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) › § 133a - Examinations—Format

Licensure examinations for medical surgeons or osteopaths shall be written examinations, in Spanish or English, except for practical examinations, as per the rules made by the Board and provided there is graphical evidence of the evaluation made of each case. Said examinations shall include, but shall not be limited to: subjects pertaining to basic sciences, clinical disciplines and practical skills as the Board may deem convenient to evaluate.
The Board shall delegate the preparation, administering and correction of the licensure examination unto an external entity of renowned competence. Such an external entity shall be selected by the absolute majority of Board members.
The Board shall establish the grade required to pass the examinations. The required passing grade shall be determined prior to administering the examination. The Board may delegate the proctoring of the practical examination unto physicians authorized to practice medicine in Puerto Rico, of renowned experience and accredited by the Board for such purposes.
Examinations may be answered in English or Spanish, at the option of the examinee. Examinations shall be standardized.
The Board shall provide in its bylaws so that, before attending the examination, candidates receive orientation that acquaint them with the licensure examination procedure, the norms that govern the administration of the examination, the kind of examination and the method for evaluating the same, as well as Board regulations. To such effects, the Board shall prepare and publish a handbook containing all licensure examination information, a copy of which shall be made available and handed out, upon presentation of an internal revenue voucher for the amount provided for in regulations, to any person who applies for admission into the examination. The Board may review the cost of this licensure examination handbook from time to time, taking into account expenses incurred for the preparation and publication of this handbook, but the amount to be charged may not exceed the actual costs that such expenses represent. The Board shall oversee that the external Committee adopt norms to guarantee that hopefuls who have failed one or more parts of the licensure examination shall have the right to examine their answering sheet, to receive a breakdown of the score obtained on questions, and to request reconsideration of the examination score.
Any individual who has incurred conduct which subverts or attempts to subvert the medical licensure examination process may, at the discretion of the Board, have the licensure examination score withheld and/or ruled null, be disqualified from the practice of medicine, and/or be subject to the impositions of the sanctions contemplated herein.
Conduct which subverts or attempts to subvert the medical licensure examination process includes but is not limited to:
(a) Conduct which breaches the security of examination materials, such as removing from the examination room any examination material; reproducing or reconstructing any part of the licensure examination; aiding in any manner in the reproduction or reconstruction of any part of the licensure examination; selling, distributing, buying, receiving or having unauthorized possession of any part of a previously administered licensure examination.
(b) Conduct which disrupts examination administration standards, such as contacting any other examinee while the licensure examination is administered; copying the answer of another examinee; or allowing his/her answers to be copied by another examinee while the licensure examination is administered; have in his/her possession while the licensure examination is administered, any book, notes, handwritten or printed material, or any kind of data, in addition to the examination distribute.
(c) Conduct which disrupts the credentialing process, such as forging or representing credentials concerning the education or any other information required for admission into the licensure examination; to stand in for an examinee or to have an impostor take the examination on behalf of the examinee.
History —Aug. 1, 2008, No. 139, § 16, eff. Jan 1, 2009.