Oklahoma § 59-493.5 - Special volunteer license

§ 59-493.5. Special volunteer license

A. 1. There is established a special volunteer license for

eligible volunteers from a medically related field who are retired

from active practice or actively licensed in another state and

practicing in that state and wish to donate their expertise for the

care and treatment of indigent and needy persons of this state.

2. For purposes of this section:

a.

“eligible volunteer” means a physician, physician

assistant, nurse, dentist, optometrist or pharmacist,

and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

b.

“nurse” means an advanced practice nurse, advanced

registered nurse practitioner, registered nurse, or

licensed practical nurse.

3. The special volunteer license shall be:

a.

issued by the State Board of Medical Licensure and

Supervision to eligible physicians and physician

assistants, by the Board of Osteopathic Examiners to

eligible physicians, by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing

to eligible nurses, the Board of Dentistry to eligible

dentists, the Board of Examiners in Optometry to

eligible optometrists, and by the Board of Pharmacy to

eligible pharmacists,

b.

issued without the payment of an application fee,

license fee or renewal fee,

c.

issued or renewed without any continuing education

requirements in this state,

d.

issued for a period of time to be determined by the

applicable board, and

e.

renewable upon approval of the applicable Board.

B. An eligible volunteer shall meet the following requirements

before obtaining a special volunteer license:

1. Completion of a special volunteer license application,

including, as applicable, documentation of:

a.

the medical school graduation of the physician,

b.

the completion of a physician assistant program by a

physician assistant,

c.

the completion of the basic professional curricula of

a school of nursing by the nurse,

d.

the dental school graduation of the dentist,

e.

the optometry school graduation of the optometrist, or

f.

the school or college of pharmacy graduation of a

pharmacist, and

g.

the relevant practice history of the applicant;

2. Documentation or electronic verification that the eligible

volunteer has been previously issued a full and unrestricted license

to practice in Oklahoma or in another state of the United States and

written acknowledgment that he or she has never been the subject of

any professional disciplinary action in any jurisdiction;

3. Written acknowledgement that the practice of the eligible

volunteer under the special volunteer license will be exclusively

and totally devoted to providing care to needy and indigent persons

in Oklahoma or to providing care under the Oklahoma Medical Reserve

Corps; and

4. Written acknowledgement that the eligible volunteer shall

not receive or have the expectation to receive any payment or

compensation, either direct or indirect, for any services rendered

in this state under the special volunteer license. The only

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

exception to the indirect compensation provision is for those outof-state physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists,

optometrists or pharmacists that participate in the free care given

by means of Telemedicine through the Shriners Hospitals for Children

national network.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 138, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2003. Amended by Laws

2004, c. 313, § 17, emerg. eff. May 19, 2004; Laws 2004, c. 523, §

24, emerg. eff. June 9, 2004; Laws 2007, c. 133, § 3, eff. Nov. 1,

2007; Laws 2009, c. 255, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2010, c. 247,

§ 2, emerg. eff. May 10, 2010.

NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 247, § 1 repealed by Laws 2010, c. 2, § 29,

emerg. eff. March 3, 2010.

§59-493.5a. Temporary critical need license.

The State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision may issue

temporary critical need licenses for allopathic physicians under

Section 1 of this act.

Added by Laws 2022, c. 262, § 2, eff. July 1, 2022.