DHHS Internet Website - Public Health

Physician and Surgeon
Application Procedures/Requirements

* - For further definition of terms or requirements please go to the Regulations:  172 NAC 88

US or Canadian Medical Graduates

Physicians and surgeons are licensed by either "examination" or "reciprocity". These terms are specific to this state, so please read the definitions of each at Examinations.

To qualify for a license by examination on the basis of medical education received in the United States or Canada, you must:

1. Have graduated from an accredited school or college of medicine; and
2. Have successfully completed one year of approved graduate medical education; and
3. Have successfully passed a licensing examination (please read examination requirements); and
4. Maintenance of Competency: Meet one of the following within the three years immediately preceding the application for licensure:

• Have been in the active practice of the profession of medicine and surgery in some other state, a territory, the District of Columbia, or Canada for a period of one year; or
• Have had at least one year of approved graduate medical education; or
• Have completed at least 75 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
• Have completed a refresher course in medicine and surgery approved by the  Board; or Have completed the special purposes examination approved by the Board.

5. Have attained at least the age of 19; and
6. Have good moral character.

To apply for licensure by examination on the basis of medical education received in the United States or Canada, you must submit the following:

1. Completed  application and  Criminal Background Check (now required for initial licensure), including all required regulatory information i.e. malpractice and misdemeanor/felony conviction documentation; and
2. Fee of $300.00; and
3. A certified final transcript sent directly from the medical school is the only acceptable document to verify your completion of medical school; and
4. Official documentation showing successful completion of one year of approved graduate medical education sent directly to the Department on the  Certificate of Post-Graduate Medical Education form provided; and
5. Official documentation showing passing scores obtained on all parts of the licensing examination, submitted directly to the Department from the official repository of scores; and
6. Certification from each state where applicant has ever held a license that such license has never been suspended, revoked, limited, or disciplined in any manner. If there are any disciplinary actions, the nature of such actions is to be included; and
7. Documentation of meeting one of the provisions of Maintenance of Competency; and
8. Photocopy of current Federal DEA Certificate if you prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances.

To qualify for a license by reciprocity on the basis of medical education received in the U.S. or Canada, you must:

1. Have successfully passed a reciprocity examination; and
2. Have been duly licensed to practice medicine and surgery in some other state or territory of the United States under conditions and circumstances which the board shall find to be comparable to the requirements of the State of Nebraska for obtaining a license to practice medicine and surgery; and
3. Maintenance of Competency: Meet one of the following within the three years immediately preceding the application for licensure:

   • Have been in the active practice of the profession of medicine and surgery in some other state, a territory, the District of Columbia, or Canada for a period of one year; or
   • Have had at least one year of approved graduate medical education; or
   • Have completed at least 75 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
   • Have completed a refresher course in medicine and surgery approved by the Board; or Have completed the special purposes examination approved by the Board.

4. Have graduated from an accredited school or college of medicine; and
5. Have successfully completed one year of approved graduate medical education; and
6. Have attained at least the age of 19; and
7. Have good moral character.

To obtain a license by reciprocity on the basis of medical education received in the U.S. or Canada, you must submit the following:

1. Completed  application and  Criminal Background Check (now required for initial licensure), including all required regulatory information i.e. malpractice and misdemeanor/felony conviction documentation; and
2. Fee of $300.00; and
3. A certified final transcript sent directly from the medical school is the only acceptable document to verify your completion of medical school; and
4. Official documentation showing successful completion of one year of post graduate medical education, if applicant is a graduate of an accredited school or college of medicine; and
5. A certification from each state where applicant has ever held a license that such license has never been suspended, revoked, limited, or disciplined in any manner. If there are any disciplinary actions, the nature of such actions is to be included; and
6. Documentation of meeting one of the provisions of Maintenance of Competency; and
7. Documentation that he/she successfully passed a reciprocity examination; and
8. Photocopy of current Federal DEA Certificate if you prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances.

Foreign Medical Graduates

Physicians and surgeons are licensed by either "examination" or "reciprocity". These terms are specific to this state, so please read the definitions of each at Examinations.

