Assembly committee weighs bill to ease Nevada licensure for international medical graduates

Sen. Fabian Donate, who represents Senate District 10 in Las Vegas, told the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor on May 9 that Senate Bill 124 would "remove barriers for limited and unrestricted licenses of international medical graduates." The committee heard extensive supportive testimony from medical boards, health-care providers and community groups.

The bill would permit physicians who hold an unrestricted medical license issued by a foreign medical jurisdiction, and who meet other enumerated requirements, to apply for licensure in Nevada under a restricted pathway that includes supervision and verification of training. Supporters said the change aims to address Nevada's physician shortage — Donate said Nevada ranks 48th in physician availability and needs roughly 2,600 additional physicians to meet national standards.

Supporters framed SB124 as a targeted measure that preserves exam standards while allowing the state Board of Medical Examiners discretion to evaluate foreign credentials. "The board is in support of this bill," Sarah Bradley, deputy executive director of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners, told the committee. Bradley said the board worked with the senator on the current draft and believes the bill "will allow us to license qualified individuals to provide quality care in critical areas for Nevada citizens."

Stakeholders including Touro University Nevada, Nevada Primary Care Association (federally qualified health centers), the Libre/Libra Initiative, Americans for Prosperity and the Nevada State Medical Association also testified in support, citing evidence that internationally trained physicians frequently serve rural and underserved communities and specialty areas in high demand. Jacqueline Nguyen of the Nevada State Medical Association said the group "appreciates the safeguards built into this bill to protect patient care while also supporting our international medical graduate doctors."

Committee members pressed sponsors for technical clarity on exam and training requirements. Assemblymember Kasama asked why Canada was excluded from the bill's foreign-license language; Sam Kawas, committee counsel, replied that NRS 630.160 references the United States and Canada together for standard physician licensure and that existing statute treats those jurisdictions the same. Chair Marzola and other members sought clarification about which USMLE steps and residency verifications would be required before issuing restricted or unrestricted Nevada licenses. Senator Donate and his staff said the intent is for applicants to meet the same exam standards as U.S. graduates, but they acknowledged some reprint language needed technical cleanup to reflect whether all USMLE steps (including Step 3) are required prior to issuing a restricted license.

The committee received multiple personal and organizational support statements describing workforce benefits and cultural-linguistic match for Hispanic and limited-English populations. Testifiers included practicing physicians who said they are willing to serve in Nevada if credential barriers are resolved.

The hearing closed with the sponsor acknowledging clarifications would be needed in reprint language before the bill advances.

The committee did not take a formal vote during the hearing. The bill will return for further drafting and potential work sessions to resolve the timing and exam requirements referenced by committee counsel and members.