Section § 2153.5

Explanation

This law means that if you're an osteopathic doctor from another state and want to practice in California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California can give you a license as long as you meet certain conditions. First, you need an unlimited license in a state with a licensing exam that's similar to California's, or you might have to take another type of exam. Second, you must have no history of disciplinary actions or serious negligence in your practice that suggests you're incompetent. Basically, it's about making sure incoming doctors are qualified and have a clean record.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California shall issue an osteopathic physician’s and surgeon’s certificate on reciprocity to an applicant providing he or she meets the following requirements:
(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 2153.5(a) The applicant holds an unlimited license to engage in the practice of osteopathic medicine in another state whose written licensing examination is recognized and approved by the board to be equivalent in content to that administered in California. For the purposes of this section, the board may recognize and approve as equivalent, along with other examinations, an examination prepared by the Federation of State Medical Boards if an applicant had been licensed in another state as a result of the successful completion, prior to December 31, 1993, of that examination. In lieu of a board recognized and approved state written license examination, the board may require the applicant to successfully complete a special examination in general medicine and osteopathic principles prepared by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. The board may also utilize a special purpose examination prepared by the Federation of State Medical Boards.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 2153.5(b) The board determines that no disciplinary action has been taken against the applicant by any medical licensing authority and that the applicant has not been the subject of adverse judgments or settlements resulting from the practice of medicine that the board determines constitutes evidence of a pattern of negligence or incompetence.