TITLE 22.EXAMINING BOARDS

Part 26. TEXAS BOARD OF LICENSURE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PHYSICISTS

Chapter 601. MEDICAL PHYSICISTS

The Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists with the approval of the Texas Department of Health adopts amendments to §§601.1 - 601.17 and 601.19 - 601.21, the repeal of §601.18, and new §601.18 and §601.22 concerning the licensure of medical physicists. Sections 601.1, 601.2, 601.4 - 601.6, 601.8, 601.11, 601.12, 601.15, 601.19, 601.21 and new §601.18 and §601.22 are adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the February 2, 2001, issue of the Texas Register (26 TexReg 1055). Sections 601.3, 601.7, 601.9, 601.10, 601.13, 601.14, 601.16, 601.17, and 601.20 are adopted without changes, and therefore the sections will not be republished. The repeal is adopted without changes, and therefore will not be republished.

Specifically, the amendments cover purpose and scope; definitions; the board's operations; fees, exemptions; application procedures; license by endorsement or reciprocity; eligibility for examination; temporary license; license issuance and license holder requirements; license and temporary license renewal; application and renewal processing times, petition for adoption of rules; code of ethics; criminal backgrounds; violations, complaints, and subsequent actions; surrender of license; suspension of license for failure to pay child support; continuing education requirements; medical physics specialties and scope of practice. The new section covers provisional licenses. The repeal covered formal hearing procedures.

The Notice of Intention to Review the sections as required by Government Code, §2001.039 was published in the Texas Register on September 17, 1999 (24 TexReg 7774). No comments were received in response to the notice.

The amendments satisfy the requirements of Government Code, §2001.039 that requires each state agency to consider for readoption of each rule adopted by that agency, amends the rules pursuant to the codification of the Medical Physics Practice Act into the new Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 602, deletes language that is no longer necessary; adds definitions for temporary and provisional licenses; adds fees for provisional licenses; corrects typographical errors; updates and clarifies existing language. The repeal of §601.18 allows for the adoption of the new section on formal hearing procedures. The new sections implement provisions of House Bill (HB) 2085 (76th Texas Legislature, 1999) by adding new formal hearing procedures and provisional licenses.

No comments were received during the comment period on the proposed amendments. However, the following minor changes are being made due to staff comments to correct the citation for the Texas Occupations Code and to correct typographical errors. Other minor editorial changes were made to §§601.4, 601.6, 601.12, 601.15, 601.18, 601.19, and 601.21 - 601.22 for clarification purposes.

Change: Concerning §§601.1(a)(1), 601.2(1), and 601.5(c)(2) changes were made to delete references to Texas Civil Statutes, Article 4512n.

Change: Concerning §601.2(21), language was added to clarify which activities were not considered radiological procedures.

Change: Concerning §601.11(b)(6), "licensees" was changed to "licensee's.

22 TAC §§601.1 - 601.22

The amendments and new sections are adopted under the Texas Medical Physics Practice Act, Texas Occupations Code, §602.151, which requires the Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists to adopt rules, with the approval of the Texas Board of Health, that are reasonably necessary for the proper performance of its duties under the Act.

§601.1.Purpose and Scope.

(a) Purpose.

(1) These sections in this chapter are intended to implement the provisions of the Texas Medical Physics Practice Act (Act), Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 602 , concerning the regulation and licensure of medical physicists, in that:

(A) the citizens of this state are entitled to the protection of their health, safety, and welfare from the harmful effects of excessive radiation; and

(B) the practice of medical physics is a threat to the public if conducted by incompetent persons.

(2) These sections in this chapter will insure that the public is protected from the dangers described by paragraph (1)(A) and (B) of this subsection by:

(A) establishing minimum standards of education, training, and competency for persons engaged in the practice of medical physics; and

(B) ensuring that the privilege of practicing in the field of medical physics is entrusted only to those persons licensed under the Act.

(b) Scope. These sections cover definitions of words and terms used in this chapter; establish general policies governing the operation of the Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists (board); establish a schedule of fees, criteria for exemptions, and application procedures for licensure as a medical physicist; establish qualification requirements for licensure by examination; establish eligibility requirements a person must meet for obtaining a temporary license; establish requirements for license issuance and license holder responsibilities, and license renewal; establish the time periods and procedures the board shall follow in processing applications for or renewal of a license; delineate the board's procedures in handling a petition for adoption of a rule; establish a code of ethics; establish guidelines and criteria on eligibility of persons with criminal backgrounds to obtain a license; establish standards for handling violations, complaints and subsequent actions; sets procedures a licensee must follow for surrender of a license; and establish procedures for holding formal hearings; establish standards for suspension of license for failure to pay child support; establish continuing education requirements; establish medical physics specialties and scope of practice; and establish standards for issuance of a provisional license.

§601.2.Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Act--The Texas Medical Physics Practice Act (Act), Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 602, concerning the licensure and regulation of professional medical physicists.

(2) APA--The Administrative Procedure Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 2001.

(3) Applicant--A person who applies to the Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists (board) for a license.

(4) Board--The Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists.

(5) Commissioner--The commissioner of health.

(6) Department--The Texas Department of Health.

(7) Diagnostic radiological physics--The branch of medical physics that deals with the diagnostic application of roentgen rays, gamma rays from sealed sources, ultrasonic radiation, or radiofrequency radiation and the use of equipment associated with the production and use of that radiation.

(8) License--A certificate issued by the board authorizing the license holder to engage in the practice of medical physics including the temporary license and provisional license unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(9) Licensed medical physicist--A person who holds a license issued under the Act.

(10) Medical health physics--The branch of medical physics that deals with the safe use of roentgen rays, gamma rays, electron or other charged particle beams, neutrons, radionuclides, and radiation from sealed radionuclide sources for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in humans and the use of equipment required to perform appropriate radiation tests and measurements.

(11) Medical nuclear physics--The branch of medical physics that deals with the therapeutic and diagnostic application of radionuclides, except those used in sealed sources for therapeutic purposes, and the use of equipment associated with the production and use of radionuclides.

(12) Medical physics--The branch of physics that is associated with the practice of medicine; and includes, but is not limited to, the field of radiological physics.

(13) Physician--A person licensed to practice medicine by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 152, or if out-of-state a person who holds a valid license to practice medicine in that state or territory.

