An update on Texas: TexasQueen is right; the newest (2002) changes to the licensure statute omits reciprocity altogether. More disturbing is this new section I had not seen before:
"...(5) An applicant who is a graduate of a medical school that is located outside the United States and Canada must present satisfactory proof to the board that each medical school attended was substantially equivalent to a Texas medical school at the time of attendance. This may include but is not limited to:
(A) a Foreign Educational Credentials Evaluation from the Office of International Education Services of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO);
(B) a board questionnaire, to be completed by the medical school and returned directly to board;
(C) a copy of the medical school's catalog;
(D) verification from the educational agency confirming the validity of school and licensure of applicant;
(E) proof of affiliation agreements between the medical school and the hospitals where clinical clerkships were taught;
(F) proof that the institutions had written contracts with the medical school if the institutions were not located in a country where the medical school was located;
(G) proof that the faculty members of the medical school had written contracts with the school if they taught a course outside the country where the medical school was located;
(H) proof that the medical education courses taught in the United States complied with the higher education laws of the state in which the courses were taught;...."
Section (a) is a consulting service that bills the school directly for giving it the OK. This is new, could be very expensive, and is probably way down on Saba's list after Cali and NY right now. I have to agree with Paul Plowman that Texas is suddenly becoming very IMG unfriendly but it looks to me like that applies to ALL foreign schools--not just Carib. Interesting since at least 2 members of the board are from foreign schools and many others are political appointees. Also, proposed new changes (2003)include this:
"...(3) To be eligible for postgraduate resident permit, applicants who begin postgraduate training in Texas after January 1, 2004 must not have failed a licensure examination that would prevent the applicant from obtaining an unrestricted physician license in Texas."
Although other sections still include provisions for passing USMLE, Flex, Comdex, etc after so many tries just as before this could be read to mean that if you fail step 1 or 2 the first time or don't take step 3 or the jurisprudence exam you are out of luck for good if they don't want to play ball with you; otherwise why put it in? Very confusing. In fact, the entire statute is much more confusing now than when I was on the island as well as contradictory and I would love to see someone challenge it in court.
All in all Texas is not so friendly for some reason. Howdy.
Posted on Dec 30, 2002, 1:19 AM from IP address 65.58.35.33
