October 25, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Callahan, Snyder, Born,
Dittrich, Duchow, Knodl, Moses, Mursau, J. Rodriguez, Rozar, Tittl and
Tusler, cosponsored by Senators Felzkowski, Darling, Jagler, Marklein,
Petrowski, Stafsholt and Testin. Referred to Committee on Health.

AB656,1,4 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.

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.