Vermont, like many other states, needs more physicians to address a physician shortage that denies many Vermont residents needed primary and specialty care. Vermont's physician shortage ensures that you will have substantial employment opportunities and patient populations that will help you build a thriving medical practice. Vermont's natural beauty, distinct culture, and stable economy add to the many attractions of a Vermont medical practice. Vermont's Board of Medical Practice encourages your license application. However, you still have to resolve your NBME/USMLE medical licensing exam issues to obtain your Vermont medical license and enter practice. Call 888.535.3686 or use our contact form now to retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Student Defense Team for the strategic and effective attorney representation that your medical licensing exam issues need. We are available in Burlington, Essex, Essex Junction, South Burlington, Colchester, Rutland City, Bennington, Brattleboro, Randolph, Morrisville, Hartford, Milton, Williston, Middlebury, Springfield and across Vermont. Get our help to get your rewarding Vermont medical practice started.
Vermont Medical Practice Support
Vermont has all the medical practice support and opportunities you need for a thriving medical practice. Vermont's premier hospitals and healthcare facilities include Burlington's University of Vermont Medical Center, Rutland's Regional Medical Center, Berlin's Central Vermont Medical Center, Bennington's Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, St. Johnsbury's Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, Northwestern Medical Center in Saint Albans, Morrisville's Copley Hospital, Brattleboro's Memorial Hospital, Middlebury's Porter Medical Center, and Newport's North County Hospital. The University of Vermont's Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, nursing schools at the University of Vermont, Vermont State University, Norwich University, and other Vermont healthcare education programs offer you many teaching, research, continuing education, and networking opportunities. The Vermont Medical Society ensures the promotion and coordination of your many practice resources. Let us help you resolve your medical licensing exam issues so that you can get your Vermont Board of Medical Practice license and get started in your permanent Vermont medical practice.
Vermont Medical Licensing Authority
You must resolve your medical licensing exam issues to the satisfaction of the Vermont Board of Medical Practice if you wish to practice medicine in the state. Vermont Medical Practice Act Section 1353 authorizes the Vermont Board of Medical Practice to license and regulate physicians in the state. Vermont Medical Practice Act Section 1314 makes unlicensed medical practice a crime punishable by up to two years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine, while barring compensation for unlicensed practice. Vermont Board of Medical Practice Rule 14 reiterates that unlicensed practice is unlawful and that a practicing physician must have a valid license. Section 1398 further authorizes the Board of Medical Practice Act to refuse a license to any physician who has practiced without a license or who uses any deception to obtain a license. If you practice medicine without a license, you may not be able to obtain a medical license in the future in Vermont or any other state. Don't risk these and other penalties. Instead, retain us to help you promptly and effectively resolve your NBME/USMLE issues so that you can move forward in the licensing process and start your permanent Vermont medical practice lawfully.
Vermont License Application Requirements
Vermont Medical Practice Act Section 1391 requires that candidates for licensure apply to the Board of Medical Practice, supplying information and documentation showing that the candidate meets all license requirements. Vermont Board of Medical Practice Rule 15.2 requires that candidates complete the Board's online application form to the Board's satisfaction, providing the required attestation and verified documents. Rule 15.3 expressly requires the candidate's delivery of a completed application package in the form the Board specifies. Applicants have the burden of proving that they meet the statutory and regulatory qualification requirements. Vermont Medical Practice Act Section 1398 authorizes the Board to refuse to issue a license to a candidate failing to meet all requirements or misrepresenting credentials. Credential fraud is a special peril for candidates who face licensing exam issues, where Board officials may infer credential fraud from the candidate's failure to accurately and completely disclose those issues. Let us help you review, update, and correct your license application with an appropriate explanation of your pending licensing exam issues.
