The 51st annual report on medical licensure prepared by the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals appears in this issue of The Journal. Data are presented in the first section concerning the medical examination and the licensure of physicians in the United States and its territories and outlying possessions for 1952. In addition, the report summarizes trends in licensure over many years. Current regulations pertaining to medical licensure are also presented. The boards of examiners in the basic sciences are discussed in the second section of the report and, lastly, the National Board of Medical Examiners.
In 1952, a total of 13,228 licenses to practice medicine and surgery were issued by the 54 boards authorized by law to grant licenses to practice the art and science of medicine. The 13,228 licenses issued last year represented 6,212 granted after written examination and 7,016 granted by reciprocity and endorsement of state licenses