Sec. 155.051.  EXAMINATION REQUIRED.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), an applicant for a license to practice medicine in this state must pass each part of an examination described by Section 155.0511(2), (3), (4), (6), or (7) within seven years.
(b)  An applicant who is a graduate of a program designed to lead to both a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of medicine degree or doctor of osteopathy degree must pass each part of an examination described by Section 155.0511(2), (3), (4), (6), or (7) not later than the earlier of the second anniversary of the date the applicant completed all graduate medical training undertaken by the applicant, including internship, residency, and fellowship, or the 12th anniversary of the date the applicant began the graduate medical training.
(c)  The time frame to pass each part of the examination described by Subsection (a) is extended to 10 years and the anniversary date to pass each part of the examination described by Subsection (b) is extended to the 10th anniversary if the applicant:
(1)  is specialty board certified by a specialty board that:
(A)  is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties; or
(B)  is a member of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists; or
(2)  has been issued a faculty temporary license, as prescribed by board rule, and has practiced under such a license for a minimum of 12 months and, at the conclusion of the 12-month period, has been recommended to the board by the chief administrative officer and the president of the institution in which the applicant practiced under the faculty temporary license.
(d)  The time frame to pass each part of the examination does not apply to an applicant who:
(1)  is licensed and in good standing as a physician in another state;
(2)  has been licensed for at least five years;
(3)  does not hold a medical license in the other state that has or has ever had any restrictions, disciplinary orders, or probation; and
(4)  will practice in a medically underserved area or a health manpower shortage area, as those terms are defined by Section 157.052.
(e)  The board may by rule establish a process to verify that a person, after meeting the requirements of Subsection (d), practices only in an area described by Subsection (d)(4).
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.027(g), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 79 (S.B. 424), Sec. 1, eff. May 17, 2005.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1180 (S.B. 949), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2013.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 398 (S.B. 1414), Sec. 1, eff. June 7, 2021.