SB142: SB142 Physicians; certain licensure for qualifying international medical graduates; provide

Currently, doctors trained outside the United States face a difficult path to practicing medicine in Georgia. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's medical practice law (O.C.G.A. § 43-34-34.1) that creates a three-tier licensing system for international medical graduates. First, the state medical board could issue a two-year, non-renewable provisional license to a foreign-trained doctor who has practiced medicine for three of the past ten years, passed certain U.S. medical licensing exam steps, and has a full-time job lined up at a qualifying hospital, medical school, teaching hospital, or clinic serving underserved populations. After two years, that person could apply for a limited license (valid up to two years, renewable) to work in a medically underserved area or teach at a medical school, provided they pass another exam step. After holding a limited license for two years, the doctor could apply for a full, unrestricted medical license. The board can deny, grant, or revoke any of these licenses, and applicants must have legal immigration status allowing them to work as physicians. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a new provisional medical license for international medical graduates who have practiced for three of the past ten years and secured full-time employment at a qualifying Georgia institution.
• Establishes a limited license, valid up to two years and renewable, for provisional license holders who pass Step 3 of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination and work in underserved areas or teach at a medical school.
• Allows a limited license holder of at least two years to apply for a full, unrestricted Georgia medical license if they meet all earlier requirements.
• Requires applicants to hold a federal immigration status allowing them to legally practice medicine in the United States before any license can be granted.
• Directs the medical board to coordinate with the Department of Community Health and the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce on placing these doctors in medically underserved areas.
• Gives the board authority to set additional criteria, grant or deny licenses at its discretion, and revoke licenses after notice and a hearing.

Foreign-trained physicians seeking to practice in Georgia, hospitals and clinics that employ them (especially those serving Medicaid, indigent, or underserved patients), board-approved medical schools and teaching hospitals, and the state medical board along with the Department of Community Health and the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce.

The bill would give foreign-trained doctors a defined, multi-step route to practicing medicine in Georgia, potentially adding physicians in underserved and rural areas facing doctor shortages. Hospitals and clinics that hire them would need malpractice coverage for these employees, and the doctors' immigration status remains a strict requirement.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 43-34-34.1 defining 'institution,' 'international medical graduate,' 'limited license,' and 'provisional license.'
• Subsection (b) sets provisional license requirements: three years of practice in the past decade, ECFMG certification (waivable for noncooperative countries), passing Step 1 and Step 2 CK exams, and a full-time job offer.
• Subsection (c) allows provisional license holders of two years to seek a limited license after passing Step 3 and taking a qualifying job in an underserved area or teaching role.
• Subsection (d) allows limited license holders of at least two years to apply for full licensure if all prior requirements were met.
• Subsection (e) makes all licenses subject to board rules, discretion, and revocation after notice and a hearing.
• Subsection (f) bars the board from issuing any license unless the applicant has legal immigration status to practice medicine in the U.S.
• Subsection (g) requires the board to coordinate with state health agencies to direct limited-license doctors to medically underserved areas.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2025-02-12Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-11Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)

• medical licensing
• international medical graduates
• physician shortages
• healthcare workforce