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Physician Regulations, Policies, and Guidelines

Here you will find the Regulations, Policies, and Guidelines of the Board of Registration in Medicine.
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New Policies and Guidelines

Policy 23-03: Provisionally Issued Full Licenses for Qualified Applicants (Revised June 11, 2026), Open DOCX file, 21.89 KB (English, DOCX 21.89 KB)
Policy 25-03: Criteria for Participating Healthcare Facility Programs to Assess and Evaluate Internationally Trained Physicians (Revised February 26, 2026), Open DOCX file, 49.12 KB (English, DOCX 49.12 KB)
Policy 19-05: Policy on Approving Initial Full and Limited License Applications (Amended February 12, 2026), Open DOCX file, 34.05 KB (English, DOCX 34.05 KB)

Board Regulations

A Note on the Board Regulations Website
243 CMR 1: Disciplinary Proceedings for Physicians
243 CMR 2: Licensing and the practice of medicine
243 CMR 3: The Establishment of and Participation in Qualified Patient Care Assessment Programs
243 CMR 4: Disciplinary proceedings for acupuncturists
243 CMR 5: The Practice of acupuncture

Board Policies

Policy 25-03: Criteria for Participating Healthcare Facility Programs to Assess and Evaluate Internationally Trained Physicians (Revised February 26, 2026), Open DOCX file, 49.12 KB (English, DOCX 49.12 KB)
Policy 25-02: Categorical Approval of Information Requests by Boards and Programs Within the Department of Public Health (August 21, 2025), Open DOCX file, 19.96 KB (English, DOCX 19.96 KB)
Policy 25-01: Resignations and Voluntary Agreements Not to Practice (Approved May 1, 2025), Open DOCX file, 16.2 KB (English, DOCX 16.2 KB)
Policy 24-05: Physician Re-credentialing (November 21, 2024), Open DOCX file, 25.5 KB (English, DOCX 25.5 KB)
Policy 24-04: Pilot Policy on Board Sponsorship for a Fifth Attempt at USMLE Step 3 (Reaffirmed November 6, 2025), Open DOCX file, 24.2 KB (English, DOCX 24.2 KB)
Policy 24-03: Expedited Processing of Change of Program Requests arising from the Closure or Discontinuance of a Graduate Medical Education Program (June 13, 2024), Open DOCX file, 35.36 KB (English, DOCX 35.36 KB)
Policy 24-02: Physician Reentry Plan (Amended March 27, 2025), Open DOCX file, 37.1 KB (English, DOCX 37.1 KB)
Policy 24-01: Modification of Requirements for Temporary Appointments or Privileges in Exigent Circumstances (Amended May 29, 2025), Open DOCX file, 27.12 KB (English, DOCX 27.12 KB)
Policy 23-03: Provisionally Issued Full Licenses for Qualified Applicants (Revised June 11, 2026), Open DOCX file, 21.89 KB (English, DOCX 21.89 KB)
Policy 23-02: Deadlines For Post-Recommended Decision Filings (Revised November 21, 2024), Open DOCX file, 34.02 KB (English, DOCX 34.02 KB)
Policy 23-01: DRU Referrals of Certain Reports (May 11, 2023), Open DOCX file, 22.83 KB (English, DOCX 22.83 KB)
Policy 22-06: Policy Implementing Chapter 127, an Act Expanding Protections for Reproductive and Gender Affirming Care (September 22, 2022), Open DOCX file, 18.67 KB (English, DOCX 18.67 KB)
Policy 22-05: Interim Policy on Post-Graduate Training Requirement for International Medical Graduates (September 22, 2022), Open DOCX file, 20.29 KB (English, DOCX 20.29 KB)
Policy 22-04: Acceptance of Accredited Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Postgraduate Training (March 10, 2022), Open DOCX file, 17.33 KB (English, DOCX 17.33 KB)
Policy 22-03: Preliminary Denials of License Applications (January 20, 2022), Open DOCX file, 18.06 KB (English, DOCX 18.06 KB)
Policy 22-02: Deceased Physicians (Approved January 20, 2022), Open DOCX file, 17.45 KB (English, DOCX 17.45 KB)
Policy 22-01: Interim Policy on Practice by Limited Licensees During Public Health Emergency (Amended June 29, 2023), Open DOCX file, 17.02 KB (English, DOCX 17.02 KB)
Policy 21-05: Guidance on Statutory Physician Responsibilities When Making an Initial Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (November 18, 2021) , Open DOCX file, 21.1 KB (English, DOCX 21.1 KB)
Policy 21-04: Policy on Continuing Medical Education on Implicit Bias in Healthcare (November 18, 2021) , Open DOCX file, 15.38 KB (English, DOCX 15.38 KB)
Policy 21-03: Policy on Provisionally Issued Limited Licenses for Qualified Applicants (Amended October 6, 2022) , Open DOCX file, 15.54 KB (English, DOCX 15.54 KB)
Policy 21-02: Confirmation of Medical School Graduation (June 3, 2021), Open DOCX file, 12.56 KB (English, DOCX 12.56 KB)
Policy 21-01: Interim Policy on Emergency Temporary Licenses to Work at Vaccination Sites for Recently Retired Physicians and Lapsed Licenses (Amended February 3, 2022), Open DOCX file, 16.74 KB (English, DOCX 16.74 KB)
Policy 20-01: Policy on Telemedicine (Amended October 6, 2022), Open DOCX file, 19.17 KB (English, DOCX 19.17 KB)
Policy 19-06: Risk Management CME Credits and Physician Burnout (Amended December 19, 2019), Open DOCX file, 23.14 KB (English, DOCX 23.14 KB)
Policy 19-05: Policy on Approving Initial Full and Limited License Applications (Amended February 12, 2026), Open DOCX file, 34.05 KB (English, DOCX 34.05 KB)
Policy 19-04: Policy Relating to Malpractice (Revised June 12, 2025), Open DOCX file, 20.99 KB (English, DOCX 20.99 KB)
