SECTIONS 2170-2186 - California Statutes

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE

SECTION 2170-2186

2170. (a) All applicants for a physician's and surgeon's
certificate shall take the examination provided for in this article
unless provisions of this chapter otherwise provide.
(b) The provisions of this article shall apply to all examinations
administered by the Division of Licensing unless provisions of this
chapter otherwise provide.

2171. All examinations shall be designed to ascertain the applicant'
s fitness to practice medicine. Unless otherwise provided the
examination shall be in writing.

2175. State examination records shall be kept on file by the board
until June 1, 2070. Examinees shall be known and designated by number
only, and the name attached to the number shall be kept secret until
the examinee is sent notification of the results of the
examinations.

2176. Examinations for a physician's and surgeon's certificate may
be conducted by the Division of Licensing under a uniform examination
system, and for that purpose the division may make such arrangements
with organizations furnishing examination material as it may deem
desirable.
The Division of Licensing may, in its discretion, designate other
written examinations for a physician's and surgeon's certificate that
the division determines are equivalent to any other written
examination for a physician's and surgeon's certificate conducted by
the division.

2177. (a) A passing score is required for an entire examination or
for each part of an examination, as established by resolution of the
board.
(b) Applicants may elect to take the written examinations
conducted or accepted by the board in separate parts.
(c) (1) An applicant shall have obtained a passing score on Step 3
of the United States Medical Licensing Examination within not more
than four attempts in order to be eligible for a physician's and
surgeon's certificate.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an applicant who obtains a
passing score on Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing
Examination in more than four attempts and who meets the requirements
of Section 2135.5 shall be eligible to be considered for issuance of
a physician's and surgeon's certificate.

2179. The Division of Licensing shall insure that nutrition is
included on the examination for a certificate as a physician and
surgeon.

2183. An applicant for a physician's and surgeon's certificate
shall pass the national examination for medical licensure in
biomedical sciences and clinical sciences, including geriatric
medicine, determined by the Division of Licensing to be essential for
the unsupervised practice of medicine.
An applicant who applies for a physician's and surgeon's
certificate on or after January 1, 2004, shall have completed
coursework in geriatric medicine in medical school or in postgraduate
medical education training.

2184. (a) Each applicant shall obtain on the written examination a
passing score, established by the board pursuant to Section 2177.
(b) (1) Passing scores on each step of the United States Medical
Licensing Examination shall be valid for a period of 10 years from
the month of the examination for purposes of qualification for
licensure in California.
(2) The period of validity provided for in paragraph (1) may be
extended by the board for any of the following:
(A) For good cause.
(B) For time spent in a postgraduate training program, including,
but not limited to, residency training, fellowship training, remedial
or refresher training, or other training that is intended to
maintain or improve medical skills.
(C) For an applicant who is a physician and surgeon in another
state or a Canadian province who is currently and actively practicing
medicine in that state or province.
(3) Upon expiration of the 10-year period plus any extension
granted by the board under paragraph (2), the applicant shall pass
the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical
Boards or a clinical competency written examination determined by the
board to be equivalent.

2186. An applicant who is a diplomate of the National Board of
Medical Examiners shall not be required to take the written
examination prescribed by this article, provided such applicant meets
the requirements of Section 2151.