Technical Standards and Policies

Technical Standards

Because graduation with an M.D. degree signifies that the recipient is a physician prepared for entry into practice, students in the Foster School of Medicine M.D. degree program are expected to acquire a broad foundation of medical knowledge and skills. All students must meet the following standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, to undertake the curriculum in its entirety:

• Observation: Demonstrate adequate sensory function (such as vision, hearing, and touch) to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
• Communication: Communicate with clarity and efficiency in spoken and written form, and perceive communication from others, including written, verbal, and non-verbal cues.
• Psychomotor Skills: Perform the maneuvers necessary for a physical exam and safely execute the motor movements required to provide routine and emergency patient care.
• Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities: Problem-solve effectively and rapidly; learn; reason; calculate; and integrate, synthesize, and apply information in an environment of high stress and distraction.
• Behavioral and Social Skills: Exercise professional judgment, develop effective professional relationships with peers, faculty, staff, and the health care team, and manage adversity and stress.

When an applicant is invited for an interview, a copy of the detailed standards for curricular completion is included in the orientation packet. If a student accepts an offer of admission, the student must sign a form acknowledging that the technical standards must be met, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Download the Technical Standards for Admission, Retention, and Graduation (PDF)

Reasonable Accommodations

Without compromising the standards required by the school or the integrity of its curriculum, the Foster School of Medicine recognizes that persons with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, may fulfill the technical standards with reasonable accommodation. Requests for accommodation are considered on an individual basis through the Texas Tech Health El Paso Student Services Accessibility office.

Applicants who are offered and accept admission must petition the National Board of Medical Examiners separately for any accommodation on the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (Step I, II, and III); this process is separate from any accommodation request made to the Foster School of Medicine.

Apply for Accommodations

Reference: HSCEP OP 77.14, Accessibility and Establishing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (PDF)

Admissions Policies

Admissions policies describe applicant responsibilities, review expectations, and requirements that may affect admission or matriculation. Applicants should review all applicable policies before applying.

Criminal Background Check

To provide a safe environment for patients, visitors, faculty, employees, and students, Texas Tech Health El Paso requires criminal background checks for all entering students. Background checks allow the institution to evaluate whether students are qualified, eligible, and possess the character and fitness to participate in clinical care and clinical rotations at Texas Tech Health El Paso or affiliated institutions.

Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics

This information is provided to potential applicants in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act.

Campus Security Policy & Crime Statistics Report

Title IX Compliance

Texas Tech Health El Paso does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on sex, race, national origin, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected categories. Texas Tech Health El Paso prohibits discrimination based on sex and other sexual misconduct in accordance with Title VII, Title IX, the Violence Against Women Act, and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act.

Visit the Title IX website for current reporting options and contact information, or use the online report form.

Occupational Licensing Disclosure (Texas HB 1508)

As required by Texas HB 1508 and Texas Occupations Code § 58.001, applicants to a program that may prepare an individual for an initial occupational license should be aware:

1. An individual convicted of an offense may be ineligible for an occupational license upon completing the educational program.
2. Each licensing authority that issues an occupational license must establish guidelines stating why a particular crime relates to a particular license.
3. Local or county licensing authorities may issue additional guidelines related to criminal history; applicants should contact their local or county licensing authority for details.
4. A person may request a criminal history evaluation letter regarding personal eligibility for a license under Texas Occupations Code § 53.102.

Applicants are encouraged to review all applicable eligibility requirements for their intended occupational license and direct questions to the applicable licensing authority.

Official Policy Documents

Some policy information may be provided in official Texas Tech Health El Paso documents. When possible, key applicant-facing information should also be available in HTML for accessibility and usability.

• Download the Foster School of Medicine Medical Education Program Policy (PDF)
• Download the Technical Standards for Admission, Retention, and Graduation (PDF)

Applicant Responsibility

Applicants are responsible for understanding and meeting the standards, policies, deadlines, and requirements that apply to admission and matriculation. Applicants should contact the Office of Admissions if they have questions about how a policy applies to their application.