Revision: Nov. 21, 2025, 5:39 p.m.
SB 457-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2231
09/05
SENATE BILL 457-FN
AN ACT relative to the licensing of international physicians.
SPONSORS: Sen. Reardon, Dist 15; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows for the granting of provisional and ultimately full licenses to international physicians.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2231
09/
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the licensing of international physicians.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
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.
26-2231
10/17/25
SB 457-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the licensing of international physicians.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Fund | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable Increase $10,000-$100,000 | ||||
Funding Source(s) | Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a pathway for international physicians to obtain a full medical license in the state after two years under a provisional license. To qualify for a provisional license, applicants must be licensed outside the United States or Canada, or have at least five years of relevant experience or residency, and meet requirements including: a recognized medical school certificate, application fee, proof of good standing, be a United States citizen or have legal United States work status, English fluency, and have an offer for employment at a health care provider that has a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) has indicated that this bill conflicts with the universal licensure framework outlined in RSA 310, specifically RSA 310:4, II(c), RSA 310:10, RSA 310:17, and the Plc 300 rules, due to the proposed changes in RSA 329:12-a, II–VI. These changes would impose additional costs on both the Board of Medicine and the OPLC. Currently, OPLC does not track where individuals work during residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Implementing such tracking would require increased staffing in both licensing and disciplinary operations. As a result, administrative costs are projected to increase ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, given that the proposed licensing process diverges from existing procedures. Furthermore, a potential rise in applicants and licensees could lead to additional expenses but also bring in more revenue.
It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2026.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Office of Professional Licensure and Certification