(A) An applicant for a certificate to practice medicine or surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery, who holds a license from another state, is eligible for consideration without examination under section 4731.29 of the Revised Code if the requirements of paragraphs (B) to (D) of this rule are met, and the applicant meets the eligibility requirements as set forth in sections 4731.09, 4731.091, 4731.14 and 4731.142 of the Revised Code for licensure by Ohio examination.

(B) The license from another state being endorsed into Ohio must be current and in good standing and must be a full and unlimited license to practice all branches of medicine or surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery. An exception can be made by the board in those cases where an applicant cannot renew his or her license in the other jurisdiction for purposes of endorsement due to residency or similar requirements.

(C) The applicant for endorsement must have passed one of the following examinations:

(1) A written examination other than the FLEX administered prior to June, 1982 without previous or subsequent FLEX failure; or

(2) A single three-day FLEX administered prior to June, 1985. The FLEX-weighted average must be seventy-five or above for the entire examination as reported by the federation, or must be seventy-two or above if the examination was taken during the first two years of a state's administration of the FLEX and such score was accepted by that state as a passing score; or

(3) Component 1 and component 2 of the FLEX administered after June, 1985. A score of seventy-five or above must have been achieved on each component as reported by the federation. Both components must have been passed within a seven-year period; or

(4) Part I of the "National Board of Medical Examiners" examination or step 1 of the USMLE, part II of the "National Board of Medical Examiners" examination or step 2 of the USMLE, and part III of the "National Board of Medical Examiners" examination or step 3 of the USMLE or component 2 of the FLEX. All steps, parts or components must have been administered prior to January 2000. The score achieved on each step, part, or component must have been recognized by the USMLE program, the "National Board of Medical Examiners", or the federation as a passing score for that step, part, or component, respectively; or

(5) Component 1 of the FLEX and step 3 of the USMLE. The component and step must have been administered prior to January 2000. A score of 75 or above must have been achieved on component 1. The score achieved on step 3 must have been recognized by the USMLE program as a recommended passing score; or

(6) USMLE steps 1, 2, and 3. All three steps must have been passed in accordance with rule 4731-6-14(B)(3) of the Administrative Code and the score achieved on each step must have been recognized by the USMLE program as a recommended passing score; or

(7) A written examination provided by the "National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners" for the administering state.

(D) Notwithstanding paragraphs (A) to (C) of this rule, and in addition to grounds otherwise contained in Chapter 4731 . of the Revised Code and Chapter 4731-6 of the Administrative Code, the board may refuse an applicant for endorsement who has not been engaged in any of the following activities during the two years immediately prior to the date of application;

(1) The active practice of medicine or surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery;

(2) The taking of graduate medical education as defined in section 4731.091 of the Revised Code;

(3) The attendance as a student at a medical or osteopathic school.

(E) For purposes of division (E) of section 4731.29 of the Revised Code the term "actively practicing ... in the United States" includes the taking of graduate medical education as defined in section 4731.091 of the Revised Code.

(F) An applicant will be excused from the requirement to demonstrate proficiency in spoken English under the terms of division (E)(1) of section 4731.29 of the Revised Code if the applicant's license or licenses from another state have been unrestricted and he or she was actively practicing medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in the United States for at least nine full months during each of the five years immediately preceding the date of his or her application. In this rule, "license" includes a training certificate or its equivalent issued to those applicants who have been actively practicing medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in the United States as part of graduate medical education as defined in section 4731.091 of the Revised Code.