H.B. No. 3674
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the licensing requirements for a foreign-trained
  physician applicant.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 155.0031(c) and (d), Occupations Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Applicants for a license must subscribe to an oath [in
  writing before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths].
  The written oath is part of the application.
         (d)  An applicant must present proof satisfactory to the
  board that:
               (1)  each medical school attended by the applicant is
  substantially equivalent to a Texas medical school as determined by
  board rule; or
               (2)  the applicant is specialty board certified by a
  specialty board organization acceptable to the board.
         SECTION 2.  Section 155.004, Occupations Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 155.004.  ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR
  GRADUATES OF CERTAIN FOREIGN MEDICAL SCHOOLS.  A license applicant
  who is a graduate of a medical school that is located outside the
  United States and Canada must present proof satisfactory to the
  board that the applicant:
               (1)  is a graduate of a school whose curriculum meets
  the requirements for an unapproved medical school as determined by
  a committee of experts selected by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board;
               (2)  has successfully completed:
                     (A)  at least three years of graduate medical
  training in the United States or Canada that was approved by the
  board; or
                     (B)  at least two years of graduate medical
  training in the United States or Canada that was approved by the
  board and at least one year of graduate medical training outside the
  United States or Canada that was approved for advanced standing by a
  specialty board organization approved by the board;
               (3)  [is eligible for a license to practice medicine in
  the country in which the school is located, except for any
  citizenship requirements;
               [(4)]  holds a valid certificate issued by the
  Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates; and
               (4) [(5)]  is able to communicate in English.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to physician applicants submitting license applications under
  Chapter 155, Occupations Code, on or after the effective date of
  this Act. An application submitted before that date is covered by
  the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this
  Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3674 was passed by the House on May 7,
  2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3674 was passed by the Senate on May
  21, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor