Rule 360-2-.01 - Requirements for Licensure(1) An applicant for a medical license must provide:(a) An affidavit that the applicant is a United States citizen, a legal permanent resident of the United States, or that he/she is a qualified alien or non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act. If the applicant is not a U.S. citizen, he/she must submit documentation that will determine his/her qualified alien status. The Board participates in the DHS-USCIS SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements or "SAVE") program for the purpose of verifying citizenship and immigration status information of non-citizens. If the applicant is a qualified alien or non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, he/she must provide the alien number issued by the Department of Homeland Security or other federal immigration agency.(b) An application that is complete, including all required documentation, signatures, seals, and fees. An application shall expire one year from the date of receipt. Any subsequent application must be accompanied by submission of appropriate documentation and application fee.(c) Evidence of good moral character. Reference Forms shall be valid for six months from the date of signature. If the application is not approved during the six-month period, the Board may require a new and more current reference.(d) Verification of licensure from every state in which the applicant has ever held any type of medical license.(e) Verification of a passing score on one of the following examinations approved by the Board: i. Steps 1, 2 and 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) ii. Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX taken on or before June 1, 1985) (combined scores from different FLEX administrations between January 1, 1978 and January 1,1985 are not accepted) iii. FLEX Components I and II (FLEX taken after June 1, 1985) iv. National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) v. State Medical Board of Examinations taken before June 30, 1973vi. Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) for graduates of Canadian medical schools who completed post-graduate training in Canadavii. National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) viii. Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) ix. The certifying examination of the Puerto Rico Medical Board, for graduates of Puerto Rican medical schools who completed post-graduate training in Puerto Rico. (f) Verification of medical education by submitting an official transcript of all medical education directly to the Board from the school where such education was taken. If the transcript is in a foreign language, a certified English translation must be furnished. The transcript shall include the dates the applicant attended the school and the grades received in all courses taken to fulfill the requirements of the degree granted. At the Board's discretion, the medical school transcript requirement may be waived and the results of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) verification service may be accepted if the applicant adequately demonstrates that all diligent efforts have been made to secure transcripts from the school. In such a case, the Board may require the applicant to appear for a personal interview before the Physician Licensure Committee of the Board. i. Medical schools in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada must require a minimum of two years of pre-medical education and be approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College accreditation (AOA COCA), or the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS). ii. A medical school located outside the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada and Fifth Pathway programs must have a program of education in the art and science of medicine leading to a medical doctor degree or the medical doctor equivalent that requires a minimum of two (2) years of pre-medical education and includes at least 130 weeks of instruction. Applicants must have official transcripts that include at least 130 weeks of instruction. (g) Verification of post-graduate/residency training as follows: i. Graduates of approved medical schools must show completion of one year of postgraduate training in a program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). The Board may consider current certification of any applicant by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) as evidence that such applicant's postgraduate medical training has satisfied the requirements of this paragraph. Approved Medical Schools are those located in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada, those listed on the Medical Schools Recognized by the Medical Board of California (effective February 4, 2010, adopted by reference), and schools that have been approved by a regional accreditation authority with standards equivalent to LCME and approved by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). ii. Graduates of medical schools not approved by the Board must show completion of three years of postgraduate training in a program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). The Board may consider current certification of any applicant by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) as evidence that such applicant's postgraduate medical training has satisfied the requirements of this paragraph. iii. Applicants who were licensed in another State on or before July 1, 1967 are not required to supply proof of any postgraduate/residency training. (h) Verification of residence in the United States for one year, except for graduates of Canadian medical schools, if the applicant is an alien.(i) Graduates of foreign medical schools outside of Canada must provide proof of certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) unless they were licensed by another state before March 1, 1958. This requirement does not apply to foreign-trained students who furnish proof of the following: (i) successful completion of AMA approved Fifth Pathway program, and(ii) passing the ECFMG qualifying medical component examination with a score of 75 or above. (2) The Board in its discretion may require an applicant for licensure to take and pass the Special Purposes Examination (SPEX) prepared by the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, or other Board-approved competency assessment. The circumstances under which the Board may require a competency examination include, but are not limited to applicants for licensure who have been the subject of disciplinary action in another state; or who would be subject to disciplinary action or corrective action in this state based upon their conduct or condition; or who have previously engaged in the practice of medicine and who have not practiced for a period greater than thirty (30) consecutive months.(3) Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prevent the Board from denying or conditionally granting an application for licensure.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-2-.01
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-17, 43-34-5, 43-34-21, 43-34-24, 43-34-24.1, 43-34-26, 43-34-27, 43-34-37, 43-34-41.
Original Rule entitled "Application for Licensure" adopted. F. and eff. June 30, 1965.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Oct. 2, 1970; eff. Oct. 22, 1970.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Jan. 26, 1976; eff. Feb. 15, 1976.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Dec. 15, 1982; eff. Jan. 4, 1983.Amended: F. June 17, 1985; eff. July 7, 1985.Amended: F. Apr. 9, 1990; eff. Apr. 29, 1990.Amended: F. Aug. 9, 1993; eff. Aug. 29, 1993.Amended: F. June 11, 2001; eff. July 1, 2001.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Requirements to Take the USMLE III" adopted. F. Jan. 24, 2002; eff. Feb. 13, 2002.Amended: F. Nov. 18, 2002; eff. Dec. 8, 2002.Amended: F. Feb. 18, 2004; eff. Mar. 9, 2004.Amended: F. Oct. 28, 2004; eff. Nov. 17, 2004.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Requirements for Licensure" adopted. F. May 11, 2012; eff. May 31, 2012.Repealed: New Rule of the same title adopted. F. Jan. 10, 2020; eff. Jan. 30, 2020.