A California bill would let students at accredited medical school programs in the state complete their education and earn an MD in three years, instead of the typical four, according to a Sacramento Business Journal report.
The legislation is intended to expedite the process to develop quality physicians, according to the report, and also lessen students' debt burdens. It is sponsored by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla.
The University of California is sponsoring the bill, as it operates six medical schools in the state. The legislation has also earned support from the Medical Board of California, but the California Medical Association has not yet taken a position.
California would be one state of a handful to legalize the shortened process. Medical schools in New York and Texas have developed accelerated programs that produce graduates in three years, according to the report.
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