(14) Practice of medical radiological physics--The use of principles and accepted protocols of physics to assure the correct quality, quantity, and placement of radiation during the performance of a radiological procedure prescribed by a practitioner that will protect the patient and others from harmful excessive radiation. The term includes radiation beam calibration and characterization, quality assurance, instrument specification, acceptance testing, shielding design, protection analysis on radiation-emitting equipment and radiopharmaceuticals, and consultation with a physician to assure accurate radiation dosage to a specific patient.

(15) Practitioner--A doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, dentistry, or chiropractic who is licensed in this state and who prescribes radiologic procedures for other persons.

(16) Provisional license--An authorization to practice medical physics for a period not to exceed 180 days for individuals currently licensed or certified in another jurisdiction.

(17) Quality assurance--An all encompassing term that includes data recording, patient management, outcome analysis and equipment performance monitoring.

(18) Quality control--A subset under quality assurance and concerns monitoring the performance of imaging, treatment and associated radiological equipment.

(19) Radiation--Ionizing and/or nonionizing radiation above background levels used to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic medical or dental radiological procedure

(20) Radiological physics--The branch of medical physics that includes diagnostic radiological physics, therapeutic radiological physics, medical nuclear physics, and medical health physics.

(21) Radiological procedure--A test, measurement, calculation, or radiation exposure used in the diagnosis or treatment of disease or other medical or dental conditions in humans that includes therapeutic radiation, diagnostic radiation, nuclear magnetic resonance, or nuclear medicine procedures. The activities and services which fall within the definitions in the Act of the practice of medical radiological physics, diagnostic radiological physics, therapeutic radiological physics, medical nuclear physics, or medical health physics are not radiological procedures. The activities and services which fall within the Texas Regulations for Control of Radiation, 25 TAC §289.227(k), (q), (o)(3)(D), (p)(3) and §289.229(h)(2)(D)(i) - (iii) and (3)(C)(iv), are not radiological procedures.

(22) Supervision--To oversee the work of a medical physicist holding a temporary license in the performance of those duties defined as the practice of medical physics. For the purpose of fulfilling the work experience and examination requirement the supervisor shall be responsible for the temporary licensee's work during this period. An individual is considered to be supervised if:

(A) the supervisor is routinely and substantially present at the facility during the performance of duties at that facility by the individual being supervised; and

(B) the supervisor assumes the responsibility, and is provided with the authority, to observe and correct the actions of the individual being supervised.

(23) Temporary License--a certificate authorizing an individual to practice medical physics under the supervision of a licensed medical physicist.

(24) Therapeutic radiological physics--The branch of medical physics that deals with the therapeutic application of roentgen rays, gamma rays, electron and other charged particle beams, neutrons, or radiations from radionuclide sources and the use of equipment associated with the production and use of that radiation.

(25) Upper division semester hour credits--Third-year level or above (junior, senior or graduate) course work completed from an accredited college or university.

§601.4.Fees.

This section sets out the fees for licensure as a medical physicist as prescribed by the board.

(1) The schedule of fees for licensure as a medical physicist is as follows:

(A) application processing and initial licensing fee:

(i) first specialty on initial application--$125;

(ii) additional specialties on initial application--$50 each;

(iii) additional specialties on subsequent applications--$75 each; and

(iv) upgrade of temporary license to annual license--$75;

(B) renewal fee:

(i) first specialty--$125; and

(ii) additional specialties--$50 each;

(C) one to 90-day penalty fee--one-half of the renewal fee (plus the renewal fee that was due at the time of expiration);

(D) 91-day to two-year penalty fee--the renewal fee (plus the renewal fee that was due at the time of expiration);

(E) license replacement fee--$20;

(F) examination fee--the fee for the specialty examination as set by contract with the examining body; and

(G) child support reinstatement fee--$50.

(2) The schedule of fees for a temporary license as a medical physicist is as follows:

(A) application processing and initial temporary license fee:

(i) first specialty on initial application--$125;

(ii) additional specialties on initial application--$50 each; and

(iii) additional specialties on subsequent applications--$75 each;

(B) temporary license renewal fee:

(i) first specialty--$125; and

(ii) additional specialties--$25 each;

(C) one to 90-day penalty fee--one-half of the temporary license renewal fee (plus the temporary license renewal fee that was due at the time of expiration);

(D) 91-day to two-year penalty fee--the renewal fee (plus the renewal fee that was due at the time of expiration); and

(E) temporary license replacement fee--$20; and

(F) child support reinstatement fee--$50.

(3) The fee for a provisional license as a medical physicist is as follows:

(A) application processing and initial temporary license fee:

(i) first specialty on initial application--$125;

(ii) additional specialties on initial application--$50 each; and

(iii) additional specialties on subsequent applications--$75 each; and

(B) provisional license replacement fee--$20.

(4) All fees are nonrefundable and shall be submitted in the form of a check or money order.

(5) An applicant whose check for the application processing and initial licensing fee or renewal fee is returned due to insufficient funds, account closed, or payment stopped shall be allowed to reinstate the application or renewal by remitting a money order or cashier's check for guaranteed funds within 30 days of the date of receipt of the board's notice that the check was returned. An application renewal will be considered incomplete until the fee has been received and cleared through the appropriate financial institution. If the license has already been issued, it shall be invalid.

(6) A license holder whose check for the renewal fee is returned due to insufficient funds, account closed, or payment stopped shall remit a money order or cashier's check for guaranteed funds within 30 days of the date of receipt of the board's notice that the check was returned. If the fee is not remitted timely, the license shall not be renewed. If the license renewal has already been issued, it shall be invalid.

(7) The board shall notify the applicant's or licensee's employer that the person has failed to comply with this section.

§601.5.Exemptions.

(a) This section sets out who is exempt from the Texas Medical Physics Practice Act (Act) and who must be licensed under the Act.

(b) Except as specifically exempted by subsection (c) of this section, the provisions of the Act and this chapter apply to any person who engages in the practice of medical physics.

