Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Chapter

Department of Health Professions

Board of Medicine

Regulations Governing the Practice of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, and Chiropractic [18 VAC 85 ‑ 20]

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
Exempt from APA	No, changes to this chapter are subject to the Administrative Process Act.
Text of Regulation	Link to Virginia Administrative Code
Goals of Regulation	1) Achieve a high level of satisfaction for application and renewal processes for all licensed practitioners. 2) Establish a viable practitioner profile sytsem for doctors of medicine, osteopathy and podiatry that is available to consumers. 3) Ensure compliance by practitioners with continuing competency requirements. 4) License only persons who are qualified to practice.
Meetings	See all meetings (2) 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: ()-

Action Title	Latest Stage	Status
Current Actions
Implementation of 2022 Periodic Review of Chapter 20	-

Action Title	Latest Stage	Status
Past Actions
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	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	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 05/02/2018.
Renewal fee reduction	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 12/27/2017.
Postgraduate training for foreign graduates	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	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 01/27/2016.
Postgraduate training	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	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	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/04/2010.
Change of address	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/19/2009.
Registration for restricted volunteer practice	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	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	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	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	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	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	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.

Action Title	Latest Stage	Status
Withdrawn Actions
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.

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