1. If the Governor determines that there are critically unmet needs with regard to the number of physicians who are practicing a medical specialty within this State, the Governor may declare that a state of critical medical need exists for that medical specialty. The Governor may, but is not required to, limit such a declaration to one or more geographic areas within this State.

2. In determining whether there are critically unmet needs with regard to the number of physicians who are practicing a medical specialty, the Governor may consider, without limitation:

(a) Any statistical data analyzing the number of physicians who are practicing the medical specialty in relation to the total population of this State or any geographic area within this State;

(b) The demand within this State or any geographic area within this State for the types of services provided by the medical specialty; and

(c) Any other factors relating to the medical specialty that may adversely affect the delivery of health care within this State or any geographic area within this State.

3. If the Governor makes a declaration pursuant to this section, the Board may waive the requirements of paragraph (c) of subsection 2 of NRS 630.160 for an applicant if the applicant:

(a) Intends to practice medicine in one or more of the medical specialties designated by the Governor in the declaration and, if the Governor has limited the declaration to one or more geographic areas within this State, in one or more of those geographic areas;

(b) Has completed at least 1 year of training as a resident in the United States or Canada in a program approved by the Board, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Collège des médecins du Québec or the College of Family Physicians of Canada, or their successor organizations, respectively;

(c) Has a minimum of 5 years of practical medical experience as a licensed allopathic physician or such other equivalent training as the Board deems appropriate; and

(d) Meets all other conditions and requirements for a license to practice medicine.

4. Any license issued pursuant to this section is a restricted license, and the person who holds the restricted license may practice medicine in this State only in the medical specialties and geographic areas for which the restricted license is issued.

5. Any person who holds a restricted license issued pursuant to this section and who completes 3 years of full-time practice under the restricted license may apply to the Board for an unrestricted license. In considering an application for an unrestricted license pursuant to this subsection, the Board shall require the applicant to meet all statutory requirements for licensure in effect at the time of application except the requirements of paragraph (c) of subsection 2 of NRS 630.160.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 1885; A 2015, 488; 2019, 4267)