2009 California Business and Professions Code - Section 2170-2186 :: Article 9. Examinations

2170.  (a) All applicants for a physician's and surgeon's
certificate shall take the examination provided for in this article
unless provisions of this chapter otherwise provide.
   (b) The provisions of this article shall apply to all examinations
administered by the Division of Licensing unless provisions of this
chapter otherwise provide.

2171.  All examinations shall be designed to ascertain the applicant'
s fitness to practice medicine. Unless otherwise provided the
examination shall be in writing.

2175.  State examination records shall be kept on file by the board
until June 1, 2070. Examinees shall be known and designated by number
only, and the name attached to the number shall be kept secret until
the examinee is sent notification of the results of the
examinations.

2176.  Examinations for a physician's and surgeon's certificate may
be conducted by the Division of Licensing under a uniform examination
system, and for that purpose the division may make such arrangements
with organizations furnishing examination material as it may deem
desirable.
   The Division of Licensing may, in its discretion, designate other
written examinations for a physician's and surgeon's certificate that
the division determines are equivalent to any other written
examination for a physician's and surgeon's certificate conducted by
the division.

2177.  (a) A passing score is required for an entire examination or
for each part of an examination, as established by resolution of the
Division of Licensing.
   (b) Applicants may elect to take the written examinations
conducted or accepted by the division in separate parts.
   (c) (1) An applicant shall have obtained a passing score on Part
III of the United States Medical Licensing Examination within not
more than four attempts in order to be eligible for a physician's and
surgeon's certificate.
   (2)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an applicant who obtains a
passing score on Part III of the United States Medical Licensing
Examination in more than four attempts and who meets the requirements
of Section 2135.5 shall be eligible to be considered for issuance of
a physician's and surgeon's certificate.

2179.  The Division of Licensing shall insure that nutrition is
included on the examination for a certificate as a physician and
surgeon.

2183.  An applicant for a physician's and surgeon's certificate
shall pass the national examination for medical licensure in
biomedical sciences and clinical sciences, including geriatric
medicine, determined by the Division of Licensing to be essential for
the unsupervised practice of medicine.
   An applicant who applies for a physician's and surgeon's
certificate on or after January 1, 2004, shall have completed
coursework in geriatric medicine in medical school or in postgraduate
medical education training.

2184.  (a) Each applicant shall obtain on the written examination a
passing score, established by the division pursuant to Section 2177.
   (b) Passing scores on a written examination shall be valid for a
period of 10 years from the month of the examination for purposes of
qualification for licensure in California.
   This period of validity may be extended by the division for good
cause and for time spent in a postgraduate training program,
including, but not limited to, residency training, fellowship
training, remedial or refresher training, or other training that is
intended to maintain or improve medical skills.
   Upon expiration of the 10-year period plus any extension granted
by the division, the applicant shall pass the Special Purpose
Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards or a clinical
competency written examination determined by the division to be
equivalent.
   This subdivision applies to all passing scores achieved in a
written examination for a physician's and surgeon's certificate
conducted by the division.

2186.  An applicant who is a diplomate of the National Board of
Medical Examiners shall not be required to take the written
examination prescribed by this article, provided such applicant meets
the requirements of Section 2151.