(c) The Act and this chapter do not apply to:

(1) practitioners in the performance of radiological procedures;

(2) a person certified as a medical radiological technologist practicing under the Medical Radiologic Technologist Certification Act, (Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 601);

(3) persons who perform radiological procedures under a practitioner's instruction or supervision;

(4) persons performing beam calibration and characterization, quality assurance, instrument specification, acceptance testing, shielding design, or protection analysis on radiation-emitting equipment or radiopharmaceuticals for procedures not involved with the diagnosis or treatment of disease or other medical or dental conditions in humans; or

(5) a person employed by a federal or state regulatory agency who is performing duties within the scope of his or her employment.

(d) Activities that do not fall within the definition of medical physics are not governed by the Act or this chapter.

§601.6.Application Procedures.

(a) General.

(1) Unless otherwise indicated, an applicant must submit all required information and documentation of qualifications on forms prescribed by the board.

(2) The board shall not consider an application as officially submitted until the applicant pays the application fee. The fee must accompany the application form.

(3) The executive secretary shall send a notice listing the required additional materials to an applicant who does not complete the application in a timely manner. An application not completed within 30 days after the date of the notice may be invalidated.

(b) Required application materials.

(1) Application form. The application form shall include the following:

(A) specific information regarding personal data, social security number, birth month and day, place of employment, other state licenses and certifications held, misdemeanor and felony convictions, educational and training background, and work experience;

(B) a statement that the applicant has read the Act and this chapter and agrees to abide by them;

(C) the applicant's permission to the board to seek any information or references it deems necessary to determine the applicant's qualifications;

(D) a statement that the applicant, if issued a license, shall return the license to the board upon the revocation or suspension of the license;

(E) a statement that the applicant understands that fees submitted are nonrefundable;

(F) a statement that the applicant understands that materials submitted become the property of the board and are nonreturnable (unless prior arrangements have been made);

(G) a statement that the information in the application is truthful and that the applicant understands that providing false information of any kind may result in the voiding of the application and failure to be granted a license, or the revocation of any license issued;

(H) a statement that if issued a license, the applicant shall keep the board advised of his or her current mailing address; and

(I) the signature of the applicant which has been dated and notarized.

(2) Required documentation. Applicants for a license must submit:

(A) evidence of relevant work experience, including a description of the responsibilities and duties performed;

(B) an official transcript from a college or university granting the applicant's degree or certificate of completion of training course or if a college or university does not issue an official transcript, the board may accept another form of official documentation or sworn evidence of the degree or successful completion of courses;

(C) a statement of the medical physics specialty for which the application is submitted;

(D) three current professional references as follows:

(i) two medical physicists. If the applicant is applying for one specialty, both physicists must be practicing in that specialty area. If the applicant is applying for two or more specialties, one physicist must be practicing in one of those specialties and the other physicist must be practicing in another one of the specialties for which the applicant is making application;

(ii) one licensed physician practicing and certified in at least one of the specialties for which the applicant is making application; however, if the applicant is applying for a license in the specialty area of medical health physics, the physician may be practicing and certified in diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, or nuclear medicine;

(iii) if applying for a temporary license, post-secondary academic references may be substituted; and

(E) a fee as prescribed by the board; and

(F) the completion, of the current open book examination relating to the practice of medical physics in this state. The applicant is responsible for verifying that he or she has taken and submitted the most current version of the open book examination.

(c) Consideration of application. This subsection is intended to address the applications procedures required by the Act, §602.204 and §602.209.

(1) The board or the executive secretary may require an applicant to appear before the board or executive secretary to present further information in support of the application.

(2) At any time before the board issues or renews a license, the applicant may request in writing that the board withdraw its consideration of the application, but the board shall retain the application and accompanying fee. To reapply, the applicant must submit a new application and fee.

(3) If an applicant meets all requirements of the Act and this chapter and has completed the examination, the executive secretary shall approve the application and issue a medical physicist license. The executive secretary, with direction from the chair, shall prepare and circulate to the board members a summary of each application approved under this paragraph with a recommendation that the board ratify the approval at its next meeting.

(4) If an applicant has not completed a specialty examination accepted by the board under this chapter, the executive secretary, with direction from the chair, shall forward a summary of the application and a recommendation for action to the appropriate committee of the board for review and recommendation.

(A) If the committee finds that the applicant meets all requirements of the Act and this chapter, the committee shall approve the applicant to take the required examination for a medical physicist license or to be issued a temporary license if appropriate.

(i) The executive secretary shall issue the medical physicist license once the applicant successfully completes the required examination.

(ii) The executive secretary, with direction from the chair, shall prepare and circulate to the board members a summary of each application approved under this subparagraph with a recommendation that the board ratify the approval at its next meeting.

(B) If the committee finds that the applicant does not meet all requirements of the Act and this chapter, the committee shall instruct the executive secretary to give the applicant written notice of the reason of the proposed disapproval of the application and the areas of deficiency and of the opportunity for a formal hearing. The notice shall be given by the 30th day after the committee makes a decision. Within 30 days after receipt of the written notice, the applicant shall give written notice to the executive secretary if the applicant wants the hearing. If the applicant fails to respond within 30 days after receipt of the notice, the applicant is deemed to have waived the hearing and the board shall finally disapprove the application.

(d) Disapproved applications.

(1) The appropriate committee of the board may propose disapproval and the board may disapprove the application if the person:

(A) does not meet the qualifications for a license as set forth in the Act or this chapter;

(B) has failed to pass the open book portion of the examination with a passing score of 80%;

(C) has failed to pass an accepted specialty examination described in §601.8(d) of this title;

(D) has deliberately presented false information to the board to verify the applicant's qualifications;

(E) has obtained or renewed a license by means of fraud, misrepresentation, or omission of material facts;

(F) has made application for or held a license issued by the licensing authority of another state, territory, or jurisdiction that was denied, suspended, or revoked by that licensing authority;

(G) has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that involved moral turpitude or that directly relates to a person's duties and responsibilities as a licensed medical physicist;

(H) has otherwise violated this Act, a lawful order or rule of the board, or the board's code of ethics; or

(I) lacks the necessary skills, abilities and professional ethics to engage in the practice of medical physics in the specialty area requested.

(2) An applicant whose application has been formally denied under paragraph (1)(F) - (H) of this subsection shall be permitted to reapply after a period of not less than one year from the date of the disapproval and shall submit with the reapplication, proof satisfactory to the board of compliance with all rules of the board and the provisions of the Act in effect at the time of reapplication.

§601.8.Eligibility For Examination.

