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Board authorizes rulemaking for licensing pathway for fully trained foreign physicians
Summary
The board approved a proposal to begin rulemaking on criteria to license fully trained foreign physicians (FTFP), requiring equivalent accredited schooling, USMLE steps, English proficiency, work authorization and malpractice history verification.
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners voted to begin rulemaking on a licensing pathway for fully trained foreign physicians (FTFP), a proposal staff said will help physicians trained overseas to practice in Louisiana if they meet specified equivalency criteria.
Board member Doctor Gallardo described proposed criteria that would require: graduation from an equivalent medical school recognized by specified credentialing bodies, English-language proficiency, successful completion of USMLE steps 1, 2 and 3 (or equivalent), valid U.S. work authorization and Social Security number, criminal background clearance (as part of visa processing), at least three years of residency or equivalent clinical training, documentation of work history and malpractice/loss-run statements from previous liability carriers, and a two-year rural-service period without complaints or malpractice as a path to an unrestricted license.
Staff said the proposal draws on the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) work and that as many as 10 states have passed similar laws. The board voted after a motion to propose rulemaking; the motion carried by voice vote.
Board members asked staff to draft regulatory language and to return with precise rule text to begin the APA promulgation process. Staff noted the intent is to avoid discrimination while ensuring training and patient-safety equivalency.
The board did not adopt final rules at the meeting; it authorized staff to draft rule language and start the formal rulemaking process.
