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2010 SESSION

10101220D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1168
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 13, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-2930 and 54.1-3312 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-3013.2, relating to courses on addiction and pain management for certain health professionals.
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Patrons-- Phillips; Senator: Puckett
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 54.1-2930 and 54.1-3312 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 54.1-3013.2 as follows:

§ 54.1-2930. Requirements for admission to examination.

The Board may admit to examination for licensure to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic and podiatry any candidate who has submitted satisfactory evidence verified by affidavits that he:

1. Is eighteen 18 years of age or more;

2. Is of good moral character;

3. Has successfully completed all or such part as may be prescribed by the Board, of an educational course of study of that branch of the healing arts in which he desires a license to practice, which course of study and the educational institution providing that course of study are acceptable to the Board; and

4. Has completed one year of satisfactory postgraduate training in a hospital approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board for internships or residency training. At the discretion of the Board, the postgraduate training may be waived if an applicant for licensure in podiatry has been in active practice for four continuous years while serving in the military and is a diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. Applicants for licensure in chiropractic need not fulfill this requirement.

In determining whether such course of study and institution are acceptable to it, the Board may consider the reputation of the institution and whether it is approved or accredited by regional or national educational or professional associations including, but not limited to, such organizations as the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education or other official accrediting body recognized by the American Medical Association, by the Committee for the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools or their appropriate subsidiary agencies, by any appropriate agency of the United States government, or by any other organization approved by the Board. Supervised clinical training which is received in the United States as part of the curriculum of a foreign medical school shall be obtained in an approved hospital, institution or school of medicine offering an approved residency program in the specialty area for the relevant clinical training. The Board may also consider any other factors that reflect whether that institution and its course of instruction provide training sufficient to prepare practitioners to practice their branch of the healing arts with competency and safety in the Commonwealth. The Board shall not approve a course of study that does not include instruction in pain management and addiction.

§ 54.1-3013.2. Nursing education programs to include pain management and addiction.

In the exercise of its authority to establish minimum standards for professional nursing curricula and practical nursing curricula, the Board of Nursing shall require that approved nursing education programs provide instruction in pain management and addiction.

§ 54.1-3312. Qualifications of pharmacist; approved school of pharmacy defined.

A. In order to be licensed as a pharmacist within the meaning of this chapter, an applicant shall present to the Board satisfactory evidence that he:

1. Is at least eighteen 18 years of age;

2. Is of good moral character;

3. Is a graduate of a school of pharmacy approved by the Board, or a foreign college of pharmacy, if the graduate has satisfactorily completed (i) a college of pharmacy equivalency examination program approved by the Board and (ii) written and oral communication ability tests of the English language approved by the Board;

4. Has had a period of practical experience in the United States in accordance with the Board's regulations; however, such requirement shall not exceed twelve 12 months; and

5. Has passed the examination prescribed by the Board.

B. As used in this article, an approved school of pharmacy shall be an institution which meets the minimum standards of the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education and appears on the Council's list of schools of pharmacy as published annually. However, the Board shall not approve a school of pharmacy that does not require instruction in pain management and addiction.