Important Points

**Read Before Proceeding**

  1. NOTE:  Eligibility for licensure requires successful completion of a United States or Canadian postgraduate training program unless such applicant holds a currently valid license obtained prior to July 1, 1987, and successfully completed one year of postgraduate training prior to July 1, 1987. 
  2. Individuals who have taken any examination, or combinations thereof, more than three (3) times, do not qualify for licensure.  Individuals must have taken and passed all steps of an examination within seven (7) years.
  3. Applicants who have taken the National Board or USMLE examinations will be licensed on that basis rather than reciprocity.
  4. Regardless of licensing examination taken, the Board must be in receipt of scores prior to licensure.
  5. South Dakota requires a 75% average score for all Board exams:  FLEX weighted average for the previous FLEX examination, National Board and USMLE examinations.
  6. The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) administers Step 3 of the USMLE examination.  Applicants must have passed Steps 1 and 2 prior to taking Step 3.
  7. Applicants must contact the FSMB examination department at 817-868-4041 for application, eligibility information, and application deadline information.
  8. All examination applications, fees, and requested materials must be sent to:
                The Federation of State Medical Boards
                PO Box 619850
                Dallas, TX 75261-9850 
  9. South Dakota is a primary source verification state. Therefore, licensure processing cannot complete until arrival of all applicant initiated documentation and completion of board initiated investigation.
  10. Processing begins with Board receipt of a correctly completed SD Common License Application Form (CLAF) and receipt all applicant initiated documentation .
  11. The applicant will receive a notification of application receipt and later a checklist of received applicant initiated documentation.
  12. As additional supporting documentation arrives, intermittent reminders will be communicated to the applicant.
  13. Requests for any information including application status must be received in writing.
  14. Please be aware that issuing a license takes processing time. One way to reduce frustration and disappointment is to choose a reasonable requested start date based after all supporting documentation arrives at the Board office.
  15. Beginning the process months before the requested start date is advised = the process always seems to take longer than the applicant or the facility anticipates.
  16.  The applicant is responsible completing all steps of the application process including sending all applicant initiated documentation: 
                 i.)  each state or provincial board
                 ii)  all postgraduate training
                iii)  hospital, clinic or employment privileges
               iv.) medical or osteopathic school of graduation
                v.) ECFMG
  17. The Board's request for your Social Security number is required by state and federal law.