Pennsylvania HB 2121: An Act amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, further providing for temporary license.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2741
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2121
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY BURGOS, KAZEEM, HILL-EVANS, KINKEAD, HOHENSTEIN,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, BELLMON, SANCHEZ AND McNEILL, JANUARY 7, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, JANUARY 8, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112),
entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine
and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts;
reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and
Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for
its composition, powers and duties; providing for the
issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and
revocation of licenses and certificates; provided penalties;
and making repeals," further providing for temporary license.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 33(a) introductory paragraph of the act
of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical
Practice Act of 1985, is amended and the section is amended by
adding subsections to read:
Section 33. Temporary license.
(a) General rule.--[A] Except as provided under subsection
(d), a temporary license empowers the licensee to:
* * *
(d) Provisional licensure for international medical
graduates.--
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(1) The board shall issue a provisional license to an
international medical graduate who is not subject to
subsection (a) and who provides all of the following to the
board:
(i) Evidence of the performance of duties as a
physician for at least three years outside of the United
States.
(ii) A demonstration of English language
proficiency.
(iii) An Educational Commission for Foreign Medical
Graduates Certificate.
(iv) Evidence of a passing score on the United
States Medical Licensing Examination regarding:
(A) Step 1, which tests foundational basic
science concepts.
(B) Step 2, which assesses clinical science
knowledge for supervised patient care, including
diagnosis and management.
(v) Verification of foreign medical training or
practice.
(vi) Authorization to work in the United States for
a specified period of time.
(vii) Confirmation of a full-time job offer from a
Commonwealth-licensed health care facility.
(2) An international medical graduate who receives a
provisional license in accordance with this subsection shall,
as determined by the board, be subject to practicing under
supervision, within designated underserved areas or within
approved specialties.
(3) A provisional license issued in accordance with this
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subsection shall be valid for up to four years.
(4) An international medical graduate who has maintained
a provisional license in good standing for the entire
provisional period, without any violation or pending
investigation, shall be eligible to receive a full and
unrestricted license to practice medicine in this
Commonwealth. If the international medical graduate has
complied with the supervised practice agreement and all
relevant regulations, the board may not unreasonably withhold
the approval of the full and unrestricted license.
(5) No later than one year after the effective date of
this paragraph, and annually thereafter, the board shall
issue a report to the General Assembly that contains the
following information regarding provisional licenses issued
in accordance with this subsection:
(i) The number of provisional licenses issued
annually.
(ii) The location in which each international
medical graduate with a provisional license is currently
practicing.
(iii) The nature of the practice of each
international medical graduate with a provisional
license.
(iv) Any other information that the board deems
appropriate.
(e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"International medical graduate." An individual who has
graduated from an international medical school.
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"Provisional license." A temporary license to practice
medicine, which is issued to an international medical graduate
in accordance with subsection (d).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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