North Dakota § 43-17-18 - Physician license requirements

§ 43-17-18. Physician license requirements

1. General. Every applicant for licensure shall file a written application, on forms provided by the board, showing to the board's satisfaction that the applicant satisfies all of the requirements of this chapter including: a. Successful completion of a medical licensure examination satisfactory to the board; b. Physical, mental, and professional capability for the practice of medicine in a manner acceptable to the board; and c. A history free of any finding by the board, any other state medical licensure board, or any court of competent jurisdiction, of the commission of any act that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action under this chapter; the board may modify this restriction for cause. 2. Graduates of United States and Canadian schools. a. An applicant who is a graduate of an approved medical or osteopathic school located in the United States, its possessions, territories, or Canada, shall present evidence, satisfactory to the board, that the applicant has been awarded a degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy from a medical school located in the United States, its possessions, territories, or Canada, approved by the board or by an accrediting body approved by the board at the time the degree was conferred. b. An applicant who is a graduate of an approved medical or osteopathic school located in the United States, its possessions, territories, or Canada, must present evidence, satisfactory to the board, that the applicant has successfully completed one year of postgraduate training in the United States or Canada in a program approved by the board or by an accrediting body approved by the board. 3. Graduates of international schools. a. An applicant who is a graduate of a medical school not located in the United States, its possessions, territories, or Canada, shall present evidence, satisfactory to the board, that the applicant possesses the degree of doctor of medicine or a board-approved equivalent based on satisfactory completion of educational programs acceptable to the board. Graduates of osteopathic schools located outside the United States are not eligible for licensure. b. 4. 5. An applicant who has graduated from a medical school not located in the United States, its possessions, territories, or Canada, must present evidence, satisfactory to the board, that the applicant has successfully completed twentyfour months of postgraduate training in a program located in the United States, its possessions, territories, or Canada, and accredited by a national accrediting organization approved by the board or other graduate training approved in advance by the board as meeting standards similar to those of a national accrediting organization. However, if such an applicant has not completed thirty months of postgraduate training in a program approved by the board or by an accrediting body approved by the board, but has met all other licensing requirements and has successfully completed one year of postgraduate training in the United States or Canada in a program approved by the board, and if the board finds that the applicant has other professional experience and training that is substantially equivalent to the last eighteen months of postgraduate training, then the applicant may be deemed eligible for licensure. The board is granted broad discretion in determining whether to apply this exception to the normal licensing requirements. An applicant seeking licensure under this exception must present evidence satisfactory to the board that: (1) The applicant is certified by a specialty board recognized by the American board of medical specialties or by a specialty board recognized by the royal college of physicians and surgeons of Canada; or (2) The applicant has passed the special purpose examination developed by the federation of state medical boards of the United States. c. The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has been awarded a certificate by the educational council for foreign medical graduates. The board may adopt rules establishing specific exceptions to this requirement. d. The applicant has a working ability in the English language sufficient to communicate with patients and physicians and to engage in the practice of medicine. Uniquely qualified license. The board may issue a medical license to an applicant who does not meet all the technical eligibility requirements if the board determines the applicant is uniquely qualified through training or experience or will make a unique or special contribution to the practice of medicine not readily available to the citizens of the state. The board shall adopt rules for qualifications and factors to be considered under this subsection. An applicant may require an interview before the board for such examination into the applicant's qualifications. The board may adopt rules to issue provisional and temporary licenses to be in effect in the interval between board meetings.