(a) Eligibility. To take a specialty examination for a medical physicist license for a professional medical physicist, a person must:

(1) have an earned master's or doctoral degree:

(A) from a program of study in medical physics that is accredited by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs;

(B) from an accredited college or university in physics, medical physics, biophysics, radiological physics, medical health physics or nuclear engineering; or

(C) from an accredited college or university:

(i) in physical science (including chemistry), applied mathematics or engineering; and

(ii) have twenty semester hours (30 quarter hours) of undergraduate or graduate level physics courses, if offered:

(I) by the faculty of a Department of Physics and would be acceptable in meeting undergraduate or graduate degree requirements in physics of the offering department; or

(II) by the faculty of a program accredited in medical physics by the AAPM Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Program; or

(III) by the faculty of another science department and acceptable to the board. .

(2) have demonstrated, to the board's satisfaction, the completion of at least two years of full-time work experience;

(3) have work experience in more than one specialty to include six additional months of full-time equivalent work experience in each specialty; and

(4) submit a completed application as required by the Act, §602.203.

(b) Work experience. Full-time work experience shall be at least 32 hours per week in the specialty area. Part-time work experience may be aggregated in order to meet the minimum of 32 work hours per week. All work experience must have been completed in the five years preceding the date of application (the date of receipt of the application for a medical physicist license or for the upgrade of a temporary license to a medical physicist license) in the medical physics specialty for which application is made.

(c) Foreign academic credit. Degrees and course work received at foreign universities shall be acceptable only if such course work could be counted as transfer credit by accredited universities as reported by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. An applicant having a foreign degree(s) must furnish at the applicant's own expense an evaluation of the foreign degree(s) from a commercial evaluation service. The degree evaluation must be sent directly to the board by the evaluation service. An applicant must submit with the application complete certified copies or documented proof of the degree(s) awarded (masters or doctorate) and the date it was awarded. Documents written in languages other than English shall be accompanied by a certified English translation.

(d) Approved specialty examination.

(1) An applicant under this section must successfully complete one of the following examinations in each specialty for which application is submitted:

(A) the examination in the specialty developed and administered by the board; or

(B) for the therapeutic radiological physics specialty, the examination offered by:

(i) the American Board of Radiology or its successor organization in therapeutic radiological physics or radiological physics;

(ii) the American Board of Medical Physics or its successor organization in radiation oncology physics; or

(iii) the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine or its successor organization in general medical physics;

(C) for the medical nuclear physics specialty, the examination offered by:

(i) the American Board of Radiology or its successor organization in nuclear medicine physics or radiological physics;

(ii) the American Board of Medical Physics or its successor organization in nuclear medicine physics;

(iii) the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine or its successor organization in physics and instrumentation; or

(iv) the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine or its successor organization in general medical physics;

(D) for the diagnostic radiological physics specialty, the examination offered by:

(i) the American Board of Radiology or its successor organization in diagnostic radiological physics or radiological physics;

(ii) the American Board of Medical Physics or its successor organization in diagnostic imaging physics; or

(iii) the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine or its successor organization in general medical physics; or

(E) for the medical health physics specialty, the examination offered by:

(i) the American Board of Radiology or its successor organization in radiological physics;

(ii) the American Board of Health Physics or its successor organization in health physics or comprehensive health physics;

(iii) the American Board of Medical Physics or its successor organization in medical health physics;

(iv) the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine or its successor organization in radiation protection; or

(v) the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine or its successor organization in general medical physics.

(2) An applicant who has successfully completed one of the examinations set out in paragraph (1)(B) - (E) of this subsection shall not be reexamined in that specialty area.

(e) Failure of examination. If the applicant fails a board administered examination, relating to subsection (d)(1)(A) of this section, the applicant will be required to submit a new application for re-examination.

(f) Failure of more than one board administered examination. An applicant who fails three board examinations in a specialty area may not reapply for an additional examination in the specialty area until the applicant has demonstrated, to the board's satisfaction, the completion of at least one additional year of full-time work experience after the third failed examination.

(1) The work experience must be under the supervision of a licensed medical physicist holding a license in the specialty area.

(2) The applicant must hold a temporary license in the specialty area during the work experience if the experience is gained in this state.

(A) The applicant may be issued up to two additional temporary licenses only in order to gain the work experience required by this paragraph and to retake the examination once.

(B) The applicant must take and pass the next examination offered after completion of the additional work experience.

(C) Any temporary license issued under this subsection shall expire upon notification to the board that the applicant failed to apply for or failed to appear for the examination, upon notification to the applicant of his or her failure of the examination, or upon the issuance of his or her medical physicist license if the examination was passed, whichever occurs first.

(D) An applicant who completes the work experience within the first year the additional temporary license is issued under this subsection and for whom an examination is given and results released during that year is not entitled to any further temporary licenses in that specialty area.

(3) In order to obtain a medical physicist license the applicant must reapply for licensure under subsection (a) of this section and must take and pass an examination as set out in subsection (d) of this section.

(g) Upgrade. Following successful completion of a medical physics specialty examination as set out in subsection (d) of this section and the relevant work experience, a temporary licensee may upgrade the temporary license to a medical physicist license.

(1) A medical physicist license shall not be issued until the applicant has passed the examination. The application procedures set out in §601.6 of this title (relating to Application Procedures) shall apply except that the applicant need not file a transcript unless additional relevant course work has been completed.

(2) The temporary licensee must also submit three current professional references as follows:

(A) two medical physicists. If the applicant is applying for one specialty, both physicists must be practicing in that specialty area. If the applicant is applying for two or more specialties, one physicist must be practicing in one of those specialties and the other physicist must be practicing in another one of the specialties for which the applicant is making application; and

(B) one licensed physician practicing and certified in at least one of the specialties for which the applicant is making application; however, if the applicant is applying for a license in the specialty area of medical health physics, the physician may be practicing and certified in diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, or nuclear medicine.

(h) Expired temporary license. A person whose temporary license has expired may not upgrade the temporary license to a medical physicist license. Application must be made under the provisions set out in §601.6 of this title.

§601.11.License and Temporary License Renewal.

(a) General.

(1) A license is valid for one year from the date it is granted and must be renewed in each specialty area annually.

