used in Sections 458.311(1)(h), 458.313(1)(b), and 458.3115, F.S., shall mean a FLEX weighted average of no less than 75 percent on the FLEX taken in the organization and format used prior to 1985; a score of no less than 75 on both Part I and Part II on the FLEX taken in the new organization and format in 1985 or later, both of which parts shall have been passed within a five-year period; an average score of no less than 75 on the National Board examination; or a score of no less than 75 on Part III of the National Board examination.

Rulemaking Authority 456.017(1), 458.309, 458.311(1)(h), 458.3115, 458.313(4) FS. Law Implemented 456.017(1), (2), 458.311, 458.3115, 458.313 FS. History–New 12-5-79, Amended 11-10-82, 11-28-84, 3-13-85, 8-11-85, 12-4-85, Formerly 21M-21.01, Amended 2-16-86, 12-16-86, 5-10-89, Formerly 21M-21.001, Amended 5-9-94, Formerly 61F6-21.001, Amended 10-18-94, 1-2-95, Formerly 59R-5.001, Amended 8-18-98, 2-3-00, 8-20-02, 6-9-05, 3-12-08, 3-18-13, 10-18-15, 12-4-22.