The North Carolina Medical Board will have new licensing rules effective August 1, 2010. The new rules will conform the Board’s licensing regulations to current practice and language and incorporate policy changes approved by the Board.
Some key changes are:
- Reviewing license applicants’ immigration and work status (using a Homeland Security entity to check the status of international medical graduates);
- Adopting an expedited application process for experienced physicians from other states (for those with at least 5 years of practice, clean applications, and current specialty board certification);
- Limiting license applicants to only three attempts on each step of the USMLE to get at least a score of 75;
- Clarifying CME requirements;
- Clarifying the “Ten Year Rule”;
- Tightening up the special purpose license for visiting instructors;
- Adopting a limited physician license for disasters and emergencies;
- Allowing the Board to waive renewal requirements, CME, fees, and other conditions of licensure for licensees on active military duty.
The final rules are not yet posted on the Office of Administrative Hearings website, however you can view the draft rules that were approved here.