(A) The initial medical physicist license shall be valid through the licensee's next birth month; however, when the birth month occurs within four months, the license shall be issued for that period plus the next full year in order to establish a staggered renewal system.

(B) The renewal date of a medical physicist license shall be the last day of the licensee's birth month.

(C) The renewal date of a temporary license shall be one year from the date of issuance.

(2) Each licensee is responsible for renewing a license in each specialty and paying the renewal fee before the expiration date and shall not be excused from paying penalty fees.

(3) The board may deny the renewal of a license if the licensee is in violation of or has violated the Act or this chapter.

(4) The board shall deny renewal if required by the Education Code, §57.491 relating to defaults on guaranteed student loans.

(5) The board shall deny the license renewal of a licensee whose license is proposed for revocation, suspension, reprimand or probation in a formal hearing. A formal hearing commences when the notice described in §601.16 of this title (relating to Violations, Complaints, and Subsequent Actions) is mailed by the board.

(A) Licenses which are not revoked or suspended as a result of formal proceedings shall be renewed provided that all other requirements are met.

(B) In the case of delay in the license renewal process because of formal license suspension or revocation proceedings, penalty fees shall not apply if timely and sufficient application for renewal was made.

(b) License renewal.

(1) At least 45 days prior to the expiration date of a license, the board will send notice to the licensee of the expiration date of the license, the amount of the renewal fee due, and a license renewal form which the licensee must complete and return to the board with the required fee.

(2) The license renewal form shall require the licensee to provide current addresses, telephone numbers, and information relating to the type of practice.

(3) The completed license renewal form and the renewal fee must be postmarked or delivered on or before the expiration date of the license.

(4) The board is not responsible for lost, misdirected, or undelivered renewal application forms, fees, or renewal licenses.

(5) The board shall issue a renewal license to a licensee who has met all requirements for renewal. The licensee must display the current renewal license.

(6) The board shall issue a renewal license to a licensee who complies with paragraph (3) of this subsection but who fails to complete the continuing education requirements (if required) for relicensure as set out in §601.20 of this title. The renewal license shall expire 180 days after the last day of the licensee's birth month. If the deficiency is corrected and proof of completion of the continuing education requirements is sent to the board within the 180 day period, the board shall issue a renewal license which expires on the last day of the licensee's next birth month. An licensee who does not correct the deficiency within 180 days shall not be allowed to extend or renew the license.

(7) The license of a person who made a timely and sufficient application for renewal of his or her license does not expire until the application for renewal is finally determined by the board, or in case the application is denied, until the last day for seeking review of the board's order or a later date fixed by order of a reviewing court.

(c) Late renewal.

(1) If a person's license has been expired for not more than 90 days, the person may renew the license by submitting the license renewal form with the one to 90-day penalty fee and a completed continuing education report form (if required). A license issued under this subsection shall expire on the licensee's next birth month. The person is not eligible for a 180 day license as described in subsection (b)(6) of this section.

(2) If a person's license has been expired for more than 90 days but less than two years, the person may renew the license by submitting the license renewal form with the 91-day to two year penalty fee. The person must comply with the continuing education requirements (if required) for renewal as set out in §601.20 of this title before the late renewal is effective. The license will expire on the licensee's next birth month.

(3) If a license has been expired two years or more, the license may not be renewed. In order to regain licensure, a person shall comply with the current application requirements of the Act and this chapter and shall submit to the board:

(A) a supplemental work experience record as specified by the board;

(B) a description of professional activities undertaken during the period of non-licensure;

(C) a list of current professional references from other medical physicists and physicians; and

(D) a transcript for any degree or college credit earned since the previous license application.

(d) Active military duty. If a licensee fails to renew his or her license because the licensee is called to or is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States serving outside of the State of Texas, the licensee or the licensee's authorized representative may request that the license be renewed. A request for renewal may be made before or after the expiration date.

(1) If the request is made by the licensee's authorized representative, the request must include a copy of the appropriate power of attorney or written evidence of a spousal relationship.

(2) The written request shall include a copy of the official transfer orders of the licensee or other official military documentation showing that the licensee is called to or on active duty serving outside of the State of Texas.

(3) The written request shall include a current address and telephone number for the licensee or the licensee's authorized representative.

(4) The payment of any renewal penalty fee is waived for a licensee under this subsection.

(5) Except in extraordinary circumstances, a licensee on active duty serving outside the State of Texas shall notify the board that the licensee is on active duty. The board shall note in the licensee's file that the licensee may be eligible for renewal under this subsection.

§601.12.Application and Renewal Processing Times.

(a) Application processing.

(1) The following periods of time shall apply from the date of receipt of an application for a license or renewal of a license until the date of issuance of a written notice that the application is complete and accepted for filing or that the application is deficient and additional specific information is required. A written notice stating that the application has been approved may be sent in lieu of the notice of acceptance of a complete application. The time periods are as follows:

(A) issuance of license or renewal for a license--30 days; or

(B) letter of application or renewal deficiency--30 days.

(2) The following periods of time shall apply from the date of receipt of the last item necessary to complete the application for a license or renewal of a license until the date of issuance of written notice approving or denying the application for a license or renewal of a license. The time periods for denial include notification of the proposed decision and of the opportunity, if required, to show compliance with the law, and of the opportunity for a formal hearing. The time periods are as follows:

(A) issuance of a license or renewal of a license--30 days; or

(B) letter of denial of a license or renewal of a license--30 days.

(b) Reimbursement of fees.

(1) In the event an application for a license or renewal is not processed within the time periods stated in subsection (a) of this section, the applicant or licensee has the right to request reimbursement of all fees paid in that particular application process. Application for reimbursement shall be made to the executive secretary. If the executive secretary does not agree that the time period has been violated or finds that good cause existed for exceeding the time period, the request will be denied.

(2) Good cause for exceeding the time period is considered to exist if the number of applications for license and license renewal exceeds by 15% or more the number of applications or renewals processed in the same calendar quarter of the preceding year, another public or private entity relied upon by the board in the application or renewal process caused the delay, or any other condition exists giving the board good cause for exceeding the time period.

