Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-3-.02

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 540-X-3-.02 - Medical Education Requirement

(1) All applicants for a certificate of qualification shall present a diploma or evidence of graduation from any of the following institutions:

(a) A college of medicine or school of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

(b) A college of osteopathy accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

(c) A college of medicine or school of medicine not accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education which is approved by the Board of Medical Examiners and whose graduates are eligible for examination by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) for its certificate. The Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and its sponsoring organizations define a "graduate of a foreign medical school" as a physician whose basic medical degree or qualification was conferred by a medical school located outside the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The medical school must be listed, at the time of an applicant's graduation, in the World Directory of Medical Schools published by the World Health Organization or in the International Medical Education Directory published by the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research.

(2) The Board, within its discretion, may withhold approval of any college of medicine designated in (1)(c) above which:

(a) Has had its accreditation withdrawn by a national or regional accreditation organization; or

(b) Has had its authorization, certification, or licensure revoked or withdrawn by a national or regional governmental supervisory agency; or

(c) Has been denied approval or has had its approval withdrawn by any national, state, or territorial licensing jurisdiction based upon an evaluation of the college of medicine or upon a finding of misconduct by the college; or

(d) Has engaged in fraudulent, criminal, or other practices which are inconsistent with quality medical education.

1. A college of medicine which allows graduation from its medical school program, issues diplomas, or confers medical degrees based on course work offered via the Internet or online programs, and which is deemed by the Board to be a college of medicine which engages in practices which are inconsistent with quality medical education, will not be an approved college of medicine for the purpose of fulfilling the medical education requirement of Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-70 and this rule.

(3) Documentation submitted through the Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) may be accepted to demonstrate compliance with subparagraphs (1)(a), (1)(b) and (1)(c) above.

(4) If the diploma of the applicant is based in any part upon clinical rotations, clerkships or training which was completed at hospitals which are not located within the same country where the medical school is principally located or where the director of the clinical rotation, clerkship or training is not directly responsible to the administration of the medical school, the applicant shall have the director of the clinical rotation, clerkship or training at the hospital where the clinical rotation, clerkship or training was undertaken send an original letter to the Board outlining the dates of the training, the exact type of training completed and an evaluation of the applicant's performance in the clinical rotation, clerkship or training undertaken.

(5) In the event that the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners shall, after careful consideration, determine that there exists substantial credible evidence to indicate that a college of medicine or a college of osteopathy located outside of the United States may have issued or is issuing diplomas to individuals who have not in fact acquired such diploma by actual attendance at and participation in a residency program of medical instruction and clinical rotations then in such event the Board may require that an applicant holding a diploma from such college submit the following additional documentation in conjunction with his or her application:

(a) That the applicant document to the satisfaction of the Board actual attendance in residence at all portions of the program of medical instruction designed to be taken in residence on the premises of the college of medicine or college of osteopathy issuing the diploma.

(b) That the applicant document to the satisfaction of the Board actual attendance and participation in clinical programs of instruction, or clinical rotations at a hospital facility actually affiliated with the college of medicine or college of osteopathy and offered as a part of the overall program of medical education.

(c) The foregoing requirements shall apply to applicants for a certificate of qualification by endorsement under Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-73, or by examination under Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-70, or for limited licensure under Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-75.

(d) The Board shall publish and maintain a list of any colleges of medicine or colleges of osteopathy which it determines to be within the scope of this rule.

(e) The documentation which the Board of Medical Examiners will deem to be acceptable for the purposes of this rule shall include, but is not limited to, passport data showing entry to and exit from the country in which the college of medicine or college of osteopathy is located; other travel or immigration documents issued by the United States Government, or the government of the country in which the college of medicine or college of osteopathy is located reflecting residence in that country; the sworn and notarized certification of the department or division director of any clinical program affiliated with the college of medicine or college of osteopathy attesting to the attendance and residency of the applicant; or any other impartial documents as would be considered trustworthy by a reasonably prudent person in the conduct of his most important affairs. Failure of the applicant to document actual attendance as specified above will result in a denial of the application for certificate of qualification. The requirements set forth in this rule shall be in addition to all of the other requirements set forth in the rules and regulations of the State Board of Medical Examiners.

(6) The following Colleges of Medicine or Schools of Medicine are not approved by the Board for applicants for certificates of qualification pursuant to the authority of Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-70(a)(1) c. and Rule 540-X-3-.02(2):

(a) Universidad Tecnoglica de Santiago, Dominican Republic (UTESA)

(b) Universidad Eugenio Maria de Hostos, Dominican Republic (UNIREMHOS)

(c) St. Christopher's College, Dakar, Senegal

(d) University of Health Sciences Antigua, St. Johns (Antigua), Dominican Republic

(7) Graduates of the following colleges of medicine or schools of medicine are required to submit the additional documentation required by Rule 540-X-3-.02(5)(a) through (d) in conjunction with an application for a certificate of qualification:

(a) Kigezi International School of Medicine, Uganda, Africa

(b) Universidad Centro de Estudios Tecnologicos, Dominican Republic (CETEC)

(c) Universidad Fedrico Henriquez Carajal, Dominican Republic (UFHEC)

(d) Universidad Centro de Investigacion Formacion Asesona Social, Dominican Republic (CIFAS)

(e) Spartan University (A.K.A. St. Lucia Health Sciences University), Dominican Republic

(f) Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

(g) Universidad Mexico American Del Norte, Mexico

Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-3-.02

Filed May 20, 1993 for publication. See also Notice of Intended Action dated May 20, 1993 repealing existing Chapter 3. Approved/Adopted: July 21, 1993. Effective Date: August 25, 1993. Amended: Filed May 20, 1996; effective June 25, 1996. Amended: Filed May 20, 1997; effective June 24, 1997. Amended: Filed November 20, 1997; effective December 25, 1997. Amended: Filed July 26, 1999; effective August 30, 1999. Amended: Filed January 20, 2000; effective February 24, 2000. Amended: Filed October 17, 2003; effective November 21, 2003. Amended: Filed June 23, 2006; effective July 28, 2006. Amended: Filed June 22, 2007; effective July 27, 2007. Amended: Filed December 13, 2007; effective January 17, 2008. Amended: Filed September 17, 2009; effective October 22, 2009. Amended: Filed January 19, 2012; effective February 23, 2012.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXV, Issue No. 06, March 31, 2017, eff. 10/15/2020.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 03, December 30, 2021, eff. 2/13/2022.

Authors: Alabama Board of Medical Examiners

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-53 and Act No. 93-148.