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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
October 20, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Felzkowski, Darling, Jagler,
Marklein, Petrowski, Stafsholt and Testin, cosponsored by
Representatives Callahan, Snyder, Born, Dittrich, Duchow, Knodl, Moses,
Mursau, J. Rodriguez, Rozar, Tittl and Tusler. Referred to Committee on
Insurance, Licensing and Forestry.
SB643,1,4 1An Act to repeal 448.05 (2) (b) 2.; to amend 448.05 (2) (b) 1., 448.05 (2) (b) 4.
2a., 448.05 (2) (b) 4. b. and 448.05 (2) (b) 5.; and to create 448.01 (4), 448.01 (9e)
3and 448.05 (2) (b) 4. c. of the statutes; relating to: qualification of international
4medical graduates to practice medicine and surgery.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
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:
SB643,1 1Section 1. 448.01 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB643,2,32 448.01 (4) “International medical graduate” means an individual who satisfies
3all of the following criteria:
SB643,2,54 (a) The individual has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine, doctor of
5osteopathy, or an equivalent degree by a qualified international medical program.
SB643,2,76 (b) The individual is in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory
7institution of his or her resident country.
SB643,2,88 (c) The individual can speak fluently in the English language.
SB643,2,99 (d) The individual is lawfully admitted to work in the United States.
SB643,2 10Section 2. 448.01 (9e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB643,3,6
1448.01 (9e) (a) “Qualified international medical program” means any medical
2school, residency program, medical internship program, or other entity or program
3that is accredited by the World Federation for Medical Education or a successor
4organization and provides physicians with medical education or training outside of
5the United States that satisfies standards for professional safety, competence, and
6conduct set by the board.
SB643,3,87 (b) “Qualified international medical program” includes all medical programs
8in the following countries:
SB643,3,99 1. Australia.
SB643,3,1010 2. Canada.
SB643,3,1111 3. Ireland.
SB643,3,1212 4. Israel.
SB643,3,1313 5. New Zealand.
SB643,3,1414 6. Singapore.
SB643,3,1515 7. South Africa.
SB643,3,1616 8. Switzerland.
SB643,3,1717 9. The United Kingdom.
SB643,3 18Section 3. 448.05 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB643,3,2119 448.05 (2) (b) 1. That the applicant is a graduate of and possesses a diploma
20from a foreign medical college credentialed by an agency approved by the board
an
21international medical graduate
.
SB643,4 22Section 4. 448.05 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
SB643,5 23Section 5. 448.05 (2) (b) 4. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB643,4,324 448.05 (2) (b) 4. a. The applicant has successfully completed and received credit
25for 24 months of postgraduate training in one or more qualified international

1medical programs or in one or more
programs accredited by the Accreditation
2Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Osteopathic Association, or
3a successor organization.
SB643,6 4Section 6. 448.05 (2) (b) 4. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB643,4,135 448.05 (2) (b) 4. b. The applicant is currently enrolled in a qualified
6international medical program or
in a postgraduate training program accredited by
7the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American
8Osteopathic Association, or a successor organization; the applicant has successfully
9completed and received credit for 12 consecutive months of postgraduate training in
10that program; and the applicant has received an unrestricted endorsement from the
11postgraduate training program director that includes confirmation that the
12applicant is expected to continue in the program and complete at least 24 months of
13postgraduate training.
SB643,7 14Section 7. 448.05 (2) (b) 4. c. of the statutes is created to read:
SB643,4,1615 448.05 (2) (b) 4. c. The applicant has been continuously engaged in the practice
16of medicine and surgery outside this state for at least 3 years.
SB643,8 17Section 8. 448.05 (2) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB643,4,2218 448.05 (2) (b) 5. That the applicant satisfies any other requirement established
19by the board by rule for issuing the license. The board may not require any greater
20length of training or experience than described in this subsection, and the board may
21not require an applicant to prove that he or she gained practice experience in a
22particular location beyond what is required under this subsection.
SB643,4,2323 (End)
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