The bill would amend the Occupations Code as it relates to the required time frame for passing certain licensing examinations for applicants seeking licensure to practice medicine.
The bill would extend the deadline to take and pass qualifying examinations for applicants simultaneously seeking a doctor of medicine (MD) or osteopathy (DO) and a doctor of philosophy (PhD). The bill would require that these applicants pass each applicable examination no later than the second anniversary of the date the applicant completed all of their graduate medical training or the 12th anniversary of the date the applicant began their graduate medical training, whichever date occurs first. The bill would direct the Texas Medical Board (TMB) to adopt all rules necessary to implement the changes within the provisions.
The bill would apply to an application for licensure regardless of whether the application was submitted before, on, or after the bill's effective date. Unless otherwise specified, the bill would take effect immediately upon receipt of two thirds vote of all members elected to each house or on September 1, 2021.
TMB assumes that the costs associated with the bill's provisions relating to the time frame for passing certain licensing examinations for those seeking a license to practice medicine could be absorbed using existing agency resources.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.