In accordance with Section 59.3 of the Commissioner's Regulations, an applicant for licensure whose application is based upon credit granted for the completion of courses of study in a country where English is not the principal language spoken shall demonstrate proficiency in English by passing an examination in English acceptable to the Department or by passing a licensing examination acceptable to the Department given in English. This requirement may be met by any of the following:
- providing passing scores from a standardized test of English, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL-500), or the Official Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB);
- providing passing scores from a written professional licensing examination given in English;
- providing passing scores from a proficiency examination taken to meet immigration or licensure requirements; e.g., Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), Visa Qualifying Examination (VOE), or the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination in the Medical Sciences (FMGEMS);
- providing passing scores from the General Education Development Test (GED) given for the GED Certificate; or
- submitting proof of postsecondary study at a university or college that would be accepted toward meeting degree requirements. Such study should be in an area such as Humanities or English. Math or computer courses are not acceptable; neither are English as a Second Language courses acceptable in satisfying this requirement. An acceptable course will be credit-bearing, and worth three semester hours or the equivalent.
Updated, April 1996 Back to Office of Professions Homepage