2023 Maryland Statutes › Health Occupations › Title 14 - Physicians › Subtitle 3 - Licensing › Section 14-307 - Qualifications of Applicants

(a)    To qualify for a license, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section.
(b)    The applicant shall be of good moral character.
(c)    The applicant shall be at least 18 years old.
(d)    Except as provided in § 14–308 of this subtitle, the applicant shall:
(1)    (i)    Have a degree of doctor of medicine from a medical school that is accredited by an accrediting organization that the Board recognizes in its regulations; and
(ii)    Submit evidence acceptable to the Board of successful completion of 1 year of training in a postgraduate medical training program that is accredited by an accrediting organization that the Board recognizes in its regulations; or
(2)    (i)    Have a degree of doctor of osteopathy from a school of osteopathy in the United States, its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, or Canada that has standards for graduation equivalent to those established by the American Osteopathic Association; and
(ii)    Submit evidence acceptable to the Board of successful completion of 1 year of training in a postgraduate medical training program accredited by an accrediting organization that the Board recognizes in its regulations.
(e)    Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the applicant shall pass an examination required by the Board.
(f)    The applicant shall meet any other qualifications that the Board establishes in its regulations for license applicants.
(g)    An otherwise qualified applicant who passes the examination after having failed the examination or any part of the examination 3 or more times may qualify for a license only if the applicant:
(1)    Has successfully completed 2 or more years of a residency or fellowship accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association;
(2)    (i)    Has a minimum of 5 years of clinical practice of medicine:
1.    In the United States or in Canada;
2.    With at least 3 of the 5 years having occurred within 5 years of the date of the application; and
3.    That occurred under a full unrestricted license to practice medicine; and
(ii)    Has no disciplinary action pending and has had no disciplinary action taken against the applicant that would be grounds for discipline under § 14–404 of this title; or
(3)    Is board certified.
(h)    (1)    The Board shall require as part of its examination or licensing procedures that an applicant for a license to practice medicine demonstrate an oral competency in the English language.
(2)    Graduation from a recognized English–speaking undergraduate school or high school, including General Education Development (GED), after at least 3 years of enrollment, or from a recognized English–speaking professional school is acceptable as proof of proficiency in the oral communication of the English language under this section.
(3)    By regulation, the Board shall develop a procedure for testing individuals who because of their speech impairment are unable to complete satisfactorily a Board approved standardized test of oral competency.
(4)    If any disciplinary charges or action that involves a problem with the oral communication of the English language are brought against a licensee under this title, the Board shall require the licensee to take and pass a Board approved standardized test of oral competency.
(i)    The applicant shall complete a criminal history records check in accordance with § 14–308.1 of this subtitle.
(j)    (1)    The Board shall license an applicant to practice medicine if:
(i)    The applicant:
1.    Became licensed or certified as a physician in another jurisdiction under requirements that the Board determines are substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements of this title;
2.    Is in good standing under the laws of the other jurisdiction;
3.    Submits an application to the Board on a form that the Board requires; and
4.    Pays to the Board an application fee set by the Board; and
(ii)    The jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed or certified offers a similar reciprocal licensing process for individuals licensed to practice medicine by the Board.
(2)    The Board shall adopt regulations to implement this subsection.