Request an Eligibility Assessment

Legal Name (as it appears on your passport) *

First/Given Name *

Middle Name(s) (if any)

Last/Family Name *

Have you ever used any other legal names in medical education, licensing, or examination records? *

No Yes (please list)

Email Address *

Phone Number *

Medical School *

Begin typing to search. Select your school from the list. If your school does not appear, select "My school is not listed" at the bottom of the results.

Country Where Medical School Is Located *

Graduation Year *

Enter a 4-digit year (e.g., 2008)

Postgraduate Medical Training *

The NC ITPE pathway requires one of the following. Please select whichever applies to you:

I completed at least 2 years of postgraduate (residency) training in a program approved by my country of licensure I did not complete a formal residency, but I have practiced medicine actively for at least 10 years after graduation Neither — I have fewer than 2 years of postgraduate training and fewer than 10 years of practice

Country(ies) Under Which This Training/Practice Counts *

The postgraduate-training and 10-year-practice routes above both depend on a specific "country of licensure." Was the training or practice you just described completed entirely under one country's medical license, or does it span more than one country?

Single country More than one country

Country of licensure *

Primary Clinical Specialty *

Specialty Board Certification *

Do you hold any specialty board certification issued by a recognized medical board in any country?

Yes No In progress — I am working toward board certification

Years of Independent Clinical Practice (Excluding Postgraduate Training/Residency) *

NC's rule requires at least five years of practicing medicine. Per NCMB's own published ITPE checklist, time spent in postgraduate training or residency does not count toward this total — only years of practice completed after finishing your postgraduate training. Please count only those years here, even if your postgraduate training itself lasted several years.

Are you currently engaged in active clinical practice? *

Yes — I am currently practicing clinically No — I am not currently practicing

Employer Preference *

The NC ITPE license permits practice at NC-licensed hospitals statewide, or at qualifying rural medical practices. Do you have a preference?

No preference Hospital placement preferred Rural medical practice preferred

Geographic Flexibility *

ITPE placements are concentrated in rural and underserved areas of NC where physician shortages are most acute. Which best describes your geographic flexibility?

I am open to practicing anywhere in NC, including rural and underserved areas I prefer a specific region of NC but am flexible within it I am only willing to practice in a specific metropolitan area

Separate Medical Licensing Examination *

NC's ITPE pathway lets you satisfy the additional competency requirement — the step usually met by passing USMLE Step 3 — through a qualifying national medical licensing exam from your own country instead. This does not replace USMLE Steps 1 and 2; those remain required either way. This route only applies to the Step 3-equivalent portion of the pathway.

Yes — I passed a national medical licensing examination administered by my country's medical regulatory authority, separate from the USMLE No Not sure / I'm not familiar with this route

USMLE Exam Status *

ECFMG Certificate Status *

Since you have completed both USMLE steps, you may be eligible for ECFMG certification. The NC ITPE pathway does not require you to be fully ECFMG certified — but you must have completed all steps to be eligible for ECFMG certification. Have you received your ECFMG certificate?

Yes — I have received my ECFMG certificate Not yet — I have applied and am waiting for ECFMG to process/issue it No — I have not yet applied for ECFMG certification

Date You Completed USMLE Step 2 *

This tells PPG which components of Step 2 you completed, which determines whether a separate English-proficiency document will be needed from you later.

Additional Competency Requirement *

In addition to USMLE Steps 1 and 2, the NC ITPE pathway requires satisfying one of several additional competency routes recognized under 21 NCAC 32B .1362. Which of the following applies to you?

I have passed USMLE Step 3 I hold specialty board certification from ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties), AOA (American Osteopathic Association), or RCPSC (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) I hold, or am actively pursuing, an O-1 visa based on extraordinary ability None of the above yet, but I have a specific plan for which route I'll pursue None of the above — I have not yet satisfied this requirement and am not sure which path applies to me

Foreign Medical License Status *

The NC ITPE pathway requires a foreign medical license that is currently active and in good standing, OR was active and in good standing within the past 5 years. What is the current status of your foreign medical license?

Yes — my foreign medical license is currently active and in good standing No — I was previously licensed in another country but my license is now lapsed, expired, or surrendered I have never been licensed in another country

Employer Verification Availability *

The NC Medical Board requires employer verification of your practice history as part of the full application. Do you believe you can obtain verification letters directly from your prior employer(s) or supervising institution(s)?

Yes — I am confident I can obtain this Uncertain — the institution may no longer exist, may be difficult to reach, or I am not sure of their process No — I do not believe I can obtain this

English Proficiency *

Clinical practice under an ITPE license requires professional-level English communication in patient care settings. Are you comfortable practicing medicine in English, including documentation and patient communication?

