UPDATE 2025 – Things have changed in a mighty way when it comes to clinical clerkships and the process for applicants for Texas medical licenses. First and foremost the board has new rules, lots of changes and in those changes basically the need to review an applicants clerkships has disappeared. If you school is on the board’s sub equiv list no one is going to look at your clerkships. Or if your school is on the ECFMG list under WFME, which is a list of accrediting agency by country your school will also be recognized as substantially equivalent. Below is a statement from the board’s licensure staff. This is really really great news!!

The new rules outlined in §161.15 and §161.16 does not have language regarding medical school clerkship review/evaluation, however §161.17 states that “Foreign Medical Graduates of a medical school that is not substantially equivalent and do not meet the criteria set forth in §161.15 and §161.16 of this chapter must demonstrate substantial equivalence through alternate means as set by the board.” Alternate means can include review of clerkships (the Basic Sciences letter and copy of all clerkship evaluations). If necessary, it would be requested by the applicant’s assigned licensure analyst rather than requesting it at the Pre-Licensure/Screening Phase based on information provided on the Form J. Since the new rules went into effect in 01/2025, we have found that applicants who report completing clerkships on the Form J do not need a clerkship evaluation by their assigned analyst as they meet eligibility outlined in either §161.15 or §161.16

Previous Texas Medical Board process

We receive many calls from physicians seeking licensure in Texas who have encountered issues with their clinical clerkships during the process with Texas Medical Board staff. The Texas Medical Board reviews the clinical clerkships of International Medical School graduates who performed those clerkships in the United States during the last two years of medical school. The review process is detailed and very specific and those IMG’s that are not board certified by a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Osteopathic Bureau of Specialists may find themselves between a rock and a hard place in regard to eligibility. Sometimes G&M can straighten it all out and sometimes we cannot, but we can certainly help you evaluate your education. Denise Meyer was on the ground floor at the Texas Medical Board when the board’s rules were written that eventually became Texas law. The process of reviewing clerkships can be confusing, but we can help you understand why Texas still takes a hard look at medical education. Give us a call at 888-400-1580.