Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Medicine
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, and Chiropractic [18 VAC 85 ‑ 20]
 
Guidance Documents
 
Chapter Information
Description Establishes qualifications for licensure, requirements for renewal and standards of practice for doctors of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry and chiropractic and for physician acupuncturists.
State Authority Chapter 29 of Title 54.1
Federal Authority None entered
Text of Regulation Link to Virginia Administrative Code
Meetings See all meetings (23) relating to this chapter.

Contact Information
Name / Title: William L. Harp, M.D.  / Executive Director
Address: 9960 Mayland Drive
Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23233-1463
Email Address: william.harp@dhp.virginia.gov
Telephone: (804)367-4621    FAX: (804)527-4429    TDD: ()-
Current Actions
Action Title Latest Stage Status
Implementation of HB1026 to implement a pathway for foreign trained chiropractors NOIRA Not yet submitted to DPB for review.
Creation of implicit bias continuing education requirements pursuant to Chapter 451 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly NOIRA Not yet submitted to DPB for review.
Removal of 10-year limitation to pass all stages of the USMLE or COMPLEX-USA for licensure as a physician Fast-Track Not yet submitted to Attorney General for certification.
Chiropractor licensure by endorsement
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Not yet submitted to Attorney General for certification.
Licensure of foreign physicians through provisional and restricted licenses Proposed Governor's office has completed its review - Next step is Submission to the Registrar.
Clean up of continuing education requirement references following regulatory reduction Fast-Track Stage complete. Becomes effective on 10/22/2026.

Past Actions
Action Title Latest Stage Status
Removal of requirement to provide documentation of continuing competency for reactivation of a license Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/23/2026.
Implementation of 2022 Periodic Review of Chapter 20 Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 02/27/2025.
Licensure by endorsement - expedited process Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/01/2022.
Conversion therapy Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 02/02/2022.
Handling fee Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/05/2020.
Renewal fee reduction
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/02/2019.
Addition of American Board of Podiatric Medicine Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 11/01/2019.
Supervision and direction for laser hair removal Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/07/2019.
Electronic renewal notices Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/22/2019.
Result of periodic review Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/06/2019.
Licensure by endorsement Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/05/2018.
Renewal fee reduction for limited licenses
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 05/02/2018.
Renewal fee reduction
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 12/27/2017.
Postgraduate training for foreign graduates
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/18/2017.
CE credit for volunteer practice Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/09/2017.
Requirements for office-based anesthesia Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/27/2016.
Elimination of pharmacist from mixing, diluting & reconstituting Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/15/2016.
Reduction in renewal fees
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 01/27/2016.
Postgraduate training
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/07/2015.
Pharmacotherapy for weight loss by PA's and NP's Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/16/2015.
One-time reduction in renewal fees
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/25/2013.
Periodic review Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 11/21/2012.
Unauthorized disclosure from PMP
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/04/2010.
Change of address
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/19/2009.
Registration for restricted volunteer practice
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/03/2008.
Exemption from second check for vaccines Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/24/2008.
Reduction of reinstatement fee
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/16/2008.
Requirements for a restricted volunteer license Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/05/2008.
Waiver of CE for medical examiners Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/20/2007.
Licensure credentials and examination requirements Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/17/2007.
Changes in continuing competency requirements Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/20/2007.
Mixing, diluting or reconstituting sterile drug products by doctors Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/20/2007.
Conformity to changes in the Code
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/22/2007.
Documentation for claims in advertisements Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/25/2007.
Requirement for malpractice reporting on practitioner profile Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/04/2007.
clarification of chiropractic CE Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/23/2007.
Post-graduate training for graduates of non-accredited medical schools Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/04/2006.
Use of major conductive blocks in office-based anesthesia Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/20/2006.
Change in fee for returned checks
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 02/08/2006.
Ethical standards for practice Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/19/2005.
Change in Code cites
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/13/2005.
Reporting requirement on practitioner profile Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/25/2005.
Increase in certain fees pursuant to HB 1441 Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/14/2004.
Regulatory review clarification Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 02/25/2004.
Conformity to 2003 changes in Code
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/30/2003.
Changes to physician profile Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/02/2003.
Voluntary practice by out-of-state practitioners Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 06/18/2003.
Outpatient surgery in physicians' offices Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 06/18/2003.
Education and training for doctors who practice acupuncture Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 12/05/2001.
Changes to USMLE examination for licensure Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 01/31/2001.
Conformity to law
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/02/2000.
Increase in licensee fees Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/12/2000.
Physician profiling system Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 01/19/2000.
Continuing competency requirements Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 12/08/1999.

Withdrawn Actions
Action Title Latest Stage Status
Forms revision
Final Stage withdrawn on 12/16/2011 before submission to the Registrar.
Fee increase NOIRA Stage withdrawn on 06/23/2006 after the comment period had ended.
Treatment guidelines for pain management Proposed Stage withdrawn on 05/21/2009 before the Governor's office completed its review.
Four-year degree for licensure in chiropractic Proposed Stage withdrawn on 05/01/2008 before DPB completed its review.
Correction of Code cite
Final Stage withdrawn on 08/22/2007 prior to submitting for AG review.
Felony conviction on profile NOIRA Stage withdrawn on 06/19/2003 after the comment period had ended.

Periodic Reviews
Last Activity Status
10/6/2022 Agency Completed Amend
4/30/2018 Agency Completed Amend
8/19/2008 Agency Completed Amend
9/1/2001 Agency Completed Amend