Vermont Medical Board General Requirements
Vermont Medical Practice Act Section 1391 summarizes the general requirements for a Board of Medical Practice license. Vermont Board of Medical Practice Rule 15 confirms and details those license requirements. Under the statute and rule, you must show that you are at least age eighteen, can communicate in English, earned a medical degree in good standing from an approved program, are of sound moral character and professional competence, have completed two years of postgraduate residency, and have passed an approved medical licensing exam. Your violation of Vermont Board of Medical Practice professionalism standards, such as by intemperance, drug addiction, incompetence, impairment, confidentiality breaches, or credential fraud, can disqualify you from licensure. Let us help you address issues you face meeting any of these general requirements, in addition to your medical licensing exam issues.
Vermont Medical Board Licensing Exam Requirements
While Vermont Medical Practice Act Section 1391 and Vermont Board of Medical Practice Rule 15 both require that you pass a medical licensing exam, neither the statute nor the rule details the approved exam. Vermont Board of Medicine Rule 17 designates the USMLE as the only currently approved licensing exam, recognizing that physicians licensing long ago may have passed the FLEX exam instead. Rule 17 imposes a seven-year period within which to pass all three USMLE step exams unless completing a dual MD/PhD program, in which case the applicant has a ten-year period. Rule 17 also limits USMLE Step 3 exam attempts to three attempts, which is fewer than the USMLE's own four attempts limit for each step exam. Rule 17 offers an extra Step 3 exam attempt under certain detailed circumstances. Let us help you evaluate whether your exam pathway can meet these requirements or whether we need to help you seek the Board's waiver or other accommodation.
Vermont Medical Licensing Exam Issues
You've seen above Vermont's application, general licensing, and licensing exam requirements. To protect patients and the public against unqualified medical care, the Vermont Board of Medical Practice follows a rigorous review process for license applications. For the same patient and public protection purpose, the USMLE follows similarly rigorous review and administration practices to ensure exam qualification and integrity and examinee knowledge and skill. We recognize and respect your frustration and deep concern over your USMLE issues delaying your Vermont medical licensure. The following sections show how our attorneys are qualified and able to help you address and favorably resolve the following common medical licensing exam issues:
- that you are unable to qualify for the exam;
- that you exhausted exam attempt limits;
- extenuating circumstances frustrated an exam attempt;
- that you face exam cheating allegations;
- that you suffered anomalous exam performance disqualification; or
- that you suffered an invalidated exam score.
Vermont Licensing Exam Qualification Issues
A candidate's inability to qualify for the USMLE is a surprisingly common issue. Qualifying for the USMLE is not as simple as signing up for a scheduled exam. USMLE officials may require statements and verification of your medical school advancement or degree, residency, license application, citizenship or immigration status, and other particulars. The USMLE's Bulletin of Information states the general requirements for USMLE exam qualification, but any failure to supply requested information, verification, and documentation, or any inaccuracy or inconsistency in your application, may lead to credential fraud charges triggering Vermont Board of Medical Practice license denial. Common issues applicants face when qualifying for the USMLE include:
- your information doesn't match your documentation;
- your documentation is unauthenticated or incomplete;
- you have failed to authorize independent verification of information;
- your medical school indicates unsatisfactory academic progress;
- your medical school indicates misconduct discipline;
- you have unresolved medical school academic issues;
- you have unresolved medical school disciplinary charges;
- your medical school lost accreditation during your enrollment;
- you suffered medical residency termination or nonrenewal;
- your medical residency indicates misconduct or incompetence;
- your criminal conviction or domestic restraining order disqualifies you;
- your mental or physical impairment disqualifies you;
- your substance abuse, dependency, or addiction disqualifies you;
- you provided inadequate photographic identification; or
- your citizenship or lawful immigration status is inadequate.
How We Address Exam Qualification Issues
Medical school registrars, residency directors, immigration agency officials, and court clerks generally recognize and respect the firm but diplomatic and helpful efforts of our attorneys to obtain updated and authenticated documentation to address those issues. We are also adept at invoking medical school, medical residency, court, and agency procedures to resolve lingering issues keeping you from qualifying for the USMLE. We also communicate promptly and diplomatically with Vermont Board of Medical Practice officials, who may know and uniformly trust and respect our nationally recognized attorneys. Trust us to address your USMLE qualification issues.
