Licensing staff briefed the board on changes to postgraduate training eligibility and operational reforms that have reduced application processing times.

Dina Ruprecht and the licensing team reported there are about 15,840 licensed osteopathic physicians and surgeons and 1,149 postgraduate training licenses in the board's database. The licensing unit has reduced average processing time for complete applications to about 25 days (target 60 days) after migrating to an online Breeze portal and clearing a backlog of paper applications.

Board staff reviewed SB806-related rule changes: applicants can be eligible for licensure after 12 months of postgraduate training, but must demonstrate 36 months of completed postgraduate training by the time of renewal (the statute shifted the 36-month verification to the renewal stage). Staff stressed that acceptable training must be completed in accredited programs; non-accredited training does not meet licensure requirements. The board discussed leave-of-absence accommodations, extensions for exam scheduling, and how postgraduate training licensing and full licensure interact in practice.

Why it matters: The policy balance allows earlier eligibility while preserving a 36-month training standard at renewal; it affects how programs verify training, how the board schedules audits and renewals, and how residents plan exam timing and employment.

Representative quote: "There are currently 15,840 licensed osteopathic physicians and surgeons," licensing staff reported, and "we are averaging a 25 cycle time when processing applications with no deficiencies," a major improvement from prior backlog.