Yes No

Current and Prior License Status *

Have you ever had a medical license suspended, revoked, restricted, denied, or placed under disciplinary action in any jurisdiction?

No Yes (please explain below)

Pending Disciplinary Investigation *

Separately from any completed disciplinary action above: are you currently the subject of any pending disciplinary investigation, complaint, or inquiry by a medical licensing or regulatory authority in any jurisdiction — whether or not it has resulted in a formal action?

Yes No

Criminal History — Eligibility Standard *

Under NC law, the ITPE pathway is barred for applicants with any of the following:

Any felony conviction, or conviction of an offense substantially equivalent to a felony
Any conviction involving moral turpitude — generally, conduct involving fraud, dishonesty, theft, or comparable inherent depravity (for example, perjury, embezzlement, or sexual offenses). This is not an exhaustive list.
Any conviction for violation of a law involving the practice of medicine

Do any of the above apply to you?

No Yes

Criminal History — Full Disclosure *

Separately, regardless of your answer above, the NC Medical Board requires full disclosure of your complete criminal history as part of the application. Records are often maintained beyond court retention periods.

Have you ever been arrested, charged, convicted, placed on probation, or received deferred adjudication for any criminal offense — regardless of outcome, including matters that were dismissed, deferred, sealed, or expunged? This includes:

Fraud, financial misconduct, or tax offenses
Violence or assault
Patient harm or abuse
Controlled substances or drug-related offenses
Alcohol-related offenses (including DUI/DWI)
Serious traffic offenses (reckless driving, hit and run, evading police, driving with suspended license)
Any other felony or misdemeanor

No Yes (please explain below)

Routine minor traffic violations with fines of $250 or less (not involving alcohol, drugs, or the offenses listed above) generally do not need to be disclosed.

Foreign Background Check Required
The NC Medical Board requires a background screening certificate directly from the country in which you are licensed — not just a domestic check. This can take several months to obtain depending on your country. PPG will include this as a required step in your pathway timeline.

Controlled Substance / Prescription Drug Use *

In the past five (5) years, have you used or consumed any controlled substance or other prescription drug that you obtained through illegal or improper means? (If you are an anonymous participant in the NC Professionals Health Program and are in compliance with your agreement, you may answer "No" to this question.)

No Yes (please explain below)

Illicit Drug Use *

In the past five (5) years, have you used or consumed any illicit or illegal drugs, including but not limited to cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP, and/or marijuana? (If you are an anonymous participant in the NC Professionals Health Program and are in compliance with your agreement, you may answer "No" to this question.)

No Yes (please explain below)

Alcohol or Substance Impairment *

In the past five (5) years, have you used alcohol or other substances in a manner that could in any way impair or limit your ability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety, or have you been told you were impaired by your use of alcohol or other substances in a manner that could impair or limit your ability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety? (If you are an anonymous participant in the NC Professionals Health Program and are in compliance with your agreement, you may answer "No" to this question.)

No Yes (please explain below)

Prior NC Medical Board Applications *

Have you ever applied for any type of license or permit from the North Carolina Medical Board, or been determined ineligible for licensure in North Carolina?

No — I have never applied to the NC Medical Board Yes (please explain below)

Malpractice History *

Have you ever had a malpractice claim filed against you in court, or been party to any settlement involving a medical liability matter?

No Yes (please explain below)

Country of Citizenship *

If you hold citizenship in more than one country, please select the one most relevant to your current visa/immigration planning, and note any additional citizenship in the optional field at the end of this form.

Current Country of Residence *

Where you currently live — this may differ from your country of citizenship or where you attended medical school.

Current Immigration Status *

Please select your current status with respect to U.S. residency or work authorization.

Additional Information (Optional)

How did you hear about Physician Pathways Group?

Please confirm the following before submitting your eligibility assessment request:

I understand that the NC ITPE pathway requires an additional competency examination beyond USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (typically USMLE Step 3, or equivalent board certification), and that I am responsible for satisfying this requirement.

I understand that supervision requirements differ by placement type: rural placements require a designated NC-licensed physician supervising on-site, while hospital placements are governed by the hospital's own credentialing process instead.

I understand that the NC ITPE license authorizes practice only at an NC-licensed hospital or at a rural medical practice in an NC county with fewer than 500 people per square mile where a licensed NC physician is physically on-site.

I understand that the NC ITPE pathway requires approximately four years of licensed practice before I become eligible to apply for a full, unrestricted NC medical license.

I understand that medical boards make all licensing decisions and approval is not guaranteed.

I understand that lawful U.S. work authorization is required before ITPE-licensed practice can begin.

I confirm that the information provided above is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

What the Assessment Covers

Intake Form

What Happens Next