Vermont Medical Licensing Exam Attempt Limits
It should come as no surprise to you that medical students and graduates fail USMLE step exams with relatively substantial frequency. Medical school and residency take a lot. USMLE step exams can come at the worst time when examinees have little time and energy left over for exam preparation. Preliminary attempts to judge preparation and attempt swift passage make strategic sense. But exhausting the four attempts the USMLE allows for each of the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams, or exhausting the three attempts Vermont Board of Medicine Rule 17 allows for the USMLE Step 3 exam, can lead to USMLE disqualification from further attempts. USMLE disqualification can trigger the Vermont Board of Medical Practice denial of your license application. You may not have even realized that Vermont allows one fewer Step 3 exam attempt than the USMLE would have allowed you.
How We Address Exam Attempt Limits
We can't help you pass the USMLE step exams directly. But we may be able to get you an extra attempt so that you can prepare thoroughly and pass on your extra attempt. To address your exam attempts issue, our attorneys may be able to invoke the USMLE's extenuating circumstances policy offering you a retake of a scheduled exam you missed or from which you withdrew because of an emergency. Gaining a retake of a missed or withdrawn exam generally requires prompt notice to the USMLE and a qualifying emergency proven with convincing documentation. You may, for instance, have suffered a serious illness or injury just before, on the way to, or during the exam. We can help you make that showing. Vermont Board of Medical Practice Rule 17 also offers an extra USMLE Step 3 exam attempt under several different circumstances and conditions. We can help you evaluate your circumstances to see whether we can qualify you for that extra Step 3 attempt. We can also seek board review and waiver of attempt limits on other compelling grounds. Let us help.
Vermont Licensing Exam Irregular Behavior Issues
The USMLE irregular behaviorpolicy addresses a second common exam issue having to do with suspected cheating. Irregular behavior is the USMLE's euphemism for cheating. Cheating allegations can come out of left field when you least expect them. Anyone can accuse you of cheating, although cheating accusations typically come from exam proctors, fellow examinees making observations during the exam, or study partners or others familiar with your exam preparation. When those allegations trigger a USMLE investigation, and investigators judge the allegations credible, exam officials will notify you of your disqualification and may simultaneously notify the Vermont Board of Medical Practice, leading to your license application's denial. The USMLE Bulletin of Information lists these and other cheating examples:
- soliciting or sharing confidential exam questions while preparing for an exam;
- sharing confidential exam questions after an exam to prepare for a retake exam;
- using an impostor for your exam or serving as an impostor for another's exam;
- assisting one another or using unauthorized materials or devices for assistance during an exam;
- removing exam materials from the exam room or recording or reproducing exam questions for distribution after the exam;
- disobeying or harassing exam proctors or obstructing a cheating investigation;
- claiming to have passed a failed exam, claiming qualification when not qualified, or registering when ineligible.
How We Address Irregular Behavior Charges
To address cheating charges, our attorneys invoke the USMLE Office of the Secretariat's adjudication process. We gather your exonerating evidence, including your account and the account of your witnesses, our forensic consultants' computer, document, or handwriting analysis, and other documentary evidence. We present that evidence to the official or panel, along with your character evidence and evidence of your strong academics, obviating the motive for cheating. We also challenge the incriminating evidence through cross-examination of adverse witnesses or other available means. Our goal is to requalify you for your next USMLE step exam with assurances of your integrity and ability to pass without cheating. Our simultaneous communication with Vermont Board of Medical Practice officials as to the diligence and effectiveness of our efforts should keep your license application file open.
Vermont Anomalous Exam Performance Issues
USMLE officials also analyze exam scores and answer patterns to detect and punish suspected cheating under USMLE's anomalous performance policy. USMLE officials disqualify an examinee under the anomalous performance policy when the examinee's exam score is so low as to indicate either a lack of required medical education or a refusal to make an earnest effort on the exam to apply that education. Exam officials may infer from a very low score, with unanswered questions or whole sections unaddressed, that the examinee entered the exam room to help another examinee, copy exam questions, or for other illicit purposes. Anomalous performance disqualification would generally trigger the Vermont Board of Medical Practice denial of your license application.
How We Address Anomalous Exam Performance
The USMLE formal adjudication process is generally unavailable for anything other than irregular behavior. To challenge anomalous performance disqualification, we must instead open informal communication channels with USMLE officials through which to present your defense. We defend very low exam scores by showing your explanation for the low score, such as your illness or other severe distraction or disability during the exam, you're accidentally skipping exam sections, or you are misentering your correct exam answers in an incorrect pattern. Technology failures and the system's failure to record and store your answers accurately may be other explanations. We can also present your medical school exam scores and grades, and other evidence of your strong academic skills and good moral character for perseverance, all while keeping Vermont Board of Medical Practice officials informed.
Vermont Invalidated Exam Score Issues
USMLE officials also analyze exam scores and answer patterns for very high scores beyond the normal distribution, so high as to suggest prior access to exam questions, use of an unauthorized device or materials during the exam, or a similar undue advantage. In those instances, USMLE officials apply an invalidated exam score policy to automatically disqualify the examinee while withholding the very high passing score. The USMLE disqualification would likely trigger license application denial by the Vermont Board of Medical Practice on grounds that may make the success of a later application impossible or unlikely.
How We Address Invalidated Exam Scores
The USMLE's adjudication process for irregular behavior charges does not directly apply to an invalidated exam score. Offering a dispute resolution procedure over a very high score might require disclosing confidential exam questions, answers, and answer analysis methods. In that sense, score invalidation and examinee disqualification is automatic and incontestable. But our attorneys may be able to prevail on USMLE officials through informal channels to offer you another chance at the exam, especially if your MCAT and medical school exam scores were also very high, and we can present other evidence of your good character and extraordinary standardized test-taking skills. We would also keep Vermont Board of Medical Practice officials informed of our diligent efforts, with the goal of keeping your license application file open.
Vermont Medical Board Response to Exam Issues
Do not expect Vermont Board of Medical Practice officials to keep your license application file open indefinitely without explanation for your delay in resolving your USMLE issues. Vermont Board of Medical Practice Rule 10.1 requires Board officials to close a stale application six months after Board officials demand resolution of pending issues. Board officials have statutory and regulatory duties to act diligently on applications. They can't responsibly leave applications open forever. They must have some standards for maintaining their application dockets in reasonable order. That's why retaining us to reassure the Board that we are diligently and effectively helping you resolve your USMLE issues is so important. If you must reapply, you will incur substantial time, effort, and expense, and you may face substantial delays processing your new application through another application cycle. You could lose a job and other opportunities in the meantime while also losing income.
Vermont Administrative Review Procedures
If the Vermont Board of Medical Practice has already rejected your license application, we can invoke statutory hearing procedures to challenge the rejection and reopen your application to present evidence of our pending or completed resolution of your USMLE issues. Vermont Medical Practice Act Section 1372 authorizes a hearing panel to decide disputed matters. Vermont Medical Practice Act Section 1367 authorizes an appeal from a final Board decision. These and other protective provisions let us advocate your best possible medical licensing exam outcome.
Premier Vermont Medical Licensing Exam Defense
The Lento Law Firm's premier Student Defense Team is available across Vermont to help you resolve your USMLE medical licensing exam issues, to qualify you for your Vermont Board of Medical Practice license. Our attorneys represent hundreds of students and graduates across Vermont and nationwide, favorably resolving professional licensing issues and related school issues. Call 888.535.3686 or use our contact form now to retain our skilled and experienced attorneys.
