(a) A physician's specialty(ies) is one for which the physician is board certified or, one for which a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy has completed a postgraduate specialty training as defined in Section 11(a)(2)(A) or held an appointment as a QME in that specialty on June 30, 2000, pursuant to Labor Code Section 139.2. To be listed as a QME in a particular specialty, the physician's licensing board must recognize the designated specialty board and the applicant for QME status must have provided to the Administrative Director documentation from the relevant board of certification or qualification.

(b) All requests by a physician to add or remove a medical specialty shall be in writing. A physician seeking to add or change specialties shall include the documentation specified in subdivision (a) that establishes the physician is board certified in the specialty or the subspecialty recognized by the Administrative Director that the physician wishes to add. The failure to provide proof of board certification shall be grounds to deny the request.