216-40-05 R.I. Code R. § 1.4

Current through June 20, 2024

Section 216-RICR-40-05-1.4 - Qualifications

1.4.1Allopathic Physicians

A. Graduates of Schools Located in the United States and Puerto Rico. An applicant seeking licensure to practice medicine in Rhode Island must:

1. Be of good moral character;

2. Have graduated from a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME);

3. Have satisfactorily completed two (2) years of progressive post graduate training, internship and residency, in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education;

4. Have satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the Board; and

5. Meet such other requirements as set forth by Regulation or as may be established by the Board.

B. Graduates of Schools Located in Canada. An applicant seeking licensure to practice medicine in Rhode Island must:

1. Be of good moral character;

2. Have graduated from a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME);

3. Have satisfactorily completed two (2) years of progressive post graduate training in a program accredited by the Accreditation Committee of the Federation of the Medical Licensing Authority of Canada or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada;

4. Have satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the Board; and

5. Meet such other requirements as set forth by Regulation or as may be established by the Board.

C. Foreign Medical Graduates. An applicant seeking licensure to practice medicine in Rhode Island who is a Foreign Medical Graduate must:

1. Be of good moral character;

2. Have graduated from a medical school located outside the United States which is recognized by the World Health Organization and the Board;

3. Have received certification by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG);

4. Applicants must have satisfactorily completed two (2) years of progressive postgraduate training, internship and residency or a comparable fellowship in a training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The Board may grant up to twelve (12) months of credit at the internship level to an applicant with a minimum of three (3) years of progressive international postgraduate training when advanced standing is also granted by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

5. Have satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the Board; and

6. Meet such other requirements as set forth by Regulation or as may be established by the Board.

D. Foreign Medical Graduates/United States Citizens (Fifth [5^th] Pathway). An applicant seeking licensure to practice medicine in Rhode Island and who is a Foreign Medical Graduate and a United States citizen at the time of attendance at said foreign school and who has completed all of the formal requirements of said medical school except internship and/or social services must:

1. Be of good moral character;

2. Have successfully completed a course of study from a medical school located outside the United States which is recognized by the World Health Organization and the Board;

3. Have satisfactorily passed the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Examinations;

4. Have attained a score satisfactory to a medical school approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education on a qualifying examination acceptable to the State Board for Medicine;

5. Applicants shall have satisfactorily completed two (2) years of progressive postgraduate training, internship and residency or fellowship in a training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

6. Have satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the Board; and

7. Meet such other requirements as set forth by Regulation or as may be established by the Board.

E. Waiver of Training Requirements - Allopathic Physicians

1. Notwithstanding the requirements of § 1.4.1(A)(3) of this Part, all or some of the postgraduate training requirement for graduates of schools located in the United States and Puerto Rico may be waived, at the discretion of the Board, for graduates who hold a full and unrestricted medical license in another State/jurisdiction for at least five (5) years and are certified by an American Board of Medical Specialty (ABMS) Board.

2. Notwithstanding the requirements of § 1.4.1(B)(3) of this Part, all or some of the postgraduate training requirement for graduates of schools located in Canada may be waived, at the discretion of the Board, for graduates who hold a full and unrestricted medical license in another State/jurisdiction for at least five (5) years and are certified by an ABMS Board.

3. Notwithstanding the requirements of § 1.4.1(D)(4) of this Part, all or some of the postgraduate training requirement for foreign medical graduates may be waived, at the discretion of the Board, for international graduates with advanced international postgraduate training, who hold full and unrestricted medical licensure in another State/jurisdiction, and five (5) years of clinical practice experience in good standing in the alternate jurisdiction.

1.4.2Osteopathic Physicians

A. Graduates of Schools of Osteopathic Medicine. An applicant seeking licensure to practice Osteopathic Medicine in Rhode Island must:

1. Be of good moral character;

2. Have graduated from an osteopathic medical school located in the United States that is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association;

3. Have satisfactorily completed two (2) years of progressive post graduate training, internship and residency in a program approved by the American Osteopathic Association or the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education:

4. Have satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the Board; and

5. Meet such other requirements as set forth by Regulations or as may be established by the Board.

B. Waiver of Training Requirements - Osteopathic Physicians. Notwithstanding the requirements of § 1.4.2(A) of this Part, all or some of the postgraduate training requirement for graduates of schools of osteopathic medicine may be waived, at the discretion of the Board, for graduates who hold a full and unrestricted license to practice osteopathic medicine in another State/jurisdiction for at least five (5) years and are certified by the AOA or an ABMS Board.

