1 New Section; Qualifications for License; License for International Physicians. Amend RSA 329 by inserting after section 12 the following new section:

329:12-a License for International Physicians.

I. In this section:

(a) "International medical graduate" means an individual who:

(1) Has been granted a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree by an international medical program of good standing.

(2) Is in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of the individual's licensing country.

(3) Has completed a residency or substantially similar postgraduate medical training in the individual's licensing country, or practiced as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician in the individual's licensing country for no less than 5 years.

(4) Possesses basic fluency in the English language.

(b) "International medical program" means a medical school, residency program, medical internship program, or entity that provides physicians with a medical education or training outside of the United States that is substantially similar to that required to practice as a physician in this state.

II. If an applicant is a licensed physician outside the United States or Canada and has completed a residency program or otherwise practiced as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician for at least 5 years outside the United States, the office shall grant a provisional license as a physician, if the applicant provides:

(a) A certificate from a medical school whose curriculum is judged to be acceptable by the board.

(b) A nonrefundable application fee as set by the office.

(c) Sufficient evidence of good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of the applicant's licensing country.

(d) Sufficient evidence of:

(1) Completion of a residency or substantially similar postgraduate medical training; or

(2) Practice as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician for no less than 5 years.

(e) Sufficient evidence of good professional character.

(f) Evidence of being a citizen of the United States or otherwise having legal status to work in the United States.

(g) Evidence of basic fluency in the English language.

(h) Sufficient evidence that the applicant is an international medical graduate and has an offer for employment as a physician at a health care provider that operates in this state and has a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in place.

III. An applicant who is granted a provisional license pursuant to this section shall only provide medical services at a health care provider that has a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in place.

IV. The office may revoke a provisional license issued pursuant to this section based upon a finding by the board that clear and convincing evidence exists that medical services provided by the provisional licensee have violated medical safety, competency, or conduct standards established by the board.

V. A provisional licensee may appeal the office's revocation of the licensee's provisional license within 30 days pursuant to RSA 310:14.

VI. The office shall grant a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine to a provisional licensee who is in good standing 2 years after the date of initial licensure. A provisional licensee who obtains a full and unrestricted license is not subject to the limitation of practicing at a health care facility with a residency program.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 New Section; Qualifications for License; License for International Physicians. Amend RSA 329 by inserting after section 12 the following new section:

329:12-a License for International Physicians.

I. In this section:

(a) "International medical graduate" means an individual who:

(1) Has been granted a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree by an international medical program of good standing.

(2) Is in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of the individual's licensing country.

(3) Has completed a residency or substantially similar postgraduate medical training in the individual's licensing country, or practiced as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician in the individual's licensing country for no less than 5 years.

(4) Possesses basic fluency in the English language.

(b) "International medical program" means a medical school, residency program, medical internship program, or entity that provides physicians with a medical education or training outside of the United States that is substantially similar to that required to practice as a physician in this state.

II. If an applicant is a licensed physician outside the United States or Canada and has completed a residency program or otherwise practiced as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician for at least 5 years outside the United States, the office shall grant a provisional license as a physician, if the applicant provides:

(a) A certificate from a medical school whose curriculum is judged to be acceptable by the board.

(b) A nonrefundable application fee as set by the office.

(c) Sufficient evidence of good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of the applicant's licensing country.

(d) Sufficient evidence of:

(1) Completion of a residency or substantially similar postgraduate medical training; or

(2) Practice as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician for no less than 5 years.

(e) Sufficient evidence of good professional character.

(f) Evidence of being a citizen of the United States or otherwise having legal status to work in the United States.

(g) Evidence of basic fluency in the English language.

(h) Sufficient evidence that the applicant is an international medical graduate and has an offer for employment as a physician at a health care provider that operates in this state and has a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in place.

III. An applicant who is granted a provisional license pursuant to this section shall only provide medical services at a health care provider that has a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in place.

IV. The office may revoke a provisional license issued pursuant to this section based upon a finding by the board that clear and convincing evidence exists that medical services provided by the provisional licensee have violated medical safety, competency, or conduct standards established by the board.

V. A provisional licensee may appeal the office's revocation of the licensee's provisional license within 30 days pursuant to RSA 310:14.

VI. The office shall grant a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine to a provisional licensee who is in good standing 2 years after the date of initial licensure. A provisional licensee who obtains a full and unrestricted license is not subject to the limitation of practicing at a health care facility with a residency program.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.