§ 34-24-75 — Certain Certificates Issued Without Examination

(a) The State Board of Medical Examiners may, in its discretion and subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the board, issue a certificate of qualification without examination in behalf of full-time employed physicians teaching in any medical college in Alabama, approved by the Association of American Medical Colleges or the board. The dean of the medical college located in this state shall be required to annually certify to the board the names of members of the college’s faculty who have not had issued in their behalf a certificate of qualification by the board and who, in the opinion of the dean, possess the qualifications as the board has or may prescribe including qualifications in the basic sciences, medical education, and other qualifications. The dean, in submitting the certificate of qualifications, shall submit, in addition to the certificate and other information required, a dossier on the applicant to include the following: Name, place of birth, all places of residence, race, religious beliefs, any convictions of any crimes, education showing institution degrees, medical training degrees and experience, internships by years and place, and any other honorary degrees or recognitions. The dean shall include any other remarks appropriate. The statement shall be signed by the applicant under oath. The dean shall verify the records including the last statement upon “information and belief.” The record shall be public records and shall be submitted to the board and kept as permanent records for the use of the board and for public inspection for due cause. If the board concurs in the opinion of the dean, the board may waive any requirement of examination or citizenship, but teacher applicants must be at least 21 years of age and of good moral character. Physicians having certificates issued hereunder must limit their practice to the confines of the medical center of which the medical college is a part, and as an adjunct to their teaching functions in that college. Certification will be automatically withdrawn and automatically expires without notice when full-time employment is terminated. The State Board of Medical Examiners shall make rules and regulations it considers necessary to carry out the purpose of this section. Certificates issued hereunder and licenses based thereon shall state on their face that the practice is limited to the confines of a particular medical center of which a certain medical college is a part and are issued pro forma without examination. Teaching physicians in whose behalf a certificate of qualification is issued hereunder shall be subject to having their certificates of qualification suspended or revoked by the board for the same causes or reasons and in the same manner as is provided by law in the case of other physicians. Certificates of qualification issued under this subsection shall expire annually. Teaching physicians may apply to the Board of Medical Examiners to renew their certificates of qualification, but the board shall have full discretion to accept or reject the application for renewal. Teaching physicians to whom a certificate is issued under this subsection shall be required to pay the board for the initial certificate the same amount of fees as are now or as may be required of applicants for a certificate by endorsement. Fees charged by the board for renewal of certificates issued under this subsection shall not exceed $15. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed so as to authorize any physician certified hereunder to practice medicine in any manner outside the confines of the medical center in which he or she is employed and any practice or attempt to practice medicine outside the confines of that medical center shall result in the immediate and automatic revocation without notice of any certificate of qualification issued pursuant to this subsection.
(b) The State Board of Medical Examiners may, in its discretion and subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the board, issue a certificate of qualification without examination in behalf of any physician employed full-time at any state penal institution or any state mental institution or any other state institution approved by the Board of Medical Examiners. Physicians having certificates issued hereunder must limit their practice to the confines of the institution in which they are employed. Certification will be automatically withdrawn and automatically expires without notice when full-time employment is terminated. The State Board of Medical Examiners shall make rules and regulations it considers necessary to carry out the purpose of this section. Certificates issued hereunder and licenses based thereon shall state on their face that the practice is limited to the confines of a state institution and are issued pro forma without examination. Physicians in whose behalf a certificate of qualification is issued hereunder shall be subject to having their certificates of qualification suspended or revoked by the board for the same causes or reasons and in the same manner as is provided by law in the case of other physicians. Certificates of qualification issued under this subsection shall expire annually. Physicians may apply to the Board of Medical Examiners to renew their certificates of qualification, but the board shall have full discretion to accept or reject the application for renewal. Physicians to whom a certificate is issued under this subsection shall be required to pay the board for the initial certificate the same amount of fees as are now or as may be required of applicants for a certificate by endorsement. Fees charged by the board for renewal of certificates issued under this subsection shall not exceed $15. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed so as to authorize any physician certified hereunder to practice medicine in any manner outside the confines of the institution in which he or she is employed and any practice or attempt to practice medicine outside the confines of that institution shall result in the immediate and automatic revocation without notice of any certificate of qualification issued pursuant to this subsection.
(c) The State Board of Medical Examiners may, in its discretion and subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the board, issue a certificate of qualification without examination in behalf of physicians enrolled in a residency training program approved by the board. The board shall also have the authority to require the verification and certification it deems necessary to insure that the applicant is qualified for a certificate of qualification. Physicians having certificates issued hereunder must limit their practice to the confines of the institution in which they are placed pursuant to their training program. Certification will be automatically withdrawn and automatically expires without notice when the physician is no longer enrolled in the training program. The State Board of Medical Examiners shall promulgate rules and regulations it considers necessary to carry out the intent of this subsection. Certificates issued hereunder and licenses based thereon shall state on their faces that the practice is limited to the confines of the institution in which the physician is placed pursuant to his or her training program and shall specifically name that institution. Certificates issued hereunder and licenses based thereon shall also state on their faces that they are issued pro forma without examination. Any physician in whose behalf a certificate of qualification is issued hereunder shall be subject to having his or her certificate of qualification suspended or revoked by the board for the same causes or reasons and in the same manner as is provided by law in the case of other physicians. Certificates of qualification issued under this subsection shall expire annually. Physicians may apply to the Board of Medical Examiners to renew their certificates of qualification, but the board shall have full discretion to accept or reject the application for renewal. Physicians to whom a certificate is issued under this subsection shall be required to pay the board for the initial certificate the same amount of fees as are now or as may be required of applicants for a certificate by endorsement. Fees charged by the board for renewal of certificates issued under this subsection shall not exceed $15. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed so as to authorize any physician certified hereunder to practice medicine in any manner outside the confines of the institution in which he or she is placed pursuant to this training program and any practice or attempt to practice medicine outside the confines of an institution shall result in the immediate and automatic revocation without notice of any certificate of qualification issued pursuant to this subsection.

Legislative History

(Code 1907, §1636; Acts 1919, No. 599, p. 851; Code 1923, §2846; Code 1940, T. 46, §269; Acts 1959, No. 109, p. 620, §6; Acts 1965, No. 671, p. 1206, §1; Acts 1975, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 161, p. 405, §4; Acts 1978, No. 536, p. 589, §1; Acts 1987, No. 87-568, p. 890, §1; Acts 1993, No. 93-148, p. 202, §3.)