AB656: Bill Text

Under current law, an applicant for a license to practice as a physician in this state who is a graduate of a foreign medical college (“foreign applicant”) must provide evidence satisfactory to the Medical Examining Board (“Board”) of several facts in order to acquire a license to practice as a physician in this state. This bill makes several changes to the process that individuals who are graduates of foreign medical colleges may use to apply for and obtain a license to practice as a physician in this state by allowing an individual who is a foreign applicant to acquire a license if the individual satisfies all of the following conditions:

1. The individual is an “international medical graduate.” The bill defines “international medical graduate” as an individual who has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy or an equivalent degree by a “qualified international medical program,” is in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of their resident country, can speak fluently in the English language, and is lawfully admitted to work in this country. The bill defines “qualified international medical program” as any medical school, residency program, medical internship program, or other entity that is accredited by the World Federation for Medical Education or a successor organization and provides physicians with a medical education or training outside the United States that satisfies Wisconsin medical safety, competence, and conduct standards.

2. The individual accomplishes one of the following:

a. The individual receives credit for 24 months of postgraduate training with an appropriate organization as set forth in the bill.

b. The individual is enrolled in a postgraduate training program with an appropriate organization as set forth in the bill and the applicant receives an unrestricted endorsement from the postgraduate training program director.

c. The individual provides evidence satisfactory to the Board that the individual has been continuously engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery outside this state for at least three years.

3. The individual satisfies any other requirements established by the Board by rule. The bill restricts the Board from establishing rules requiring the applicant to have an amount of experience that exceeds what is otherwise required under law, and from establishing rules requiring the applicant to have practice experience in specified locations beyond what is required under law.

Finally, the bill eliminates the requirement under current law that an individual who is a foreign applicant obtain certification from the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates or its successor organization in order to acquire a license to practice as a physician in this state.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB656,1 Section 1. 448.01 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB656,2,3 448.01 (4) “International medical graduate” means an individual who satisfies all of the following criteria:

AB656,2,5 (a) The individual has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, or an equivalent degree by a qualified international medical program.

AB656,2,7 (b) The individual is in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of his or her resident country.

AB656,2,8 (c) The individual can speak fluently in the English language.

AB656,2,9 (d) The individual is lawfully admitted to work in the United States.

AB656,2 Section 2. 448.01 (9e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB656,3,6 448.01 (9e) (a) “Qualified international medical program” means any medical school, residency program, medical internship program, or other entity or program that is accredited by the World Federation for Medical Education or a successor organization and provides physicians with medical education or training outside of the United States that satisfies standards for professional safety, competence, and conduct set by the board.

AB656,3,8 (b) “Qualified international medical program” includes all medical programs in the following countries:

AB656,3,9 1. Australia.

AB656,3,10 2. Canada.

AB656,3,11 3. Ireland.

AB656,3,12 4. Israel.

AB656,3,13 5. New Zealand.

AB656,3,14 6. Singapore.

AB656,3,15 7. South Africa.

AB656,3,16 8. Switzerland.

AB656,3,17 9. The United Kingdom.

AB656,3 Section 3. 448.05 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,3,21 448.05 (2) (b) 1. That the applicant is a graduate of and possesses a diploma from a foreign medical college credentialed by an agency approved by the board an international medical graduate.

AB656,4 Section 4. 448.05 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

AB656,5 Section 5. 448.05 (2) (b) 4. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,4,3 448.05 (2) (b) 4. a. The applicant has successfully completed and received credit for 24 months of postgraduate training in one or more qualified international medical programs or in one or more programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Osteopathic Association, or a successor organization.

AB656,6 Section 6. 448.05 (2) (b) 4. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,4,13 448.05 (2) (b) 4. b. The applicant is currently enrolled in a qualified international medical program or in a postgraduate training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Osteopathic Association, or a successor organization; the applicant has successfully completed and received credit for 12 consecutive months of postgraduate training in that program; and the applicant has received an unrestricted endorsement from the postgraduate training program director that includes confirmation that the applicant is expected to continue in the program and complete at least 24 months of postgraduate training.

AB656,7 Section 7. 448.05 (2) (b) 4. c. of the statutes is created to read:

AB656,4,16 448.05 (2) (b) 4. c. The applicant has been continuously engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery outside this state for at least 3 years.

AB656,8 Section 8. 448.05 (2) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,4,22 448.05 (2) (b) 5. That the applicant satisfies any other requirement established by the board by rule for issuing the license. The board may not require any greater length of training or experience than described in this subsection, and the board may not require an applicant to prove that he or she gained practice experience in a particular location beyond what is required under this subsection.

AB656,4,23 (End)