(c) Appeal. If a request for reimbursement under subsection (b) of this section is denied by the executive secretary, the applicant or licensee may appeal to the board for a timely resolution of any dispute arising from a violation of the time periods. The applicant or licensee shall give written notice to the board at the address of the board that he or she requests full reimbursement of all fees paid because his or her application or renewal was not processed within the applicable time period. The executive secretary shall submit a written report of the facts related to the processing of the application or renewal and of any good cause for exceeding the applicable time period. The board shall provide written notice of the decision to the applicant or licensee and the executive secretary. An appeal shall be decided in favor of the applicant or licensee if the applicable time period was exceeded and good cause was not established. If the appeal is decided in favor of the applicant or licensee, full reimbursement of all fees paid in that particular application or renewal process shall be made.

(d) Contested cases. The time periods for contested cases related to the denial of licensure or license renewals are not included with the time periods stated in subsection (a) of this section. The time period for conducting a contested case hearing runs from the date the board receives a written request for a hearing and ends when the decision of the board is final and appealable. A hearing may be completed within one to six months, but may extend for a longer period of time depending on the particular circumstances of the hearing.

§601.15.Criminal Backgrounds.

(a) This section establishes guidelines and criteria on the eligibility of persons with criminal backgrounds to obtain licensure as a medical physicist.

(b) Criminal convictions which directly relate to the profession of medical physics shall be considered as follows.

(1) The board may suspend or revoke any existing license, disqualify a person from receiving any license, deny to a person the opportunity to be examined for a license, reprimand a licensee, or place a licensee on probation because of a person's conviction of a felony or misdemeanor if the crime:

(A) directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of a licensed medical physicist; or

(B) involves moral turpitude.

(2) In considering whether a criminal conviction directly relates to the profession of medical physics the board shall consider:

(A) the nature and seriousness of the crime;

(B) the relationship of the crime to the purposes of licensure as a medical physicist;

(C) the extent to which any license might offer an opportunity to engage in further criminal activity of the same type as that in which the person previously had been involved; and

(D) the relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties and discharge the responsibility of a medical physicist. In making this determination, the board shall apply the criteria outlined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53.

(c) The following felonies and misdemeanors directly relate to a license of a medical physicist because these criminal offenses indicate an inability or a tendency to be unable to properly engage in the practice of medical physics:

(1) a conviction under the Texas Medical Physics Practice Act (Act), §602.302;

(2) a conviction involving moral turpitude as defined by statute or common law;

(3) a conviction relating to deceptive business practices;

(4) a conviction relating to practicing another health care related profession without a license, certificate, or other approval required by state or federal law;

(5) a conviction relating to controlled substances, dangerous drugs, other illegal substances, or alcohol;

(6) a conviction under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954;

(7) a conviction under the Texas Radiation Control Act, Health and Safety Code, Chapter 40l;

(8) a conviction for assault;

(9) an offense under various titles of the Texas Penal Code:

(A) offenses against the person (Title 5);

(B) offenses against property (Title 7);

(C) offenses against public order and decency (Title 9);

(D) offenses against public health, safety, and morals (Title 10);

(E) offenses of attempting or conspiring to commit any of the offenses in this subsection (Title 4);

(F) insurance claim fraud under the Penal Code, §32.55; and

(10) other misdemeanors and felonies which indicate an inability or a tendency for the person to be unable to properly engage in the practice of medical physics. Other misdemeanors or felonies shall be considered in order to promote the intent of the Act, this chapter, and Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53.

(d) The executive secretary shall give written notice to the person that the board intends to deny, suspend, or revoke the license or reprimand or place on probation the licensee after hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 2001.

(e) If the board takes action under this section, the executive secretary shall give the person written notice:

(1) of the reasons for the decision;

(2) that the person, after exhausting administrative appeals, may file an action in a district court of Travis County for review of the evidence presented to the board and its decision;

(3) that the person must begin the judicial review by filing a petition with the court within 30 days after the board's action is final and appealable; and

(4) of the earliest date that the person may appeal.

§601.18.Formal Hearings.

(a) General. Formal hearings will be governed by the contested case provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), Texas Government Code, Chapter 2001, and will be conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

(b) Notice requirements.

(1) Notice of the hearing shall be given according to the notice requirements of APA.

(2) If a party fails to appear or be represented at a hearing after receiving notice, the Administrative Law Judge may proceed with the hearing or take whatever action is fair and appropriate under the circumstances.

(3) All parties shall timely notify the Administrative Law Judge of any changes in their mailing addresses.

(c) Parties to the hearing.

(1) The parties to the hearing shall be the applicant or licensee and the complaints subcommittee chair and/or executive secretary, as appropriate.

(2) A party may appear personally or be represented by counsel or both.

(d) Prehearing conferences.

(1) In a contested case, the Administrative Law Judge, on his own motion or the motion of a party, may direct the parties to appear at a specified time and place for a conference prior to the hearing for the purpose of:

(A) the formulation and simplification of issues;

(B) the necessity or desirability of amending the pleading;

(C) the possibility of making admissions or stipulations;

(D) the procedure at the hearing.

(E) specifying the number of witnesses;

(F) the mutual exchange of prepared testimony and exhibits;

(G) the designation of parties; and

(H) other matters which may be expedite the hearing.

(2) The Administrative Law Judge shall have the minutes of the conference recorded in an appropriate manner and shall issue whatever orders are necessary covering said matters or issues.

(3) Any action taken at the prehearing conference may be reduced to writing, signed by the parties, are made a part of the record.

(e) Assessing the cost of a court reporter and the record of the hearing.

(1) In the event a court reporter is utilized in the making of the record of the proceedings, the board shall bear the cost of the per diem or other appearance fee for such reporter.

(2) The board may prepare, or order the preparation of, a transcript (statement of facts) of the hearing upon the written request of any party. The board may pay the cost of the transcript or assess the cost to one or more parties.

(3) In the event a final decision of the board is appealed to the district court wherein the board is required to transmit to the reviewing court a copy of the record of the hearing proceeding, or any part thereof, the board may be require the appealing party to pay all or part of the cost of preparations of the original or a certified copy of the record of the board proceedings that is required to be transmitted to the reviewing court.

(f) Disposition of case. Unless precluded by law, informal disposition may be made of any contested case by agreed settlement order or default order.

(g) Agreements in writing. No stipulation or agreement between the parties with regard to any matter involved in any proceeding shall be enforced unless it shall have been reduced to writing and signed by the parties or their authorized representatives, dictated into the record during the course of a hearing, or incorporated in an order bearing their written approval. This rule does not limit a party's ability to waive, modify, or stipulate away any right or privilege afforded by these sections.