1.4.3Licensure by Endorsement

A. The Board may grant expedited full and unrestricted licensure to applicants with a verified full and unrestricted licensure in another State with administrative approval from the Chief Administrative Officer provided that the candidate shall:

1. Have no formal disciplinary actions or active or pending investigations; past, pending, public or confidential restrictions or sanctions, by the board of medicine, licensing authority, medical society, professional society, hospital, medical school or institution staff sanctions in any State, country or jurisdiction. A disciplinary action includes, but is not limited to, the refusal to issue or renew a license to practice medicine by any aforementioned entity.

2. Hold unrestricted licenses in every jurisdiction that the candidate holds a license.

3. Meet minimum requirements for a license in the State of Rhode Island.

4. Have submitted a completed application, in the English language or accompanied by a certified translation thereof into English for reciprocal licensure. Such licenses shall be considered provisional until ratified at a meeting of the full Board. Willful violation of the provisions of this section by a licensing candidate shall be grounds for immediate license suspension.

1.4.4Temporary Post-Graduate License

A. Licensure. A temporary post-graduate license is a full unrestricted license that can be granted after one (1) year of post-graduate training and may not be renewed more than once. The Board may grant a temporary post-graduate license to practice medicine in Rhode Island as a physician to an individual who meets all of the following requirements:

1. Have successfully completed one (1) year of post graduate training in an accredited Rhode Island training program.

B. Issuance and Renewal

1. Fees. The fee for a temporary post-graduate physician license is the same as a full license (since valid for one (1) year is pro-rated fifty percent (50%)). The Fee for a temporary post-graduate physician license may be waived (for initial license and renewal) if within nine (9) months of issuance of this license the physician supplies to the Department proof of obtaining a DEA waiver ("X" number) to treat patients with medication assisted treatment. Physicians who receive a fee waiver who do not supply evidence of aforementioned DEA waiver ("X" number) within nine (9) months will be billed for the full license fee. Physicians who do not pay the balance within three (3) months will be referred to the Board for unprofessional conduct.

2. A temporary post-graduate physician license is valid for one (1) year from issue date may be renewed only once, the fee upon renewal is the same as a physician license and may be waived, if physician has submitted evidence to the department of DEA waiver ("X" number).

C. Continuing medical education (CME) shall be required in accordance with § 1.5.5(A) of this Part, participation in an accredited post-graduate medical education program shall satisfy the requirements of CME.

1.4.5Volunteer Physicians

A. Licensure. The Board may grant a license to practice medicine in Rhode Island as a volunteer physician to an individual who meets all of the following requirements:

1. Be otherwise qualified for licensure as a physician pursuant to this Part.

2. Be retired from the active practice of medicine and whose only clinical activities will be volunteering in clinics and other facilities that provide medical care to underinsured or uninsured patients.

3. Receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for any clinical services provided as a physician.

4. Submit documentation to the Board from an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organization, or other similar entity, providing care for underinsured or uninsured patients, attesting to the physician's status as a volunteer physician and the absence of compensation (monetary or in-kind).

5. Separate documentation shall be provided for each organization where the applicant intends to provide services as a volunteer physician.

6. Submit documentation to the Board that malpractice insurance will be provided, either by the organization or by the applicant.

B. Issuance and Renewal

1. Fees. There shall be no licensure fee for a volunteer physician license.

2. Upon completion of the requirements contained in § 1.4.5(A) of this Part, the Director may issue a volunteer physician license in accordance with § 1.5.6(A) of this Part.

3. A volunteer physician license may be renewed in accordance with § 1.5.6(B) of this Part.

C. Continuing Education. A volunteer physician shall be required to complete continuing medical education in accordance with § 1.5.5(A) of this Part.

D. Conversion to Full/Unrestricted License. A physician with a volunteer license who wishes to resume active practice may convert the license to full/unrestricted license by paying the licensure fee as set forth in Part 10-05-2 of this Title, Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health.

1.4.6Academic Faculty

The requirements for limited registration of academic faculty are pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37-16.1.

216 R.I. Code R. § 216-RICR-40-05-1.4

Amended effective 4/24/2022