ladysprite (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ladysprite) wrote2005-09-08 09:40 pm
ladysprite) wrote2005-09-08 09:40 pm
Hoop-Jumping
I had forgotten how phenomenally, ridiculously complex applying for a medical license is. One would think that, since I already have a license to practice medicine in one state, it would be fairly simple to go about getting a second one. All I should need would be proof of my license (which is available, for free, on the state of Massachusetts web page), and proof that I'm me. Honestly, the standards of medicine are pretty similar throughout the country; it's not as if Massachusetts-medicine is somehow so inferior to West-Virginia-medicine that I'd need to re-prove my medical and surgical skills before a live audience.
I had forgotten that the primary purpose of bureaucracy is apparently to keep beaurocracy busy and running. Proof of my license is required, yes, but they can't accept anything as mundane as a copy of my license, or my diploma. Instead they need a signed formal letter from the state registration board, with the embossed state seal. They also apparently need my transcript, and a $100 copy of my scores from my licensing exam. Because, I guess, the other states where I'm licensed might not have seen them. They also need my birth certificate. I suppose that's in case I... I dunno, made it through eight years of college and a grueling exam that they have proof that I passed under an assumed name or something. Plus outside confirmation of the name of the city I was born in. Heaven forbid that they issue a license to someone who claimed to be born in Lodi but actually turned out to be born two miles south in Englewood.
They also need a signed color photograph of me. Maybe they figure it'll come in useful if I'm ever a hit star of a breakout reality series - 'Kitten Kaboodle - Real Vets, Real Life, Watch the Fur Fly!' Plus a cashier's check for an inordinate sum of money, plus a letter of intent from both myself and my host stating exactly when and why I want to practice there, plus a notarized statement that I am of good moral character, plus a statement that I do not have any pending paternity suits.
On the other hand, they do *not* need proof of my DEA controlled substance license. Apparently, as long as I am of good enough moral character for the state of West Virginia, and know what town I was born in, they don't really care that much if I'm legally allowed to prescribe the drugs I'm using.
I'm almost done with the application. I'm a bit afraid to look at the last page; I'm fairly certain that there's a request for me to send in at least one of my own severed body parts for the dual purposes of DNA testing to really, truly prove my identity and to establish my sincerity and dedication to the great state I am about to vaccinate puppies in.....
I had forgotten that the primary purpose of bureaucracy is apparently to keep beaurocracy busy and running. Proof of my license is required, yes, but they can't accept anything as mundane as a copy of my license, or my diploma. Instead they need a signed formal letter from the state registration board, with the embossed state seal. They also apparently need my transcript, and a $100 copy of my scores from my licensing exam. Because, I guess, the other states where I'm licensed might not have seen them. They also need my birth certificate. I suppose that's in case I... I dunno, made it through eight years of college and a grueling exam that they have proof that I passed under an assumed name or something. Plus outside confirmation of the name of the city I was born in. Heaven forbid that they issue a license to someone who claimed to be born in Lodi but actually turned out to be born two miles south in Englewood.
They also need a signed color photograph of me. Maybe they figure it'll come in useful if I'm ever a hit star of a breakout reality series - 'Kitten Kaboodle - Real Vets, Real Life, Watch the Fur Fly!' Plus a cashier's check for an inordinate sum of money, plus a letter of intent from both myself and my host stating exactly when and why I want to practice there, plus a notarized statement that I am of good moral character, plus a statement that I do not have any pending paternity suits.
On the other hand, they do *not* need proof of my DEA controlled substance license. Apparently, as long as I am of good enough moral character for the state of West Virginia, and know what town I was born in, they don't really care that much if I'm legally allowed to prescribe the drugs I'm using.
I'm almost done with the application. I'm a bit afraid to look at the last page; I'm fairly certain that there's a request for me to send in at least one of my own severed body parts for the dual purposes of DNA testing to really, truly prove my identity and to establish my sincerity and dedication to the great state I am about to vaccinate puppies in.....
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Perhaps they want a signed notarized copy of your family tree dating back to the 15th century.
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This happens to be the ONLY state where I tested for licensure that actually had an oral exam (in addition to the 50 question true-false written test). The other states (FL, GA, VA, MD) all tested based on state regs and/or DEA regs - all written/multiple choice, most many more questions, none of them oral.
I can still tell you what was on my oral exam (that I took in, oh, 1991?). Tell us about Strangles in horses (how do you diagnose it? how do you treat it?). The second question was on Puppy Strangles (which to that point I don't ever recall even HEARING about) - how do you treat _that_. I bluffed (and after a lot of looking around later at home, found out I actually got it right).
And then proceeded to get hired by a board member during that day for my first job out of school - and you've heard how _that_ turned out :->
And BTW, could you fax me a copy of your letter of intent so we can, oh, I dunno, match up what we're saying? (email or fax works fine; office fax is 304-489-2878)
Thank you for hoop-jumping for me!
_M_
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_M_
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Honestly, I don't mind jumping through the hoops - it feels a bit like a Quest. :) It just amuses me the things they ask, and that they don't.
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_M_
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Could be worse, you know. Could be like Crown Tourney and have a residency requirement. :}
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http://www.livejournal.com/users/trollprincess/817403.html
another hoop jumping state
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On the other hand, if you're there for a while, feel free to drop by the Manse sometime. Most of WV is about 1/2 hour or so away from us.
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WV is bigger than you suspect - takes about 3 hours to get to LaVale from my part of the state. Figure 5 to 6 hours to Baltimore. OTOH, I'm about 2 hours from Columbus, OH, and 3 hr drive from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh.
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Find a map of WV - I'm off I-77 just south of where it crosses into WV from Ohio. Find I-64 (comes in from KY into WV) and I-79 (goes more or less north to south in WV) - Logan is south of I-64 and west of I-79.
BTW, I know exactly the area you're talking about - I lived and worked in Madison when I first got out of school (about halfway between Logan and Charleston). Come to think of it, Logan is actually in a bit wider valley than Madison (Madison had one, maybe two streets between the mountain and the river on one side, and one street the other side of the river).
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Yeesh.
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