Virginia Law

Article 3. Licensure of Physicians of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine, Chiropractors, and Podiatrists.

No person shall practice or hold himself out as qualified to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatry without obtaining a license from the Board of Medicine as provided in this chapter.

Code 1950, § 54-281; 1966, c. 657, § 54-281.3; 1970, c. 69; 1988, c. 765; 1996, cc. 937, 980.

The Board may issue a license to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatric medicine to any candidate who has submitted satisfactory evidence verified by affidavits that he:

1. Is 18 years of age or more;

2. Is of good moral character;

3. Has successfully completed all or such part as may be prescribed by the Board, of an educational course of study of that branch of the healing arts in which he desires a license to practice, which course of study and the educational institution providing that course of study are acceptable to the Board; and

4. Has completed at least 12 months of satisfactory postgraduate training in one program or institution approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board for internships or residency training. At the discretion of the Board, the postgraduate training may be waived if an applicant for licensure in podiatry has been in active practice for four continuous years while serving in the military and is a diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. Applicants for licensure in chiropractic need not fulfill this requirement.

In determining whether such course of study and institution are acceptable to it, the Board may consider the reputation of the institution and whether it is approved or accredited by regional or national educational or professional associations, including such organizations as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Liaison Committee on Medical Education, Council on Postgraduate Training of the American Osteopathic Association, Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Committee for the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, Education Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or their appropriate subsidiary agencies; by any appropriate agency of the United States government; or by any other organization approved by the Board.

Code 1950, § 54-305; 1952, c. 211; 1954, c. 626; 1972, c. 824; 1975, c. 508; 1982, c. 605; 1985, c. 605; 1988, cc. 89, 132, 765; 2013, c. 144; 2015, c. 525; 2017, cc. 59, 117.

A. The examinations of candidates for licensure to practice medicine and osteopathy shall be those of the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Federation of State Medical Boards, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, or such other examinations as determined by the Board. The minimum passing score shall be determined by the Board prior to administration of the examination.

B. The examination of candidates for licensure to practice chiropractic shall include the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners Examinations and such other examinations as determined by the Board. The minimum passing score shall be determined by the Board prior to administration of the examination.

C. The examination of candidates for licensure to practice podiatry shall be the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners examinations and such other examinations as determined by the Board. The minimum passing score shall be determined by the Board prior to administration of the examination.

Code 1950, § 54-297; 1958, c. 161; 1966, c. 657; 1970, c. 69; 1973, c. 529; 1978, c. 466; 1982, c. 605; 1985, c. 291; 1988, c. 765; 1990, c. 818; 2013, c. 144.

Upon completion of an application satisfactory to the Board, applicants shall be granted licenses to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatry and each license shall show plainly on its face the school or branch of the healing arts in which the holder thereof is permitted to practice. All licenses shall be attested by the signature of the president and secretary of the Board, respectively.

Code 1950, § 54-309; 1958, cc. 161, 461; 1968, c. 766; 1970, c. 69; 1980, c. 157; 1985, c. 96; 1988, c. 765; 2013, c. 144.

Repealed by Acts 2015, c. 525, cl. 2.

A. The Board may issue to a physician licensed in a foreign country a nonrenewable license valid for a period not to exceed two years to practice medicine while such physician is attending advanced training in an institute for postgraduate health science operated collaboratively by a health care system having hospitals and health care facilities with residency and training programs approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board and a public institution of higher education. This temporary license shall only authorize the holder to practice medicine in the hospitals and outpatient clinics of the collaborating health care system while he is receiving training in the institute for postgraduate health science.

B. The Board may issue to a physician previously licensed or otherwise authorized to practice in a foreign country a provisional license to practice medicine valid for a period not to exceed two years to an applicant if the applicant submits evidence acceptable to the Board that the applicant:

1. Has received a degree of doctor of medicine or its equivalent from a legally chartered medical school outside of the United States recognized by the World Health Organization, has been licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medicine in a country other than the United States, and has practiced medicine for at least five years;

2. Has a valid certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates or other credential evaluation service approved by the Board, provided, however, that the Board may waive such certification at its discretion where the applicant is unable to obtain the required documentation from a noncooperative country;

3. Has achieved a passing score on both Step 1 and Step 2 (Clinical Knowledge) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination;

4. Has entered into an agreement with a medical care facility as defined in § 32.1-3 that provides an assessment and evaluation program designed to develop, assess, and evaluate the physician's nonclinical skills and familiarity with standards appropriate for medical practice in the Commonwealth according to criteria developed or approved by the Board;

5. Will enter a full-time employment relationship with such medical care facility after the Board issues a license pursuant to this subsection; and

6. Has satisfied any other criteria that the Board may require for issuance of a provisional license pursuant to this subsection.

