Bill Opens Three Paths For Foreign Doctors, No Texas Residency Required

The text as introduced · 1,029 words

89R1171 BEE-F

By: Harris Davila
H.B. No. 296

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the issuance of a license to practice medicine to

certain applicants licensed or educated in a foreign country.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Sections 155.012 and 155.013 to read as follows:

Sec. 155.012. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE TO APPLICANT LICENSED TO

PRACTICE MEDICINE IN CERTAIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Notwithstanding

Sections 155.003, 155.004, 155.005, and 155.051, the board shall

issue a license to practice medicine to an applicant who presents

proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant:

(1) is a resident of and licensed in good standing to

practice medicine in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, New

Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, or the United

Kingdom;

(2) has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine or

a substantially similar degree by a program of medical education

determined by the board to be in good standing in accordance with

board rule;

(3) has:

(A) completed a residency or substantially

similar postgraduate medical training in the applicant's country of

residence; or

(B) practiced as a medical professional

performing the duties of a physician in the applicant's country of

residence for not less than two years;

(4) has proficiency in the English language; and

(5) is authorized under federal law to work in the

United States.

Sec. 155.013. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE TO GRADUATE OF CERTAIN

BOARD-APPROVED FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAMS. (a) Notwithstanding

Sections 155.003, 155.004, and 155.005, the board shall issue a

license to practice medicine to an applicant who satisfies:

(1) the eligibility requirements of this section; and

(2) the examination requirements of Section 155.051.

(b) To be eligible for a license under this section, an

applicant must present proof satisfactory to the board that the

applicant:

(1) has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine or

a substantially similar degree by a foreign medical program

approved under Subsection (c);

(2) is licensed in good standing to practice medicine

in another country;

(3) has:

(A) completed a residency or substantially

similar postgraduate medical training in the applicant's country of

licensure; or

(B) practiced as a medical professional

performing the duties of a physician in the applicant's country of

licensure for not less than two years;

(4) has proficiency in the English language; and

(5) is authorized under federal law to work in the

United States.

(c) The board shall adopt rules regarding the approval of

foreign medical programs for purposes of this section. Rules

adopted under this subsection must provide that a foreign medical

program is eligible to apply under this section only if the program

is a medical school, residency program, medical internship program,

or other entity that provides medical education or training outside

of the United States that is substantially similar to the education

or training provided by a medical school described by Section

155.003(a)(4).

(d) The board shall approve an application under this

section not later than the 120th day after the date the application

is submitted unless:

(1) the board determines the applicant does not meet

the eligibility requirements described by Subsection (c); or

(2) the board finds by clear and convincing evidence

that the majority of the program's graduates are not likely to

provide medical care that satisfies applicable board standards

relating to safety, competency, or professional conduct in the

practice of medicine.

(e) A foreign medical program may appeal the board's denial

of the program's application under this section. The appeal is

considered to be a contested case under Chapter 2001, Government

Code.

(f) The board shall approve for purposes of this section a

foreign medical program if at least five graduates of the program

have been issued a license to practice medicine under Section

155.1015(c).

(g) The board shall maintain on the board's Internet website

a list of all foreign medical programs approved under this section

and provide a copy of the list on request.

SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 155.1015 to read as follows:

Sec. 155.1015. ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL LICENSE TO CERTAIN

FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAM GRADUATES WITH OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a)

On application, the board shall issue a provisional license to

practice medicine to an applicant who:

(1) has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine or

a substantially similar degree by a foreign program of medical

education determined to be in good standing in accordance with

board rule;

(2) is licensed in good standing to practice medicine

in another country;

(3) has:

(A) completed a residency or substantially

similar postgraduate medical training in the applicant's country of

licensure; or

(B) practiced as a medical professional

performing the duties of a physician in the applicant's country of

licensure for not less than two years;

(4) has proficiency in the English language;

(5) is authorized under federal law to work in the

United States;

(6) satisfies the examination requirements of Section

155.051; and

(7) has been offered employment in this state as a

physician by a person who provides health care services in the

normal course of business, including a health system, hospital,

hospital-based facility, freestanding emergency facility, or

urgent care clinic.

(b) A provisional license issued under this section expires

on the earlier of:

(1) the date the board issues the provisional license

holder a license under this subtitle or denies the provisional

license holder's application for a license under Subsection (c); or

(2) the third anniversary of the date the provisional

license was issued.

(c) On application, the board shall issue a license under

this subtitle to the holder of a provisional license under this

section if the provisional license holder:

(1) will have practiced under the provisional license

for at least three years at the time the license will be issued; and

(2) satisfies any other requirement under board rule

for the issuance of a license under this subsection.

SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas

Medical Board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Sections

155.012, 155.013, and 155.1015, Occupations Code, as added by this

Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.