Apply for Resident License
Eligibility for Resident License
A person may not participate in a postgraduate training program in this State unless that individual is licensed by the North Dakota Board of Medicine. The Board may issue a postgraduate training license to an applicant who meets the following:
- The applicant is enrolled in an approved postgraduate training program in North Dakota;
- The applicant meets all qualifications for permanent licensure except requirements of postgraduate training and examination specified in North Dakota Century Code Section 43-17-18; and
- The applicant submitted the required application and paid the prescribed fee.
The postgraduate training license is valid for the duration of a postgraduate training program, regardless of its length, eliminating the need for multiple H1-B Visas while enrolled in a North Dakota postgraduate training program.
Annual Certification
You will be required annually to complete an online certification confirming that you are still enrolled in a postgraduate training program and continue to be eligible for a postgraduate training license. There is no further fee required for this annual certification; however, failure to complete the verification may result in revocation of the license or other disciplinary action.
Application for Licensure
You cannot begin your residency program until you have been granted a license.
Upon receiving an application for a postgraduate training license, the North Dakota Board of Medicine will begin the process of verifying the information submitted with the application. Once the verification process is completed, the file will be reviewed at the next regular meeting of the Board of Medicine. The Board may require an applicant to appear for an interview regarding the applicant’s qualifications for licensure.
You can determine the status of your application online by logging into your account directly on the homepage. Once logged in, you can ascertain the status of each required component of your application including what has been received and what is still outstanding. If there is a question about any component, a comment will be provided reflecting what needs to be done to remedy or clarify the matter.
This application status checklist is updated upon receipt of each component of your application and reflects the most up-to-date status of your application. We encourage you to refer to it periodically to make sure the Board is receiving all information required to process your application and issue your license.
Application Instructions
IMPORTANT NOTE: By submitting the application, you are certifying that the information provided is true and correct to the best of your knowledge. You, the applicant, must be the one to fill out the Personal Questions. Failure to provide complete and accurate information will result in an investigation that will delay the licensure process and may result in disciplinary action and/or sanctions.
Where applicable, the following documents must be uploaded with the application or by email. NOTE: as detailed below, some documents must be sent DIRECTLY from the source.
1. Medical Education
The Certificate of Medical Education form must be completed by your medical school and must be sent directly from your medical school to the Board.
2. Background Check
You must submit a criminal history background check by completing the following:
- Complete the Criminal Record Authorization and Fingerprint Verification Forms and submit a money order in the amount of $40.00.
- Proceed to a local law enforcement office, or other private company who provides fingerprinting services, and complete TWO fingerprint cards. You should call your local law enforcement office for times and locations if fingerprinting services are available. Please be sure to bring a photo ID. A small fee ($5-$10) may be required by the facility. The fingerprint technician doing your prints must complete the verification form per the instructions. Please also make sure your completed fingerprint cards and the fingerprint verification form are placed in a SEALED envelope by the fingerprint technician who took your prints with their signature written across the sealed edge of the envelope. You should then place the sealed envelope inside another envelope addressed for mailing to the Board. DO NOT BEND OR FOLD the fingerprint cards when mailing them to us as they will be rejected, and you will be required to be fingerprinted again. Review the following instructions for completing the fingerprint cards. MOST offices will have fingerprint cards available on sturdy cardstock. However, you may also download the fingerprint cards to take with you. Please fill in the highlighted areas.
- Send a check or money order in the amount of $40 made payable to the Office of Attorney General.
- Mail the completed criminal history record check request and fingerprint verification forms, two fingerprint cards, and check or money order of $40.00 made payable to the Office of Attorney General, to the Board office at 4204 Boulder Ridge Rd Ste 260, Bismarck, ND 58503.
3. Examination Scores
Photocopy of your USMLE scores Step 1 and Step 2 CK, and/or FLEX scores and/or National Board scores and/or COMLEX scores. NOTE: If you plan to later apply for a regular ND medical license once you have met the postgraduate training requirement, please note that the ND Board of Medicine allows no more than three attempts per step, part, or component of a licensing exam.
4. ECFMG Certificate
If applicable, an ECFMG cerficiate must be provided (required of graduates of international medical schools except those schools located in Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand).
5. Photograph
Provide a recent 2"x3" unmounted photo of yourself. The photo must be passport quality and a close-up front view of head and shoulders, taken within the last 120 days.
6. Personal Data Questionnaire
As part of the application, you will be required to fill out a Personal Data Questionnaire. This must be filed out directly by YOU as the applicant. Please read the questions carefully. After answering the questions, you will be required to attest and affirm that you answered the questions truthfully and accurately and recognize that inaccurate information will result in delays in processing the application, and may result in an interview, denial of licensure, or other disciplinary action.
When in doubt – disclose!
Provide a thorough explanation for any “yes” answer along with supporting documentation. Failure to provide supporting documentation will result in a delay to the licensure process.
You will be asked whether you have ever been cited, arrested, charged, or convicted of any violation of any law, other than a minor traffic citation. You MUST answer “yes” to this question even if the matter was dismissed, expunged, subject to a diversion or deferred prosecution program, or otherwise set aside. If you answer “yes” to this question, it will be your responsibility to provide:
- A written explanation/narrative detailing the circumstances;
- A copy of the arrest, incident, and police report;
- Court documentation (i.e., docket, charging document, complaint, sentencing, judgements, court orders, etc.)
- If applicable, any court order assessment with diagnosis;
- If applicable, proof of compliance with probation (i.e., participation of any drug/alcohol/etc. programs; payment of fees, fines, or restitution; completion of community services; completion of restitution);
- If applicable, evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation (i.e., letters of recommendation, proof of volunteer work, completion of training or self-improvement efforts, etc.); and
- Completion of sentencing/judgement requirements.
7. Name Change Verification
If applicable, notarized photocopy of marriage certificate or legal name change document if your name differs from that on any of your documents.
6. Fee
Submit a $105.00 application fee payable by credit card.
IMPORTANT – You have the option to Save your applicant and resume at a later time. If you do save, you will need to login to the Continued Save Application portal to continue applying. DO NOT LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT through any other portal. Loggin in through another portal will not access your saved application and will result in redundant applications being submitted – which will delay the administrative process.
Pursuant to North Dakota Century Code section 43-51.1-03(11), an applicant aggrieved by a licensure delay must first try to resolve the matter with the Board. If the matter cannot be resolved between the applicant and the Board, the applicant may bring the matter to the Governor's Office by emailing governor@nd.gov.