Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 24-1-4 - Qualifications and Application for a License to Practice Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery4.1. An applicant for a license to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery shall complete an application provided by the Board, which is available on the Board's website. The applicant shall complete the application in full prior to the Board's consideration of the application.4.2. An application for a license to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery shall include the following: 4.2.1. A photograph taken within the previous 60 days which resembles the applicant;4.2.2. Evidence of graduation from a medical school approved by the American Osteopathic Association;4.2.3. Evidence of successful completion of a minimum of one year of post-doctoral clinical training in a program approved by the American Osteopathic Association or the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education;4.2.4. Complete payment to the Board of the amount established by the Board under the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine rule Fees for Services Rendered By the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, Title 24 CSR 5. If the licensure fee is paid by personal check, the licensing process is not considered complete until the check has cleared the bank; and4.2.5. Submit to a state and national criminal background check, paid for by the applicant, with a report sent to the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine.4.3. An applicant for a license to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery is required to obtain a passing score on all steps of the COMLEX-USA examination developed by NBOME.4.4. The Board may accept an equivalent exam given by another Osteopathic State Board if the Board determines it to have equivalent standards to the COMLEX-USA examination developed by NBOME. The Board is not required, however, to accept these exams in lieu of the COMLEX-USA examination.4.5. Any applicant for licensure to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery shall demonstrate his or her ability to communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the Board.4.6. An applicant shall arrange for a personal interview with a member of the Board prior to his or her application being considered by the Board. The Board may require any applicant to appear before the Board at the meeting at which his or her application is to be considered. The purpose of the interview or required attendance at a Board meeting is to clarify information contained in the application. The Board may require production of original documents at the interview or require attendance at a Board meeting.4.7. The application, together with all photocopied documents submitted with the application, become the property of the Board and shall not be returned.4.8. The burden of satisfying the Board of the applicant's qualifications for licensure is upon the applicant.4.9. A license to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery in this state is valid for a term of 2 years and shall be renewed by June 30 of the second year. The license shall be renewed upon the receipt of a non-refundable fee, established by the Board, together with an application provided by the Board.4.10. Mandatory Continuing Education Activity Upon Initial Licensure -- Within one year of receiving an initial license to practice by the Board, and regardless of the licensee's scheduled renewal date, the licensee shall complete three hours of training in a Board-approved course on Risk Assessment and Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances. This requirement is waived for licensees who do not prescribe, administer, or dispense any controlled substances whatsoever pursuant to a West Virginia license. Completion of a Board-approved course on Risk Assessment and Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances during the initial year of licensure may be allocated towards a licensee's biennial continuing education obligation for the renewal period during which the course was completed.4.11. Evidence and information described in this section may be provided through FCVS, where available through FCVS.