Policy 19-03: Policy Relating to Board Committees and Subcommittees (July 17, 2019), Open DOCX file, 13.3 KB (English, DOCX 13.3 KB)
Policy 19-02: Data Repository Procedures (Amended February 20, 2020), Open DOCX file, 14.98 KB (English, DOCX 14.98 KB)
Policy 19-01: Policy on Request for Waiver of 243 CMR 2.03(1)(d) (Amended December 19, 2019), Open DOCX file, 18.83 KB (English, DOCX 18.83 KB)
Policy 18-02: Interim Policy on Temporary Waiver of the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Training Requirement (Amended December 19, 2019), Open DOCX file, 18.02 KB (English, DOCX 18.02 KB)
Policy 17-05: Continuing Medical Education (CME) Pilot Program (Amended April 11, 2024), Open DOCX file, 21.02 KB (English, DOCX 21.02 KB)
Policy 17-04: Policy on Withdrawing License Applications (Amended January 14, 2021), Open DOCX file, 16.27 KB (English, DOCX 16.27 KB)
Policy 17-03: Policy on Supervisor Evaluations (Amended January 14, 2021), Open DOCX file, 15.83 KB (English, DOCX 15.83 KB)
Policy 17-01: Conflicts of Interest (January 26, 2017), Open DOCX file, 19.01 KB (English, DOCX 19.01 KB)
Policy 16-01: Policy on Gender Identity and the Physician Profile Program (May 5, 2016), Open DOCX file, 13.11 KB (English, DOCX 13.11 KB)
Policy 15-07: Interim Policy on Compliance with the Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Training Requirement (December 3, 2015), Open DOCX file, 17.21 KB (English, DOCX 17.21 KB)
Policy 15-06: Policy on Physician Health Services Reports of Non-Compliance and Physician Self-Reports of Impairment (November 19, 2015), Open DOCX file, 14.1 KB (English, DOCX 14.1 KB)
Policy 15-05: Prescribing Practices Policy and Guidelines (Amended June 15, 2023), Open DOCX file, 199.43 KB (English, DOCX 199.43 KB)
Appendix A Contact Information, Open DOCX file, 14.4 KB (English, DOCX 14.4 KB)
Appendix B Policy 03-06: Internet Prescribing, Open DOCX file, 10.67 KB (English, DOCX 10.67 KB)
Appendix C 2007-01 Joint Policy Regarding Issuance of Multiple Prescriptions for Schedule II Controlled Substances, Open DOCX file, 13.7 KB (English, DOCX 13.7 KB)
Appendix D DPH Labeling Guidelines for Sample Prescription Drugs, Open DOCX file, 28.92 KB (English, DOCX 28.92 KB)
Appendix E 2015-01 Joint Policy Pharmacist and Pharmacy Intern Administration of Vaccines and FAQs, Open DOCX file, 57.28 KB (English, DOCX 57.28 KB)
Appendix G MMS Opioid Therapy and Physician Communication Guidelines, Open DOCX file, 16.43 KB (English, DOCX 16.43 KB)
Appendix H Policy 15-03: Guidance for Filling Expedited Partner Therapy Prescriptions, Open RTF file, 1.28 MB (English, RTF 1.28 MB)
Policy 15-04: Interim Policy on Compliance with the Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Training Requirement (July 2, 2015), Open DOCX file, 16.47 KB (English, DOCX 16.47 KB)
Policy 15-02: Policy on Pending Criminal Charges, Indictments and Convictions (June 18, 2015), Open DOCX file, 12.36 KB (English, DOCX 12.36 KB)
Policy 15-01: Committee on Acupuncture Member Appointment Process (January 22, 2015), Open DOCX file, 17.2 KB (English, DOCX 17.2 KB)
Policy 14-01: CORI Policy for Licensing Purposes (June 25, 2014), Open DOCX file, 15.25 KB (English, DOCX 15.25 KB)
Policy 05-02: Voluntary Agreements Not to Practice Medicine (Reaffirmed May 1, 2025), Open DOCX file, 12.39 KB (English, DOCX 12.39 KB)
Policy 05-01: Policy on Sale of Goods from Physician Offices (July 20, 2005) , Open DOC file, 22 KB (English, DOC 22 KB)
Policy 03-06: Policy on Internet Prescribing (December 17, 2003), Open DOC file, 20.5 KB (English, DOC 20.5 KB)
Policy 03-05: Policy on Keepsake Fetal Videos (December 17, 2003), Open DOC file, 21.5 KB (English, DOC 21.5 KB)
Policy 03-03: Policy on Lapsed License Applications (Adopted November 12, 2003, amended June 28, 2018), Open DOCX file, 15.47 KB (English, DOCX 15.47 KB)
Policy 01-02: Student Loan Defaulters (June 13, 2001) , Open DOC file, 25 KB (English, DOC 25 KB)
Policy 01-01: Disruptive Physician Behavior (June 13, 2001), Open DOC file, 36.5 KB (English, DOC 36.5 KB)
Policy 98-02: Policy on Release of Physician Addresses (Amended September 21, 2023), Open DOCX file, 13.64 KB (English, DOCX 13.64 KB)
Policy 95-01: Certain Requests Relating to Probation Agreements (Revised March 13, 2025), Open DOCX file, 14.9 KB (English, DOCX 14.9 KB)
Policy 94-05: CME Credit for Specialty Board Certification and Re-certification, Medical Examiner and Board Volunteer Activities (Amended March 28, 2024), Open DOC file, 37.5 KB (English, DOC 37.5 KB)
Policy 93-01: Applicants for Temporary Licensure; Visiting Short-Term Faculty (Revised March 14, 2024), Open DOC file, 36.5 KB (English, DOC 36.5 KB)
Policy 92-01: Issuance of Press Releases on Final Disciplinary Actions (Amended February 27, 2025), Open DOCX file, 16.83 KB (English, DOCX 16.83 KB)
Policy 91-03: Board Procedure Regarding Request for Waiver of 243 CMR 2.03(1)(b)- Limited Licensure (Amended June 29. 2023), Open DOC file, 27.5 KB (English, DOC 27.5 KB)
Policy 91-01: Board Procedure Regarding Request for Waiver of 243 CMR 2.03(1)(b)- Full Licensure (Amended June 29, 2023), Open DOC file, 40.5 KB (English, DOC 40.5 KB)
Board Policies Under Review
Board Policies Rescinded or Replaced

