in a recent thread, there was some discussion as to whether a graduate of an online basic science program would be able to gain licensure in the USA. in response to the OP's challenge, i sent the following email to nearly every state medical board. (i carefully worded it to avoid bias, and i avoided mentioning specific schools. i made it clear that if these practices were legal, i was fine with it...)

>Greetings!
>
>I am writing this email to obtain information pertaining medical licensing
>for international medical graduates.
>
>I have been made aware that some offshore medical schools offer the basic
>science portion of a students medical education to be completed on-line. I
>am interested in learning if your states would recognize any graduates from
>a school that offers on-line, internet or distance based education.
>
>Additionally, I have been made aware that some students of these programs
>may currently be working in teaching hospitals within the USA. And some
>graduates may be in residency programs in the states. If this is legal, than
>I have no problem. However, my concern is that some of these schools may be
>offering vague or misleading transcripts, and some graduates may not be
>disclosing that they completed basic sciences online.
>
>My questions are simple:
>1) do you accept online, internet based or distance learning medical
>education for licensure of international medical graduates?
>2) do you allow students of these schools to work in your state's hospitals?
>3) do you accept graduates of these programs into your state's graduate
>medical education (residency or fellowship) programs?
>
>
>If you are concerned about whether your state has any of these students, I
>would be happy to provide you with a list of schools that offer this
>curriculum.
>
>Thank you for your time and attention, and I look forward to your reply.

i will be posting all the replies, condensed to simple answers in order to avoid extensive editing. basically, i will answer the questions as to whether 1) licensure, 2) residency and 3) medical students doing rotations are allowed in these states if you completed online basic science curriculum.

hopefully this will provide good information for all of you attending or considering these type of schools)

(methods: i retrieved email addresses from the fsmb.org website specific for licensing information whenever possible. if that was not possible, i sent it to the general inquiries email. if there was no email available, i did not pursue it any further.)

Virginia:
1) requires physical attendance for basic science on campus for licensure
2) the board doesn't set requirements for residents
3) the board doesn't set requirements for students

North Dakota:

1) no online classes recognized for licensure
2) no board jurisdiction to residents
3) no board jurisdiction to med studs

utah:

1) ecfmg certification is all they require, CAN get licensure (but the board MAY be addressing this in the future)
2) ok for residency if ECFMG certified
3) up to teach hospitals for med studs

minnesota:

1) look at the NCMEA list, as well as length of time the school has existed. have not evaluated an online student yet, but without the above, licensure is unlikely
2) residents not evaluated by board
3) med studs not evaluated by board

Missouri:

1) does not accept online coursework for licensure
2) does not regulate residency
3) does not regulate med studs

Alaska:

requested a list of schools, and stated the board is looking into the matter in the next couple of days

I read it carefully and frankly I think it addresses the issue the same way any reasonable person would have addressed it.

And Neil knows I have disagreed with him before.

thank you max. i do try to be reasonable, even though i may be a stubborn and opinionated bastard.

i tried very carefully to write an unbiased letter that was very direct. i didn't want to create an issue where there wasn't one, but i wanted clear and honest answers to the important question of licensabilty.

Dude... if you have THAT much time on your hands, why not come here and do some scutwork for me?

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