AB 954

This bill creates provisional licenses for certain internationally trained

physicians to practice as a physician in this state and provides that certain physician

assistants or physician associates who are licensed to practice in certain qualifying

countries may apply for and receive a license to practice as a physician assistant in

this state without having to satisfy certain educational requirements provided under

current law. Under the bill, provisional licenses to practice as a physician are

automatically converted into permanent licenses after the provisional license holder

practices in this state and maintains good standing for three consecutive years.

Under current law, the Medical Examining Board licenses and regulates

physicians. This bill provides that the Medical Examining Board may issue a

provisional license to practice as a physician to an applicant who meets certain

requirements, including: (1) the applicant has an offer for employment as a physician

in this state; (2) the applicant has been granted a medical doctorate or a substantially

similar degree by an international medical program; (3) the applicant has completed

a residency program or a postgraduate medical training program that is

substantially similar to a residency program; (4) the applicant has practiced as a

fully licensed physician in his or her country of practice for at least five years after

completing a residency program or a postgraduate medical training program that is

substantially similar to a residency program; (5) the applicant has been in good

standing with the medical licensing or regulatory agency of his or her country of

practice for the five years preceding the individual's application and does not have

any pending disciplinary action before the medical licensing or regulatory agency;

(6) the applicant has passed all steps of the United States Medical Licensing

Examination administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the

Federation of State Medical Boards, or their successor organizations; (7) the

applicant has, or will have prior to working as a physician in this state, a federal

immigration status and employment authorization that enables the applicant to

work as a physician in this state; and (8) the applicant possesses basic fluency in the

English language. Under the bill, “international medical program” is defined to

mean any medical school, residency program, medical internship program, or other

program that is approved by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical

Graduates or provides individuals with a medical education or training outside the

United States that is substantially similar to the training required to qualify to

practice medicine and surgery in this state.

Under current law, the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board is

attached to the Medical Examining Board and is responsible for the licensing and

regulation of physician assistants. The Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing

Board must issue licenses to practice as a physician assistant to any applicant who

is found qualified by three-fourths of the members of the board and who satisfies

certain requirements including that the applicant has successfully completed an