BOSTON — A Harvard student must be allowed extra break time during her nine-hour medical licensing exam so she can pump breast milk to feed her 4-monthold daughter, a Massachusetts appeals court judge ruled yesterday. Sophie Currier, 33, sued after the National Board of Medical Examiners turned down her request to take more than the standard 45 minutes in breaks during the exam. Ms. Currier said she risks medical complications if she does not nurse her daughter, Lea, or pump breast milk every two to three hours.

A Superior Court judge last week rejected Ms. Currier’s request to order the board to give her an additional 60 minutes of break time. Appeals Court Judge Gary Katzmann overturned that ruling, finding that Ms. Currier needs the break time to put her on “equal footing” with the men and nonlactating women who take the exam. “I think it’s a big step for women, all nursing and working moms,” Ms. Currier said.

The board had cited a need to be consistent in the amount of break time given and said other nursing mothers who have taken the exam found 45 minutes sufficient.

But Judge Katzmann said that amount of break time was “insufficient” for Ms. Currier to nurse her baby, properly express breast milk, eat, drink, and use the restroom over the course of the nine-hour exam.