The American medical regulatory system was established to limit the practice of medicine to qualified practitioners and thereby protect the public from unprofessional, improper, and incompetent individuals. The states exercise their police powers to license only those practitioners who meet minimum standards of education and skill. This regulatory authority is administered by a medical licensing board or other state agency. It is based on a medical practice act passed by the legislature and regulations written by the board that define a scope of practice for licensees, require ongoing educational training through approved continuing medical education, and authorize discipline for those who break the law or fail to uphold certain.
