18VAC85-20-140: Examinations, general

A. The Executive Director of the Board of Medicine or the executive director's designee shall review each application for licensure and in no case shall an applicant be licensed unless there is evidence that the applicant has passed an examination equivalent to the examination required by the board at the time the applicant was examined and meets all requirements of Part III (18VAC85-20-120 et seq.) of this chapter. If the executive director or the executive director's designee is not fully satisfied that the applicant meets all applicable requirements of Part III of this chapter and this part, the executive director or the executive director's designee shall refer the application to the Credentials Committee for a determination on licensure.

B. A doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine who has passed the examination of the National Board of Medical Examiners or of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Federation Licensing Examination, or the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or the examination of the Licensing Medical Council of Canada or other such examinations as prescribed in § 54.1-2913.1 of the Code of Virginia may be accepted for licensure.

C. A doctor of podiatry who has passed the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners examination and has passed a clinical competence examination acceptable to the board may be accepted for licensure.

D. A doctor of chiropractic who has met the requirements of one of the following may be accepted for licensure:

1. An applicant who graduated after January 31, 1996, shall document successful completion of Parts I through IV of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examination (NBCE).

2. An applicant who graduated from January 31, 1991, to January 31, 1996, shall document successful completion of Parts I, II, and III of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examination (NBCE).

3. An applicant who graduated from July 1, 1965, to January 31, 1991, shall document successful completion of Parts I, II, and III of the NBCE, or Parts I and II of the NBCE and the Special Purpose Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC), and document evidence of licensure in another state for at least two years immediately preceding application.

4. An applicant who graduated prior to July 1, 1965, shall document successful completion of the SPEC and document evidence of licensure in another state for at least two years immediately preceding application.

E. Applicants who sat for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensure Examination (COMLEX-USA) shall provide evidence of passing all steps within a 10-year period unless the applicant is board certified in a specialty approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the American Osteopathic Association.

F. Applicants for licensure in podiatry shall provide evidence of having passed the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners Examination to be eligible to sit for the Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (PMLEXIS) in Virginia.