2006 Minnesota Statutes

147.037 LICENSING OF FOREIGN MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES; TEMPORARY
PERMIT.
    Subdivision 1. Requirements. The board shall issue a license to practice medicine to any
person who satisfies the requirements in paragraphs (a) to (g).
(a) The applicant shall satisfy all the requirements established in section 147.02, subdivision
1 , paragraphs (a), (e), (f), (g), and (h).
(b) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is a
graduate of a medical or osteopathic school approved by the board as equivalent to accredited
United States or Canadian schools based upon its faculty, curriculum, facilities, accreditation,
or other relevant data. If the applicant is a graduate of a medical or osteopathic program that is
not accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education or the American Osteopathic
Association, the applicant must use the Federation of State Medical Boards' Federation
Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) or its successor. If the applicant uses this service as
required under this paragraph, the physician application fee may be less than $200 but must not
exceed the cost of administering this paragraph.
(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, and 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.
(d) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of the completion of
two years of graduate, clinical medical training in a program located in the United States, its
territories, or Canada and accredited by a national accrediting organization approved by the board.
This requirement does not apply:
(1) to an applicant who is admitted as a permanent immigrant to the United States on or
before October 1, 1991, as a person of exceptional ability in the sciences according to Code of
Federal Regulations, title 20, section 656.22(d);
(2) to an applicant holding a valid license to practice medicine in another country and issued
a permanent immigrant visa after October 1, 1991, as a person of extraordinary ability in the field
of science or as an outstanding professor or researcher according to Code of Federal Regulations,
title 8, section 204.5(h) and (i), or a temporary nonimmigrant visa as a person of extraordinary
ability in the field of science according to Code of Federal Regulations, title 8, section 214.2(o),
provided that a person under clause (1) or (2) is admitted pursuant to rules of the United States
Department of Labor; or
(3) to an applicant who is licensed in another state, has practiced five years without
disciplinary action in the United States, its territories, or Canada, has completed one year of the
graduate, clinical medical training required by this paragraph, and has passed the Special Purpose
Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards within three attempts in the 24 months
before licensing.
(e) The applicant must:
(1) have passed an examination prepared and graded by the Federation of State Medical
Boards, the United States Medical Licensing Examination program in accordance with section
147.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2), or the Medical Council of Canada; and
(2) have a current license from the equivalent licensing agency in another state or country
and, if the examination in clause (1) was passed more than ten years ago, either:
(i) pass the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards with a
score of 75 or better within three attempts; or
(ii) have a current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical
Specialties, of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional Education, of the
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the College of Family Physicians
of Canada.
(f) The applicant must not be under license suspension or revocation by the licensing board
of the state or jurisdiction in which the conduct that caused the suspension or revocation occurred.
(g) The applicant must not have engaged in conduct warranting disciplinary action against a
licensee, or have been subject to disciplinary action other than as specified in paragraph (f). If an
applicant does not satisfy the requirements stated in this paragraph, the board may issue a license
only on the applicant's showing that the public will be protected through issuance of a license
with conditions or limitations the board considers appropriate.
    Subd. 1a. Temporary permit. The board may issue a temporary permit to practice medicine
to a physician eligible for licensure under this section only if the application for licensure is
complete, all requirements in subdivision 1 have been met, and a nonrefundable fee set by the
board has been paid. The permit remains valid only until the meeting of the board at which a
decision is made on the physician's application for licensure.
    Subd. 2. Medical school review. The board may contract with any qualified person or
organization for the performance of a review or investigation, including site visits if necessary, of
any medical or osteopathic school prior to approving the school under section 147.02, subdivision
1 , paragraph (b), or subdivision 1, paragraph (b), of this section. To the extent possible, the board
shall require the school being reviewed to pay the costs of the review or investigation.
History: 1985 c 247 s 9; 1986 c 444; 1991 c 106 s 2; 1993 c 21 s 5,6,13; 1994 c 433 s 1;
1995 c 18 s 2; 1999 c 33 s 3; 2004 c 270 s 2