SB 427: Physicians; limited provisional licenses and a pathway to licensure for certain internationally trained physicians; provide

Georgia currently requires physicians to meet standard licensing rules regardless of where they trained. This bill creates a new limited provisional license specifically for internationally trained physicians who completed medical school abroad and meet detailed requirements: years of postgraduate training or practice experience, passing recognized medical exams, English proficiency, a clean disciplinary record, and legal authorization to work in the United States. Holders of this license must work full-time under a supervising physician at a medical practice in a rural county, a licensed hospital, a federally qualified health center, or an accredited medical school. After four years of active practice, they can apply for a full license, with a condition of two more years practicing in an underserved area. The Medical Board must hire medical directors to oversee the program and report annually to legislative health committees starting December 1, 2027. The law only takes effect, and stays in effect, if the General Assembly specifically funds it in an appropriations act; without that funding line item, the section is automatically repealed.

• Creates a new limited provisional medical license for internationally trained physicians who meet education, exam, English proficiency, and background check requirements.
• Requires limited provisional licensees to work full-time under a supervising physician at a rural medical practice, hospital, federally qualified health center, or accredited medical school.
• Sets a misdemeanor penalty with a fine of up to $500 per offense for practicing outside the approved settings.
• Establishes a four-year pathway to full licensure, followed by two additional years of required practice in an underserved area.
• Requires the Georgia Composite Medical Board to hire one or more medical directors to oversee the program and submit annual reports to legislative health committees starting December 1, 2027.
• Makes the entire new law contingent on the General Assembly specifically funding it in an appropriations act, with automatic repeal if funding lapses.

Internationally trained physicians seeking to practice in Georgia, physicians who serve as supervising doctors in rural counties, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and accredited medical schools, the Georgia Composite Medical Board, and legislative health committees that will receive annual reports.

The bill offers a new licensing route for foreign-trained doctors to practice in Georgia's underserved rural areas and health centers, potentially easing physician shortages, but only if lawmakers separately vote to fund the program; without that funding line item, the entire provision disappears automatically.

• New Code Section 43-34-34.1(a) defines key terms including 'internationally trained physician,' 'limited provisional license,' 'supervising physician,' and 'rural county' (population under 50,000).
• Subsection (b) lists ten qualification requirements, including foreign licensure, 130 weeks of medical education, years of postgraduate practice, passing approved exams, English proficiency, and legal work authorization.
• Subsection (d) restricts practice to approved settings and makes violations a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 per offense.
• Subsection (g) allows application for a full license after four years of practice, conditioned on a clean record and two more years in an underserved area.
• Subsection (h) requires the board to employ medical directors to oversee site readiness, supervision audits, and disciplinary recommendations.
• Subsection (i) requires annual reports to the House Committee on Health and Senate Health and Human Services Committee starting December 1, 2027, detailing applicant and licensee data.
• Subsection (k) and Section 2 make the entire Code section contingent on a specific line-item appropriation, with automatic repeal if funding is not renewed.

1. 2026-05-11Act 509
2. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
3. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-03-23Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
5. 2026-03-18House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
6. 2026-03-18House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-03-10House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
8. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)

• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)Primary sponsor
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 20, 2026

   45 yea, 3 nay (2 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #565

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 18, 2026

   165 yea, 2 nay (2 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #720

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 23, 2026

   46 yea, 4 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #797

• physician licensing
• rural health care
• medical board regulations
• internationally trained doctors
• health workforce