Public Comments Open on LSBME's Proposed Rule for Foreign Physician Licensure Pathway
To address Louisiana’s physician shortage, Act 646 of the 2024 Regular Legislative Session established an alternative licensure pathway for internationally educated physicians who completed their education and training outside of the United States. The law empowers Louisiana hospitals to recruit highly trained and competent physicians who might otherwise be deterred by current licensure criteria that require foreign physicians to repeat their entire residency.
Act 646 enacted La. R.S. 37:1275.2 authorizing the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) to issue licenses to international medical graduates (IMGs) under specific conditions and in accordance with rules promulgated by the LSBME.
To qualify, an IMG must:
1. Hold a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree from an international medical program of good standing;
2. Be in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of the individual’s licensing country;
3. Have completed residency or substantially similar post-graduate medical training in the individual’s licensing country or practiced as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician in the individual’s licensing country for no less than five years;
4. Be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or legally entitled to live or work in the U.S. and possess basic fluency in the English language; and
5. Provide evidence that an applicant has an offer of employment as a physician at a facility owned or operated by a hospital licensed in Louisiana.
The LSBME has initiated the rulemaking process. The Notice of Intent published in the July edition of the Louisiana Register, Vol. 51, No. 7, states the rule changes provide for the licensure of fully trained foreign physicians (FTFP) and establish qualifications for licensure. The LSBME estimates the application fee for the new FTFP license will be approximately $385, with an annual renewal fee of approximately $325.
The proposed amendments provide:
§321. Scope of Subchapter; Definitions
A. The rules of this Subchapter specify additional qualifications, requirements, and procedures for the licensing of physicians who are international medical graduates or fully trained foreign physicians.
B. As used in this Subchapter, the term international medical graduate or IMG means a graduate of a medical school or college not located in any state or in Canada, recognized and officially listed by the World Health Organization and not affirmatively approved by the board.
C. As used in this Subchapter, the term fully trained foreign physician or FTFP means a physician whose education, training, and work experience has occurred outside of the United States and who meets the requirements to apply for and receive an FTFP license.
§329. Qualifications for License—FTFP
A. To be eligible for an FTFP license, a fully trained foreign physician applicant shall:
1. Be at least 21 years of age;
2. Be of good moral character as defined by §303.A;
3. Possess a doctor of medicine or equivalent degree duly issued and conferred by a medical school or college approve[d] by the board;
4. Possess current and valid legal authority to reside and work in the United States and a valid Social Security number;
5. Have completed United States Medical Licensing Examination steps 1-3;
6. Have completed a residency program of 3 or more years (non-preceptorship), or provide a malpractice history with loss run from all liability carriers or other equivalent indemnity entities;
7. Provide a detailed work history from graduation to the date of application;
8. Provide a letter of current good standing from home licensing agency;
9. Have a current offer for two years of employment in hospital in a rural or medically underserved area, or a current job offer for two years of employment in a hospital to fill a chronically understaffed position.
B. The FTFP license authorizes the licensee to work solely for the employer making the original job offer for a period of two years. Upon successful completion of two years of practice in the sponsoring employment, and upon providing a statement from the employer that the licensee has not had any deficiencies during that time, the physician is eligible for a full and unrestricted license.
The proposed rules are under review with the Louisiana Department of Justice’s Occupational Licensing Review Program (OLRP), which provides active state supervision for occupational rulemaking of participating boards. The OLRP is accepting public comments on the proposed rule change through Nov. 4, 2025. Public comments should be submitted in accordance with the “Public Comments” sections of the OLRP webpage located at www.aglizmurrill.com/olrp.