(h) Final orders or decisions.

(1) The final order or decision will be rendered by the board. The board is not required to adopt the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge and may take action as it deems appropriate and lawful.

(2) All final orders or decisions shall be in writing and shall set forth the findings of fact and conclusions required by law.

(3) All final orders shall be signed by the executive secretary and the chairman of the board; however, interim orders maybe issued by the Administrative Law Judge.

(4) A copy of all final orders and decisions shall be timely provided to all parties as required by law.

(i) Motion for rehearing. A motion for rehearing shall be governed by APA, Texas Government Code, §2001.146, and shall be addressed to the board and filed with the executive secretary.

(j) Appeals. All appeals from final board orders or decisions shall be governed by APA, Texas Government Code, Subchapter G, and communications regarding any appeal shall be made to the executive secretary.

§601.19.Suspension of License for Failure to Pay Child Support.

(a) On receipt of a final court or attorney general's order suspending a license due to failure to pay child support, the executive secretary shall immediately determine if the board has issued a license to the obligor named on the order, and, if a license has been issued:

(1) record the suspension of the license in the board's records;

(2) report the suspension as appropriate; and

(3) demand surrender of the suspended license.

(b) The board shall implement the terms of a final court or attorney general's order suspending a license without additional review or hearing. The board will provide notice as appropriate to the licensee or to others concerned with the license.

(c) The board may not modify, remand, reverse, vacate, or stay a court or attorney general's order suspending a license issued under the Family Code, Chapter 232, and may not review, vacate, or reconsider the terms of an order.

(d) A licensee who is the subject of a final court or attorney general's order suspending his or her license is not entitled to a refund for any fee paid to the board.

(e) If a suspension overlaps a license renewal period, an individual with a license suspended under this section shall comply with the normal renewal procedures in the Act and this chapter; however, the license will not be renewed until subsections (g) and (h) of this section are met.

(f) An individual who continues to use the title "licensed medical physicist" or practice medical physics after the issuance of a court or attorney general's order suspending the license is liable for the same civil and criminal penalties provided for engaging in the prohibited activity without a license or while a license is suspended as any other license holder of the board.

(g) On receipt of a court or attorney general's order vacating or staying an order suspending a license, the executive secretary shall promptly issue the affected license to the individual if the individual is otherwise qualified for the license.

(h) The individual must pay a reinstatement fee as set out at §601.4 of this title prior to issuance of the license under subsection (g) of this section.

§601.21.Medical Physics Specialties and Scope of Practice.

(a) Content. Recognizing that assessing the degree of radiation safety is a complex task of balancing radiation risk with optimizing the benefit of the procedure to the patient, rules are provided which identify certain specific activities or tests as the practice of medical physics. The purpose of the Act and the rules is to ensure the radiation safety of the citizens of Texas by restricting the practice of medical physics to qualified medical physicists. The Act and these rules are fully consistent with, and implement, the recommendations of the National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP) as they pertain to the conduct of certain activities related to medical radiation safety and the efficacy of the use of radiation in medicine as well as the recommendations of the NCRP for the qualifications of individuals who conduct or supervise those activities. They are also consistent with published standards of practice of relevant professional and scientific organizations.

(b) Role of the service engineers. Service engineers, when installing or maintaining medical equipment, conduct tests or activities which are similar or identical to tests or activities identified in these rules. Such activity does not constitute the practice of medical physics provided that:

(1) the service engineer or his employer does not represent that the outcome of the test or activity or the intent of performing the test or activity ensures the radiation safety of the use of the medical equipment for either the user, the patient, or a member of the public; or

(2) the service engineer or his employer does not conclude that the medical equipment is radiologically safe, effective or suitable for use on humans based on the tests or activities performed by the service engineer; or

(3) the service engineer or his employer does not certify that the medical equipment is radiologically safe and consequently compliant with any state or federal regulation for the control of radiation; and

(4) the test or activity performed by the service engineer is required to install or repair the medical equipment.

(c) Scope of practice.

(1) The diagnostic radiological physics specialty services include the following:

(A) providing evidence that imaging equipment continues to meet applicable rules and regulations of radiation safety and performance standards required by accrediting and regulatory agencies;

(B) acceptance testing or monitoring diagnostic imaging equipment;

(C) evaluating policies and procedures pertaining to radiation and its safe and appropriate application in imaging procedures;

(D) providing consultation in development and management of the quality control program;

(E) measurement and characterization of radiation from diagnostic equipment;

(F) specification of instrumentation to be used in the practice of diagnostic radiological physics;

(G) providing consultation on patient or personnel radiation dose (effective dose equivalent, fetal dose calculations, specific organ dose determination, etc.) and the associated risk; and

(H) protective shielding design and evaluation of a diagnostic imaging facility.

(I) conducting performance evaluations of medical radiologic and fluoroscopic imaging systems which include the following physical tests and assessments:

(i) kilovolts peak (kVp) and timer accuracy;

(ii) exposure reproducibility and linearity;

(iii) exposure geometry, e.g. source to image distance (SID) and collimation;

(iv) entrance skin exposure and exposure rate;

(v) beam quality; and

(vi) image quality.

(2) The therapeutic radiological physics specialty services include the following:

(A) development of specifications for radiotherapy treatment and simulation equipment;

(B) development of procedures for testing and evaluating performance levels of radiotherapy treatment and simulation equipment;

(C) acceptance testing of radiotherapy treatment and simulation equipment;

(D) calibration and characterization of radiation beams from therapeutic equipment including radiation quantity, quality, and distribution characteristics, and assessment of the mechanical and geometric optics for proper placement of the beam;

(E) providing documentation that radiotherapy treatment and simulation equipment meet accreditation and regulatory compliance requirements;

(F) calibration and/or verification of the physical and radiological characteristics of brachytherapy sources;

(G) specification of the physics instrumentation used in the measurement and performance testing of therapeutic equipment;

(H) acceptance testing, management, and supervision of computer systems used for treatment planning and calculation of treatment times or monitor units. This includes measurement and input of dosimetry data base and verification of output for external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy;

(I) implementation and management of dosimetric and beam delivery aspects of external beam source brachytherapy irradiation. External beam delivery aspects include treatment aids, beam modifiers, and geometrical arrangements. Special procedures are included for both external beam (e.g. radiosurgery, total body irradiation, total skin irradiation, intraoperative therapy) and brachytherapy (e.g. high dose rate, pulsed dose rate);

(J) provision of consultation to the physician in assuring accurate delivery of prescribed radiation dosage to a specific human patient, and the associated risk;

(K) development and management of quality control program for a radiation treatment facility which includes applicable facility accreditation requirements, and the review of policies and procedures pertaining to therapeutic radiation and its safe and appropriate use;

(L) development and/or evaluation of a radiation safety program in a therapeutic radiation facility including written procedures for the protection of patients, workers, and the public; and

(M) protective shielding design and radiation safety surveys in a radiotherapy facility.

