2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 6 - Medical Discipline and Licensure Board Act (§§ 131 — 135j) › Subchapter III - Licensure (§§ 133 — 133j) › § 133b - Requirements

(1) Any person who wishes to obtain a license to practice in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as a professional physician or osteopath shall meet the following requirements:
(a) Be of legal age.
(b) Hold a diploma, a medical or osteopath degree, or accreditation certificate that attests that all academic studies germane to the profession of physician or osteopath have been satisfactorily completed, issued by a university, college or school whose curriculum is accepted by and registered with the Board. In the case of educational institutions operating in Puerto Rico, said studies shall be previously authorized by the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico. The Board shall not recognize a physician’s or osteopath’s degree as valid in those cases in which the hopeful has failed to pursue at least the last two (2) years of studies under the official curriculum of the School of Medicine awarding the same. In the event of extraordinary circumstances that affect the university, college, or school where a hopeful pursues his/her education and that prevents said hopeful from completing the same, the Board shall be empowered to exempt hopefuls from meeting the requirement of having to complete, at least, the last two (2) years of studies under the official curriculum of the School of Medicine. The Board shall determine by resolution the cases in which such extraordinary circumstances exist ensuring, in all cases, that the university, college or school of medicine where these two (2) years of study are pursued is accepted and approved by the Board. Neither shall the Board accept the validity of a diploma, certificate, or degree if the school awarding the same excused the hopeful from taking a subject included in the curriculum accepted by and registered with the Board. In each case where the Board exercises its discretion, it shall be required to adopt a resolution and shall notify the same in a newspaper of general circulation and the webpage of the Board.
(2) Candidates shall provide or furnish a mechanism to the Board so that the same is able to obtain the following required information:
(a) Full name and assumed names, or any other name used in life, current address, and date and place of birth.
(b) A recent signed photograph and/or identification documents.
(c) Name and location of the school of medicine from which they graduated, the degree obtained, and the date of graduation.
(d) A listing of all jurisdictions of the United States of America from which the candidate holds a license.
(e) A listing of all foreign jurisdictions from which the candidate holds a license.
(f) A listing of all jurisdictions of the United States of America where the candidate has requested authorization to practice medicine.
(g) A listing of all foreign jurisdictions where the candidate has requested authorization to practice medicine.
(h) A listing of all jurisdictions of the United States of America where the licensee is authorized to practice medicine.
(i) A listing of all foreign jurisdictions where the licensee is authorized to practice medicine.
(j) A listing of all jurisdictions of the United States of America where the candidate has voluntarily relinquished his/her license or authorization to practice medicine.
(k) A listing of all foreign jurisdictions where the candidate has voluntarily relinquished his/her license or authorization to practice medicine.
(l) A listing of all jurisdictions, whether of the United States of America or foreign, where the candidate has been denied a license or authorization to practice medicine.
(m) A list of all sanctions, sentences, remedies, transactions or convictions against the candidate in any jurisdiction, whether of the United States or foreign, which constitute evidence for a disciplinary action pursuant to the law on the practice of medicine, rules or regulations of the Board.
(n) A detailed history as to education, including locations, institutions, dates, and description of the program of all of his/her academic history, beginning with high school and including all universities, pre-professional and professional institutions, and professional post-graduate education.
(o) A chronological account of his/her life story, including locations, date of residence, jobs, and military service.
(p) Any other information as the Board may deem necessary.
(3) It is hereby provided that in order to be able to practice as a physician in Puerto Rico, hopefuls must have approved the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or any other examination as rigorous as the USMLE, whether existing or created in the future, that, in the judgment of the Board, pursues the same purposes of the USMLE, provided the same meets all other requirements which are applicable and enforceable under this chapter.
(4) It is hereby provided, further, that to be admitted into any of the parts of the licensure examination established by this chapter, it shall be necessary to meet all requirements under this chapter and to present evidence of such before the Board. The Board shall establish by regulation the requirements for admittance into the licensure examination covering basic sciences. Provided, That the candidate hoping to take any part of the examination must enclose a credit transcript that attests that said candidate has obtained a bachelor’s degree in Science, Pre-Medics, or courses equivalent to pre-medics, as the Board may establish by regulation, with a grade point average of not less than two point five (2.5) or its equivalent.
(5) Candidates hoping for a physician’s or a surgeon’s license shall furnish evidence which is satisfactory to the Board as to the fact that after having graduated from a college or school of medicine, they have completed training as interns or resident physicians for not less than one (1) year in a Board-validated hospital. The Board shall establish by regulation which entity or which sources of information are to be used to validate internship or residence programs from schools of medicine at the United States of America and foreign countries. Provided, That the Board shall not have the discretion to exempt any candidate whatsoever from the one-year internship requirement.
(6) Candidates shall prove to be familiar with Puerto Rico statutes and regulations pertaining to the practice of medicine and the proper or controlled use of controlled substances.
(7) If required, candidates shall make a personal appearance before the Board or its representatives for an interview, examination or review of credentials. In the discretion of the Board, candidates shall be required to present any original of medical education credentials for inspection at the time appointed for personal appearance.
(8) The Board shall credit the time any physician has served as an intern in the Armed Forces of the United States of America in the same manner and with the same effect as if the physician had served as an intern in a Board-validated hospital.
(9) Candidates shall be persons who enjoy a good reputation, attested to by a certificate of good conduct issued by the Puerto Rico Police, and any other credential as the Board may establish by regulation.
(10) Candidates shall submit a no-default certificate from the Child Support Administration (ASUME, Spanish acronym) that they have no child support debt outstanding, or if they do, that they have availed themselves of a payment plan.
History —Aug. 1, 2008, No. 139, § 17, eff. Jan 1, 2009; May 15, 2012, No. 86, § 1.