(a) The following provisions of Subpart 145-1 of this Part shall apply to the Regents physician loan forgiveness program, the Regents health care professional opportunity scholarship program, and the Regents professional opportunity scholarship program: section 145-1.1 (applications); section 145-1.3 (residence); section 145-1.7 (acceptance of awards); section 145-1.8 (cancellation of awards); section 145-1.9 (leaves of absence); 145-1.11 (duplicative awards); section 145-1.14 (reawards); section 145-1.16 (repayment).

1. (1) An approved program of study in a profession, except as otherwise provided in section 145-6.2 of this Subpart, shall mean a program registered by the Education Department and offered in New York State which either:

   1. (i) has been designated by the commissioner as licensure qualifying in the particular profession; or
   2. (ii) in the case of the profession of law, meets the requirements contained in the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 520.3) pertaining to the study of law.
2. (2) An area of shortage of physicians shall mean a region or facility within New York State designated by the Board of Regents, in consultation with the Commissioners of Health, Correctional Services, Mental Health and Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, as having a shortage of physicians.
3. (3) A student who is economically disadvantaged shall mean a student who meets the criteria set forth in section 27-1.1(b) and (c) of this Title, except that section 27-1.1(b)(2) and (4) of this Title shall not apply.
4. (4) The practice of dentistry shall mean employment as a licensed dentist providing essentially full-time direct patient care.
5. (5) The practice of medicine shall mean employment as a licensed physician providing essentially full-time direct patient care, provided that the practice of medicine shall not include services as an intern or resident.

6. (6) The practice of a profession other than medicine or dentistry shall mean full-time employment either:

   1. (i) carrying out activities for which licensure would be required in a nonexempt setting; or
   2. (ii) teaching a post-secondary program registered by the department as licensure qualifying in the same profession in which the teacher is licensed; or
   3. (iii) carrying out activities for which licensure as an attorney is required.

(b) Definitions.

As used in this Subpart and in Education Law, sections 605(9)-(11) and 6454: