I posted on this forum nearly a year ago, questioning why there was some serious anger being directed at IUHS.

At that time, I also had some serious questions.

Here I am, a year or so later, and ready to bit the bullet so to speak.

I went a little beyond simply contacting state licensing boards because I think I needed to understand the dynamic involved.

I am nearly 40 years old, so I can't afford a "do-over". I also love the idea of completing my basic science component "on-line", and what it will do for me with my family and my financials.

Now, about what I have learned. I begin this process already knowing what residency and career path I want. With that in mind, I contacted nearly every program director that I directed the programs I am interested in.

I asked for their advice, holding nothing back, and the overwhelming advice I had was "enter at your own risk", however, they also didn't foresee unrestricted licensure as unattainable. They reasoned that the "devil is in the details".

Let me explain. The question becomes, "is a student in physical attendance if they attend a lecture online?"

On the surface the answer would be no.

However, when you add up all the supporting documentation....such as,

A US-residency trained physician
Passing scores on all required exams
Support from a US residency program

will a state deny licensure based on a basic science electronic curriculum?

They didn't see how they would or could.

That insight makes sense to me. However, I still acknowledge it is risky. But, and I AM ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, it is a risk I am willing to take.

Best of luck to all of you,

MB

I wish you the best of luck. What are your next steps?

did you contact the state medical boards? you stated that you went beyond just contacting them and actually got advice from program directors and posted that advice. what have you heard from the licensing boards since they will be the one's issuing or denying your licensure, not the program directors?

__________________
Dr. Scott
Internal Medicine
PGY-1

AUC Forum Moderator

Yes I did, and I also know "Neil" did, and as I already addressed in my earlier post, but didn't explain well, I will say this.

The state licensing boards "require attendance", but when those by-laws were written they certainly didn't address the technology that is available today. To date, not a single state expressly denies or even addresses "on-line education", what they require is "attendance".

And that is where the details get interesting.

If IUHS takes regular attendance, either electronically, or by signing in to observe a lecture, that certainly would make that issue open to discussion.

The mistake here is to isolate one issue of the application for unrestricted licensure.

No states do that. The application involves significantly more, and when you add the "sum of the parts", the case for licensure is supported. When you add a passing board score on all three parts, a us residency, a program director's letter of rec, and the issue with the basic science attendence isn't as problemsome.

Again, this venture is not for the weak of spirit. You have to be willing to risk quite a lot. I acknowledge that. Medicine is defined by self-directed learning, and at my age, I would prefer this type of learning, as opposed to sitting in a structured classroom.

Now, everything was ok with your post until now. You see, this is the part were you did EXACTLY what everyone else tends to do in these forums but in the opposite direction. YOU SAID..."To date, not a single state expressly denies or even addresses "on-line education", and you are WRONG. There are in fact some states that SPECIFICALLY have included that language in their rules. Check them out again sir or ma'am, because I am willing to bet some cash on it, that sure I am. Try NV and TN for examples.

You can even find them in this website if you dig deep enough. Please, if you are going to post and absolute statement, make sure you have the right gunpowder in your argument, otherwise you will end up looking not so good.

Good luck anyway.

__________________
...."Beyond jealosy and betrayal; beyond hate and desire; beyond pain and death; lies the ultimate revelation; the final choice; the end; because the fate of destruction is also the joy of rebirth" Neon Genesis Evangelion

Scott, he did not, he could not have, otherwise he would have not said that "To date, not a single state expressly denies or even addresses "on-line education"," he brought down his argument all by himself, because there are some States that have specifically put the language in black and white to close up any loopholes, like TN for example. Not worth arguing anymore.

__________________
...."Beyond jealosy and betrayal; beyond hate and desire; beyond pain and death; lies the ultimate revelation; the final choice; the end; because the fate of destruction is also the joy of rebirth" Neon Genesis Evangelion

I am a mid-atlantic guy.

The states I contacted and spoke to include the following...

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia

Now, if you have a strong interest in say, Tennessee or Nevada, then I apologize. My post was misleading.

I am comforable with the response I got from those states I listed, and let me be the first to say, that I would hope you don't read a post here and make up your mind based on that.

Do you own work, call state licensing boards, read their by-laws, and call program directors. After doing so, you will know if IUHS is for you or if it isn't.

fair enough.... good luck.

__________________
Dr. Scott
Internal Medicine
PGY-1

AUC Forum Moderator

G-max is rite. States like CA, NV, IN and TN do clearly say that they will "not accept internet-based" education. However, states like NV will also say, if you press on further with the issue, that they will require the full board to decide on grant of license for IUHS or OUM graduates i.e. will decide on case by case basis.

I agree with the MB that this route is NOT for everyone. First off, you gotta have the maturity and have the self-directed learning skill and committment. You should also enter at your own risk. If you enter this route, my suggestion is to stick with IUHS rather than OUM purely because of financial reasons. Although OUM appears to be doing everything rite and IUHS had a difficult past, grads from both will ultimately face the same kind of licensing boards.

IUHS is quite affordable compared to OUM. So in case, for whatever reason, your license is denied by all 50 states, which is highly unlikely, you can atleast utilize your MD in other ways. Remember that an MD, regardless of where or how you achieved it, is worth a lot if you complete a US residency, because you do not have only the clinical practice option alone anymore. There are many well-paid and "better" lifestyle jobs for MDs outside a clinical setting. Just do some research and you will find them and a majority of them do not require a license or any clinical experience either!

Like MB said, no one should blindly believe anything people write in these forums. These forums exist so that people from different Carib schools and their staff can fight it out and try to attract students to their own schools.

Zark, you compare IUHS to "OUM"?

Is this another program that is trying the same route as IUHS?

Is so, where are they located, and what issues are they having.

I am asking out of curiosity.