C. An individual who successfully obtains a license pursuant to subsection B and practices under such license until its expiration shall be eligible to apply for a renewable two-year restricted license to practice medicine in a medically underserved area in Virginia as defined in § 32.1-122.5 or a health professional shortage area designated in accordance with the criteria established in 42 C.F.R. Part 5. The Board may issue such renewable license to an applicant if the applicant submits evidence acceptable to the Board that the applicant:

1. Has successfully completed the participating medical care facility's assessment and evaluation program required pursuant to subsection B;

2. Has achieved a passing score on Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination; and

3. Will enter a full-time employment relationship with a medical care facility.

D. After at least two years of practice under a renewable two-year restricted license issued pursuant to subsection C, an internationally trained physician shall be eligible to apply for a full, unrestricted license to practice medicine.

E. The Board may promulgate regulations for licenses issued pursuant to this section.

1995, c. 230; 2000, c. 788; 2024, c. 464.

Every candidate who is a graduate of a school of a country other than the United States and Canada must, in addition to meeting the other requirements of this article, exhibit to the Board a diploma, license or certificate conferring the full right to practice in that country, or satisfactory evidence showing that the candidate has completed the course of study and passed examinations equivalent to those required for a diploma or license conferring such full right to practice.

1954, c. 626, § 54-306.2; 1988, c. 765.

Repealed by Acts 2017, cc. 59 and 117, cl. 2.

A. After receiving a recommendation from the dean of an accredited medical school which was reached after consultation with the chairmen of the departments in the school or college and having become satisfied that the applicant is a person of professorial rank whose knowledge and special training will benefit the medical school or educational programs sponsored by the medical school in affiliated hospitals, the Board may issue a limited license to practice medicine in the hospitals and outpatient clinics of the school or college or in a hospital formally affiliated with the medical school for purposes of undergraduate or postgraduate medical education to a graduate of a foreign medical school as long as he serves as a full-time or adjunct faculty member. This limited license shall be valid for a period of not more than one year, but may be renewed annually by the Board upon recommendation of the dean of the medical school and continued service as a full-time or adjunct faculty member.

B. After receiving a recommendation from the dean of an accredited medical school which was reached after consultation with the chairmen of the departments in the school or college and having become satisfied that the applicant is a person whose attendance will benefit the medical school, the Board may issue a limited license to practice medicine as a fellow if such fellowship is ranked between the residency level and that of associate professor. This limited license shall only authorize the holder to practice medicine in the hospitals and outpatient clinics of the school while he is a full-time fellow. The license shall be valid for a period of not more than one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of the dean of the medical school and continuation of the fellowship. A limited license to a foreign graduate engaged in a fellowship shall not be renewed more than twice.

1964, c. 285, § 54-311.1; 1970, c. 69; 1975, c. 508; 1977, c. 586, § 54-311.2; 1988, c. 765; 2003, c. 473.

Upon recommendation by the chief of an approved internship or residency program as defined in this chapter, the Board may issue a temporary annual license to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, or podiatry to interns and residents in such programs. No such license shall be issued to an intern or resident who has not completed successfully the preliminary academic education required for admission to examinations given by the Board in his particular field of practice. Such license shall expire upon the holder's withdrawal or termination from the internship or residency program. The Board may prescribe such regulations not in conflict with existing law and require such reports from hospitals or other organizations operating an approved graduate medical education program in the Commonwealth as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

1986, c. 307, § 54-311.3; 1987, c. 44; 1988, c. 765; 2015, c. 525.

A. The Board may issue a retiree license to any doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or chiropractic who holds an unrestricted, active license to practice in the Commonwealth upon receipt of a request and submission of the fee required by the Board. A person to whom a retiree license has been issued shall not be required to meet continuing competency requirements for the first biennial renewal of such license.

B. A person to whom a retiree license has been issued shall only engage in the practice of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or chiropractic for the purpose of providing (i) charity care, as defined in § 32.1-102.1, and (ii) health care services to patients in their residence for whom travel is a barrier to receiving medical care.

2019, c. 379.

Repealed by Acts 1991, c. 102.

Podiatrists shall not perform surgery on patients under a general anesthetic except in a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center accredited by a national accrediting organization granted authority by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to assure compliance with Medicare conditions of participation pursuant to § 1865 of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1395bb).

1977, c. 127, § 54-275.2; 1988, c. 765; 1999, c. 651; 2013, c. 144.

Repealed by Acts 2001, cc. 186 and 198.

This chapter shall not be construed to prohibit, forbid or prevent (i) any approved school of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry or chiropractic from contracting with any licensed practitioner to teach or participate in a preceptorship program in such college on such terms of compensation as may be mutually satisfactory, which contract may prescribe the extent, if any, to which the practitioner may engage in private practice, or (ii) any institution, hospital, treatment center, sanatorium or other similar agency under the management and control of an agency of the Commonwealth from employing or contracting with any licensed practitioner to furnish professional services in the work of the agency, or to persons entitled to receive such care from the agency.

1958, c. 275, § 54-275.1; 1984, c. 710; 1988, c. 765.