Patient Care Assessment Committee (PCAC) Policies

QPSD Policy 23-PCA01: Patient Care Assessment Regulatory Reporting, Open PDF file, 130.24 KB (English, PDF 130.24 KB)

Data Repository Committee (DRC) Policies

Data Repository Committee (DRC) Policies Under Review
Data Repository Committee (DRC) Policies Rescinded or Replaced

Board Guidelines

Guidelines for Requesting Board Approval of CME/CPD Activities (May 9, 2024), Open DOCX file, 1.42 MB (English, DOCX 1.42 MB)
Final Amended Guidelines for Fulfilling the CME and Educational Trainings Requirements (Adopted July 19, 2018, Amended April 11, 2024), Open DOCX file, 18.11 KB (English, DOCX 18.11 KB)
Guidelines for Reactivation from Retirement (March 18, 2009), Open DOC file, 21 KB (English, DOC 21 KB)
Procedures for Violation of Probation Agreement (June 9, 1993), Open DOC file, 23 KB (English, DOC 23 KB)
Board Endorsed Office-Based Surgery Guidelines, Open DOC file, 391.5 KB (English, DOC 391.5 KB)

Board Statements

FAQs on Self-Prescribing (May 2, 2019), Open DOCX file, 19.14 KB (English, DOCX 19.14 KB)
Board Statement on Prescribing Naloxone (September 10, 2014), Open DOCX file, 10.84 KB (English, DOCX 10.84 KB)

Standing Orders

No. 91-1: Interlocutory Appeals (Adopted November 6, 1991, SUPERCEDING Standing Order No. 1988-1), Open DOC file, 22 KB (English, DOC 22 KB)

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