LAC 46:XLV.398. Bridge Year Graduate Physician Program

A. A graduate of an accredited school of medicine or osteopathy who applied to, but was not accepted into, an accredited medical residency training program for the first year following medical school graduation, may apply for a bridge year graduate physician certificate. 1. A physician practicing under a bridge year graduate physician certificate shall practice in training for one post-graduate year under the direct supervision of a board-certified physician who has completed training required by the board to be a training physician and who maintains such training at intervals required by the board. 2. The training physician shall practice in the same or an adjacent facility and shall formally review and co-sign the work of the bridge year physician. 3. A physician practicing under a bridge year graduate physician certificate shall have prescriptive authority in accordance with state and federal law and board rules, as authorized and supervised by the training physician. 4. The training physician shall issue a report at the end of the bridge year indicating the scope and breadth of the practice of the participating bridge year graduate physician and the instruction and training given to the bridge year graduate physician. The training physician’s report shall contain a statement as to whether or not the bridge year graduate physician would be recommended for a residency position upon reapplication. 5. A bridge year graduate physician certificate shall be valid for one year and may be renewed for no more than two additional one-year periods upon application to, and discretion of, the board. B. The board shall select the participants for the bridge year graduate physician program and has the authority to accept or reject any applicant. If the number of applicants exceeds the available number of training physicians or training locations, preference may be given to applicants desiring to practice in underserved areas, in primary care or internal medicine, to Louisiana residents, or to graduates of Louisiana medical schools. C. The board may suspend, terminate, or revoke a bridge year graduate physician certificate prior to the expiration of one year for any reason provided by law or board rule for the termination of licenses, permits, registrations, or certificates issued by the board. D. A bridge year graduate physician certificate shall not confer any future right to full, unrestricted licensure.