WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 350
Nurses - English Language Oral Competency - Exemption

FOR the purpose of providing an exemption to the requirement that an applicant for a
license to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing demonstrate an
oral competency in the English language if the applicant was previously licensed in
any other state under certain circumstances; authorizing the Board of Nursing to
issue certain temporary licenses to certain applicants under certain circumstances;
and generally relating to nurses demonstrating oral competency in the English
language.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health Occupations
Section 7-302(f)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1986 Replacement Volume and 1989 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health Occupations

7-302.

(f) (1) [The] EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS
SUBSECTION, THE Board shall require as part of its examination or licensing
procedures that an applicant for a license to practice registered nursing or licensed
practical nursing demonstrate an oral competency in the English language.

(2) Graduation from a recognized English-speaking undergraduate school
after at least 3 years of enrollment, or from a recognized English-speaking professional
school is acceptable as proof of proficiency in the oral communication of the English
language under this section.

(3) By regulation, the Board shall develop a procedure for testing
individuals who because of their speech impairment are unable to complete
satisfactorily a Board approved standardized test of oral competency.

(4) If any disciplinary charges or action that involves a problem with the
oral communication of the English language are brought against a licensee under this
title, the Board shall require the licensee to take and pass a Board approved
standardized test of oral competency.

(5) THE BOARD MAY NOT REQUIRE THAT AN APPLICANT FOR
A LICENSE TO PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSING OR LICENSED
PRACTICAL NURSING WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY LICENSED IN ANY OTHER
STATE TO PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSING OR LICENSED PRACTICAL
NURSING TO DEMONSTRATE AN ORAL COMPETENCY IN THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE AS PART OF ITS EXAMINATION OR LICENSING PROCEDURES
IF THE OTHER STATE HAS A SIMILAR ORAL COMPETENCY COMPONENT
AS PART OF ITS EXAMINATION OR LICENSING PROCEDURES.

- 1195 -