Employment Requirements

The qualifications for membership to the Associate Medical Staff (Graduate Medical Trainee) eligibility are as follows: 

  • Graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
  • Graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
  • Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada who meet one of the following qualifications:
    • Have received a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
      or
    • Have a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction.
  • Graduates of medical schools outside the United States who have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME‐accredited medical school
  • Have a North Carolina Full State License or Resident Training License (RTL). (See: for licensing requirements see NCMB)
  • Official Medical School Transcript with conferred or graduated
  • A completed Postgraduate Training Verification Form (if applicable)
  • Current ACLS and or PALS certification
  • Proof of identity and US Employment Eligibility (I‐9) via E-Verify including SS Card
  • Health Record Clearance, which includes drug screening
  • A signed Agreement of Appointment (Contract) (PDF) and Duke Health Confidentiality Agreement
    • The signed Graduate Medical Education Agreement of Appointment; is not effective, and employment will not commence, until all credentialing documents have been received and approved by the Office of GME and all requirements for hire have been satisfied.
    • The signed Duke Health Confidentiality Agreement; is not effective, and employment will not commence until all credentialing documents have been received and approved by the Office of GME and all requirements for hire have been satisfied.
  • Application for Appointment, which requires:
    • 2 Reference forms (if applicable)
    • Criminal Background Check (includes EPLS & OIG check)
    • National Practitioner Databank check
    • ECFMG check (for International Medical Graduates)
  • Completion of several payroll forms which include:    
    • Duke Insurance Beneficiary Form
    • Health/Dental/Vision Enrollment Form
    • Reimbursement Accounts Enrollment Form (if applicable)
    • Acknowledgment Form
    • Foreign National Form (if applicable)
  • Completion of all required Online Safety Training Modules and GME Learning Modules (Completed after Hire)
  • USMLE (or equivalent) Transcript
    • All graduate medical trainees in their initial postgraduate medical education training program must provide evidence of passing scores on USMLE Step 1, Step 2CK or equivalent COMLEX/Canadian examinations prior to matriculation and must provide evidence of passing scores on USMLE Step 3 by June 30 of their second year of training at Duke.
    • All applicants to fellowship training programs and applicants who are applying for a second training program (e.g., second core residency program) must provide documentation of passing scores in all three parts of the appropriate medical licensing examinations (USMLE, COMLEX or Canadian equivalent) to be eligible for entry into any program.
    • Residents who are transferring into a program must meet the relevant requirements (above) for their PGY level.
    • An Agreement of Appointment will not be valid without satisfying this requirement. Primary source documentation must be provided of passing scores on all required medical licensure examinations.
    • Addendum for emergency circumstances:  In the event that circumstances outside the institution, program or trainee’s control result in regional or national interruptions in the availability of testing sites or opportunities, this policy may be adjusted to allow additional time for trainees to complete medical licensing requirements.  However, all trainees must successfully complete the requirements of this policy prior to completion of their training programs.
  • Attend Institutional Orientation
  • Selective Service System Registration

A trainee may begin his/her clinical duties when he/she has met the above GME requirements.