To qualify for a license by examination on the basis of medical education received in a foreign country you must:

1. Be a Foreign Medical graduate; and
2. Have successfully completed three years of approved graduate medical education; and
3. Have successfully passed a licensing examination (please read examination requirements); and
4. Maintenance of Competency: Meet one of the following within the three years immediately preceding the application for licensure:

   • Have been in the active practice of the profession of medicine and surgery in some other state, a territory, the District of Columbia, or Canada for a period of one year; or
   • Have had at least one year of approved graduate medical education; or
   • Have completed at least 75 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
   • Have completed a refresher course in medicine and surgery approved by the Board; or Have completed the special purposes examination approved by the Board.

5. Have attained at least the age of 19; and
6. Have good moral character; and
7. Have one of the following:

• Have been issued a permanent certificate by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG); or
• Have successfully passed the Visa Qualifying Examination or its successor or equivalentexamination required by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service; or
• Have successfully completed a program of American medical training designated as the Fifth Pathway and passed the ECFMG Examination.

To apply for licensure by examination on the basis of medical education received in a foreign country, you must submit the following:

1. Completed  application and  Criminal Background Check (now required for initial licensure), including all required regulatory information i.e. malpractice and misdemeanor/felony conviction documentation; and
2. Fee of $300.00; and
3. Official documentation showing the applicant is a foreign medical school graduate, sent directly to the Department from the college on the  Verification of Foreign Medical College form provided; and
4. Official documentation showing successful completion of three years of approved graduate medical education, sent directly to the Department from the program on the  Certificate of Post-Graduate Medical Education form provided; and
5. Official documentation showing passing scores obtained on all parts of the licensing examination, submitted directly to the Department from the official repository of scores; and
6. Documentation of meeting one of the provisions of Maintenance of Competency; and
7. Certification from each state where applicant has ever held a license that such license has never been suspended, revoked, limited, or disciplined in any manner. If there are any disciplinary actions, the nature of such actions is to be included; and
8. One of the following:

• Official documentation of a permanent certificate issued by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) sent directly to the Department from ECFMG; or
• Official documentation of successful completion of the Visa Qualifying Examination or its successor; or
• Official documentation of successful completion of a program of American medical training designated as the Fifth Pathway and passage of the ECFMG examination.

To qualify for a license by reciprocity on the basis of medical education received in a foreign country, you must:

1. Have successfully passed a reciprocity examination; and
2. Have been duly licensed to practice medicine and surgery in some other state or territory of the United States under conditions and circumstances which the board shall find to be comparable to the requirements of the State of Nebraska for obtaining a license to practice medicine and surgery; and
3. Maintenance of Competency: Meet one of the following within the three years immediately preceding the application for licensure:

   • Have been in the active practice of the profession of medicine and surgery in some other state, a territory, the District of Columbia, or Canada for a period of one year; or
   • Have had at least one year of approved graduate medical education; or
   • Have completed at least 75 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
   • Have completed a refresher course in medicine and surgery approved by the Board; or Have completed the special purposes examination approved by the Board.

4. Be a foreign medical graduate; and
5. Have successfully completed three years of approved graduate medical education; and
6. Have attained at least the age of 19; and
7. Have good moral character.

To apply for licensure by reciprocity on the basis of medical education received in a foreign country, you must submit the following:

1. Completed  application and  Criminal Background Check (now required for initial licensure), including all required regulatory information i.e. malpractice and misdemeanor/felony conviction documentation); and
2. Fee of $300.00; and
3. Official documentation showing the applicant is a foreign medical graduate, sent directly to the Department from the college, on the  Verification of Foreign Medical College form provided; and
4. Official documentation showing successful completion of three years of approved graduate medical education, sent directly to the Department from the program, on the  Certificate of Post-Graduate Medical Education form provided; and
5. A certification from each state where applicant has ever held a license that such license has never been suspended, revoked, limited, or disciplined in any manner. If there are any disciplinary actions, the nature of such actions is to be included; and
6. Documentation of meeting one of the provisions of Maintenance of Competency; and
7. Documentation that he/she successfully passed a reciprocity examination; and
8. One of the following:

• Official documentation of a permanent certificate issued by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) sent directly to the Department from the ECFMG; or
• Official documentation of successful completion of the Visa Qualifying Examination or its successor; or
• Official documentation of successful completion of a program of American medical training designated as the Fifth Pathway and passage of the ECFMG examination.