SCS/HCS/HBs 671 & 683 - The act provides that an applicant for licensure as a physician or a surgeon who does not achieve a passing score within three attempts on a licensing exam administered in one or more states may petition the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts for an exception to such requirement based upon unusual or extenuating circumstances. Likewise, an applicant who does not pass a step of the United States Medical Licensing Examination within three attempts or does not pass all three steps within a seven year period may also petition the Board for an exception. The act states that applicants must provide proof of successful completion of the USMLE or an exam administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, rather than just proof of completion.
The act removes the provision which states that in order for the Board to waive licensure requirements for an applicant who is licensed in another state the applicant must be certified by a certifying agency in the applicant's area of specialty.
These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SB 458 (2015) and similar to SB 411 (2015) and provisions in SS/SB 400 (2015) and HCS/SCS/SB 107 (2015).
This act also provides that the state shall not require maintenance of licensure, as defined in the act, as a condition of physician licensure or any form of specialty medical board certification to practice medicine within the state. The State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts or any other state agency shall not discriminate against physicians who do not maintain specialty medical board certification.
This provision is identical to provisions in SS/SB 400 (2015), HCS/SB 458 (2015), and HCS/SCS/SB 107 (2015).
JESSI BAKER