Background:

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission (Medical Commission) establishes the qualifications for allopathic physician licensure and enforces consistent standards of practice and continuing competency. To be eligible for a license to practice medicine, an applicant must have graduated from an approved medical school, have completed two years of postgraduate medical training, be of good moral character, be physically and mentally capable of safely practicing medicine, and successfully complete an examination.

Osteopathic physicians are licensed to practice osteopathic medicine by the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (Osteopathic Board). To be eligible for a license to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery, an applicant must have graduated from an accredited school of osteopathic medicine and surgery, have completed at least one year of postgraduate training, not have engaged in unprofessional conduct, be physically and mentally capable of safely practicing medicine, and successfully complete an examination.

Board Certification is the process of examining and certifying the qualifications of a physician for a specific specialty through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and its 24 member specialty boards, the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists' 18 specialty boards, and other certifying agencies. Board certification can be maintained at periodic intervals through the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process, which is a process recently implemented by the certifying agencies.

Osteopathic and Allopathic physicians are not required to obtain board certification or MOC to become licensed or for license renewal.

Allopathic physicians are required to renew their license every two years. Medical Commission rules require licensed physicians to complete one of four requirements in order to satisfy maintenance of licensure every four years. One method to satisfy maintenance of licensure is to meet the requirements for participation in MOC of a member board of the AMBS at the time of renewal.

Osteopathic physicians must renew their license every year. Osteopathic Board rules require osteopathic physicians to complete 150 hours of continuing education every three years. Board certification or MOC within the previous six years by a specialty board may also satisfy the continuing education requirement.

Summary:

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission (Medical Commission) and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (Osteopathic Board) are prohibited from requiring physicians or osteopathic physicians to obtain or maintain maintenance of certification (MOC) as a condition of licensure or renewal. The Medical Commission and Osteopathic Board can continue to allow a physician or osteopathic physician to fulfil license renewal and continuing education requirements through MOC.

The prohibition against requiring MOC does not apply to certain orders and dispositions made by the Medical Commission or Osteopathic Board under the Uniform Disciplinary Act, which may require board certification or MOC. These include:

a stipulation or informal disposition between the Medical Commission or Osteopathic Board and the licensee prior to serving a statement of charges to the licensee;

an order issued to resolve a statement of charges;
an order issued upon finding the licensee has committed unprofessional conduct or is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety due to a physical or mental condition; and
a reinstatement of a suspended license.

Maintenance of Certification is defined as the satisfactory participation in a formal recertification program to maintain board certification after initial certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties, American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists, or other accrediting organizations that the Medical Commission or Osteopathic Board has recognized.

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