(3) The medical nuclear physics specialty services include the following:

(A) development of procedures for continuing evaluations of performance levels of radionuclide imaging devices and ancillary equipment;

(B) providing evidence that radionuclide imaging equipment continues to meet applicable rules and regulations of performance and radiation safety required by accrediting and regulatory agencies;

(C) acceptance testing of radionuclide imaging equipment;

(D) development and/or evaluation of a radiation safety program in a nuclear medicine facility;

(E) determination of radiation shielding necessary to protect workers, patients, and the public in a nuclear medicine facility;

(F) development of specifications for radionuclide imaging instrumentation or equipment;

(G) development and monitoring of a quality control program for radionuclide imaging equipment, computers and other patient related radiation detectors such as uptake probes, well counters and dose calibrators;

(H) providing consultation on patient or personnel radiation dose (effective dose equivalent, fetal dose calculations, specific organ dose determination, etc.) and the associated risk;

(I) evaluating policies and procedures pertaining to the safe and appropriate application of radionuclides;

(J) specification of instrumentation used in the practice of medical nuclear physics; and

(K) verification of calculated radiation absorbed doses from unsealed radioactive sources.

(4) The medical health physics specialty services include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) planning and design of radiation shielding needed to protect workers, patients, and the general public from radiation produced incident to the diagnosis or treatment of humans. This includes calculation of required shielding thickness, selection of shielding material and specification of source-shield geometry;

(B) assessment and evaluation of installed shielding, installed shielding apparatus or portable shielding designed to protect workers, patients, and the general public from radiation produced incident to the diagnosis or treatment of humans. Such evaluation specifically includes determination of whether the shielding is adequate to ensure compliance with state or federal regulatory requirements for limiting the effective dose equivalent and organ dose equivalent of medical radiation workers and members of the public. This includes the selection of appropriate radiation measurement instrumentation to conduct such evaluation as well as the methodology to be employed;

(C) providing consultation, by which determination of the presence and extent of any radiological hazard, in any controlled, restricted, uncontrolled or unrestricted area, resulting from the use of ionizing radiation or radioactivity in the treatment or diagnosis of disease in humans, is made. This includes the design, conduct, and evaluation of results of radiation surveys of health care facilities and the immediate environs intended to determine whether occupancy by medical radiation workers, patients, and members of the public is compliant with state and federal regulations for the control of ionizing radiations. A survey includes the directing of physical measurements of radiation levels and radioactivity, the interpretation of those measurements, and the provision of any conclusions or recommendations intended to limit or prevent exposure of workers, members of the public, and patients;

(D) performing dose and associated risk assessment in which an effective dose equivalent, committed effective dose equivalent, organ dose equivalent, or committed organ dose equivalent is determined by measurement or calculation or both, to any worker, member of the public, fetus or patient who received exposure to ionizing radiation or radioactivity from radiation sources used to treat or diagnose disease in humans. This does not include either the prospective or retrospective determination of absorbed doses to patients undergoing radiation therapy; and

(E) consultation which consists of the evaluation or assessment of the radiation safety aspects of policies or procedures which pertain to the safe and appropriate use of radiation or radioactivity, administered to human research volunteers or used to treat or diagnose conditions in humans, when such evaluation or assessment provides conclusions or recommendations regarding dose equivalent assessment, the overall radiation safety afforded to individuals resulting from activities conducted in compliance with the evaluated policies or procedures, or the compliance of any or all provisions of the policies or procedures with either state or federal regulatory requirements for the control of radiation.

§601.22.Provisional Licenses.

(a) A provisional license may be issued to a person who is currently licensed or certified in another jurisdiction and who:

(1) has been licensed or certified in good standing as a practitioner of medical or radiological physics for at least two years in another jurisdiction, including a foreign county, that has licensing or certification requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Act;

(2) has passed a national or other examination recognized by the board relating to the practice of medical or radiological physics; and

(3) is sponsored by a person licensed as a medical physicist in Texas with whom the provisional license holder will practice under this section.

(b) Upon formal written request, the board may waive the requirement set out in subsection (a)(3) of this section if it is determined that compliance with subsection (a)(3) of this section would cause undue hardship to the applicant.

(c) The board shall issue a provisional license if:

(1) the provisional license holder is eligible to be certified under §601.7 of this title (relating to Licensing by Endorsement or Reciprocity); or

(2) the provisional license holder passes the part of the examination under §601.8 of this title (relating to Eligibility For Examination) that relates to the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the laws and rules relating to the practice of medical physics in this state and;

(A) the board verified that the provisional license holder meets the academic and experience requirement for a license under §601.8 of this title; and

(B) the provisional license holder satisfies any other licensing requirements under the Act.

(d) The board must complete the processing of a provisional license holder's application for license within 180 days after the provisional license was issued. The board may extend the 180-day deadline to allow for the receipt of pending examination results.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 16, 2001.

TRD-200104098

Louis B. Levy, Ph.D.

Presiding Officer

Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists

Effective date: August 5, 2001

Proposal publication date: February 2, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 458-7236


22 TAC §601.18

The repeal is adopted under the Texas Medical Physics Practice Act, Texas Occupations Code, §602.151, which requires the Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists to adopt rules, with the approval of the Texas Board of Health, that are reasonably necessary for the proper performance of its duties under the Act.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 16, 2001.

TRD-200104099

Louis B. Levy, Ph.D.

Presiding Officer

Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists

Effective date: August 5, 2001

Proposal publication date: February 2, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 458-7236