§34-24-502. Licensure.

(a) License requirement. No person shall engage in the practice of medicine or osteopathy across state lines in this state, hold himself or herself out as qualified to do the same, or use any title, word, or abbreviation to indicate to or induce others to believe that he or she is licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines in this state unless he or she has been issued a special purpose license to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines in accordance with the provisions of this article; provided however, that no person who holds a full, unrestricted, and current license issued under Sections 34-24-310 to 34-24-343, inclusive, shall be required to obtain a special purpose license to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines.

(b) Issuance of license. The Medical Licensure Commission shall issue a special purpose license to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines upon presentation by an applicant of a certificate of qualification issued by the State Board of Medical Examiners in accordance with this section. The authority of the commission to issue, revoke, or suspend the special purpose license to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines shall be the same as the general authority granted to the commission under Sections 34-24-310 to 34-24-406, inclusive. The State Board of Medical Examiners shall issue a certificate of qualification to the Medical Licensure Commission certifying an applicant for a special purpose license to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines who has met the following requirements:

(1) The applicant holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or osteopathy in any and all states of the United States or in territories in which such individual is licensed; and

(2) The applicant has not had any previous disciplinary action or other action taken against the applicant by any state or licensing jurisdiction.

(3) In the event of previous disciplinary or other action against the applicant, the board may issue a certificate of qualification if it finds that the previous disciplinary or other action does not indicate that the physician is a potential threat to the public. An individual shall submit an application for a certificate of qualification for a special purpose license to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines on a form provided by the board and shall remit an application fee in an amount established by the board in its regulations.

(c) A special purpose license issued by the commission to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines limits the licensee solely to the practice of medicine or osteopathy across state lines as defined herein. The special purpose license in this state is valid for a period of three years, shall expire on a renewal date established by the commission in its regulations in the third calendar year after its issuance, and may be renewed upon receipt of a renewal fee as established by the commission in its regulations. Failure to renew a license according to the renewal schedule established by the commission shall result in the automatic revocation of the special purpose license to practice medicine or osteopathy across state lines; provided, however, that an applicant may re-apply following automatic revocation for failure to renew.

(Acts 1997, No. 97-166, p. 238, §3.)