Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-22-203 - Examination; Practice Equivalency to an Examination

A. Approved examinations. For the purposes of licensing, the Board approves the following examinations:

1. All levels and parts of the COMLEX required by the NBOME with a passing score determined by the NBOME;

2. All levels and parts of the USMLE required by the NBME with a passing score determined by the NBME; and

3. A special purposes competency examination given by the NBOME or NBME to an applicant at the request of the Board, with a passing score established by the NBOME or NBME.

B. Practice equivalency to an examination. If an applicant has not passed an approved examination within the seven years before the date of application, the Board shall find that the applicant has practice experience equivalent to an approved examination if the applicant submits documentation of all of the following:

1. On the date of application and continuously until the date the applicant is issued or denied a license, the applicant holds:

a. An active license to practice osteopathic medicine issued by another state, or

b. An active permit or temporary license to practice in an approved residency or fellowship;

2. For at least seven of the 10 years immediately before the date of application, the applicant:

a. Was in clinical practice providing direct patient care, or

b. Was in the second or later year of an approved residency or fellowship; and

c. Has completed a certification examination provided by a specialty board under R4-22-106; and

3. Within two years immediately before the date of application, the applicant completed at least 40 hours of approved CME, defined and documented as specified in R4-22-207.

C. Personal interviews. The purpose of the personal interview required by A.R.S. § 32-1822(6) is to investigate the applicant's professional and personal background, to review the applicant's medical knowledge, to determine the applicant's ability to practice medicine in Arizona, and to clarify, explain, or amplify information obtained during the application process.

1. The personal interview may include questions relating to any or all of the following areas:

a. Substantive medical knowledge.

b. Arizona practice issues or problems.

c. Education qualifications.

d. Professional experience.

e. Applicant's moral character and fitness to practice medicine and surgery in Arizona.

2. An applicant must correctly answer 75% of the medical knowledge questions to be considered acceptable for licen-sure.

3. Any adverse information obtained by the Board during the personal interview may be grounds for further investigation or denial of licensure.

D. Time limitations. Each applicant for Arizona Osteopathic licensure must pass the written examination if required, and appear before the Board for the personal interview within one year from the date the application is filed. Failure to do so shall cause the application to lapse. Within six months from the date of successful completion of the personal interview, each applicant for Arizona Osteopathic licensure must complete all requirements for issuance of the license including payment of all fees and completion of an internship. Failure to do so shall cause the application to lapse.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-22-203

Amended by final rulemaking at 20 A.A.R. 2655, effective 11/8/2014.