(a) Applications for licensure shall be expedited by the board's licensure division provided the applicant meets the criteria for applying for licensure under §163.2(d) of this title (relating to Full Texas Medical License) or submits an affidavit stating that:      
        (1) the applicant intends to practice in a rural community as determined by the Office of Rural Health Initiatives; or       
        (2) the applicant intends to practice medicine in a medically underserved area or health professional shortage area designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that has a shortage of physicians.       
      (b) Applications for licensure by certain psychiatrists shall be expedited by the board's licensure division.      
        (1) To be eligible, the applicant must meet the following criteria:                  (A) holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine issued by another state;                   (B) is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry; and                   (C) is not ineligible for licensure under §155.003(e) of the Medical Practice Act.         
        (2) The board's licensure division shall review all applications upon receipt to determine whether an applicant is eligible for expedited licensure.       
        (3) Subsection (b) of this section is effective September 1, 2017, and expires on January 1, 2022.       
      (c) Applications for licensure by certain physicians licensed in other states or Canada for a certain period of years shall be expedited by the board's licensure division.     
      (d) An applicant who meets the criteria set out in Tex. Occ. Code, Section 155.0561, shall be deemed to have met the requirements of Tex. Occ. Code, Section 155.003.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §163.13 adopted to be effective January 6, 2002, 26 TexReg 10865; amended to be effective November 30, 2003, 28 TexReg 10480; amended to be effective February 28, 2011, 36 TexReg 1275; amended to be effective January 20, 2014, 39 TexReg 273; amended to be effective November 26, 2017, 42 TexReg 6510; amended to be effective January 5, 2020, 45 TexReg 152