In 2005 the Legislature enacted law requiring the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education to prescribe requirements, by regulation, for physician training in cultural competency.
(See N.J.S.A. 45:9-7.2 and 7.3)
The regulations relating to cultural competency training were adopted in their final form on April 7, 2008.
(See N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.25)
You are encouraged to read the Statute and Regulations for a complete review of the requirements. Links above have been provided for your convenience in accessing this material.
The legislation requires that all medical schools in New Jersey provide include instruction to their current and future students in cultural competency. This instruction is required as a condition of receiving a diploma from a college of medicine in New Jersey. New Jersey medical schools are also required to provide cultural competency CME instruction for licensed physicians who were not required to and did not receive cultural competency training in their medical school curriculum. The required curriculum in cultural competency training has become more prevalent in medical schools since 2005. The curriculum required cannot be assumed to be included in medical, osteopathic and podiatric schools operating outside of New Jersey. See question #9 on the
Frequently Asked Questions page if you believe that your medical school curriculum meets the NJBME requirements.
