S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7319--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRUZ, DAVILA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee on High-
er Education in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an inter-
nationally trained physician licensure pathway program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that New York
state is experiencing a critical shortage of physicians, particularly in
primary care and in underserved and rural communities. This shortage
limits access to essential healthcare services, exacerbates health
disparities, and places an increasing burden on the existing healthcare
workforce. At the same time, New York is home to thousands of interna-
tionally trained physicians who possess the education, skills, and expe-
rience necessary to provide high-quality medical care. However,
outdated, and restrictive licensing requirements often prevent these
highly qualified professionals from practicing medicine, resulting in
significant "brain waste" where capable medical professionals are under-
employed or forced to leave the healthcare field altogether. It is the
intent of this legislature to address both the physician shortage and
the underutilization of internationally trained medical professionals by
establishing a streamlined pathway to licensure. This initiative will
allow qualified, foreign-trained physicians and physicians trained
and/or licensed to practice medicine in a territory or possession of the
United States to contribute to the healthcare system through supervised
practice in designated shortage areas, ultimately leading to full licen-
sure. By enacting this legislation, New York will expand access to
healthcare, strengthen the medical workforce, and ensure that skilled
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09564-03-6
A. 7319--A 2
medical professionals can fully contribute to the well-being of our
communities.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6525-a to
read as follows:
§ 6525-A. INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIAN LICENSURE PATHWAY PROGRAM.
1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING
MEANINGS:
(A) "INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIAN" SHALL MEAN A PHYSICIAN WHO IS
LICENSED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY OR IN A TERRITORY OR
POSSESSION OF THE UNITED STATES MEETING STANDARDS SATISFACTORY TO THE
STATE BOARD FOR MEDICINE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGU-
LATIONS.
(B) "PARTICIPATING HEALTHCARE FACILITY" MEANS FEDERALLY QUALIFIED
HEALTH CENTERS, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, AND HOSPITALS OR HEALTHCARE
FACILITIES LOCATED IN PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE AREAS, AS APPROVED BY THE STATE
BOARD FOR MEDICINE.
(C) "TERRITORY OR POSSESSION OF THE UNITED STATES" MEANS PUERTO RICO,
GUAM, THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS, AMERICAN SAMOA, AND THE COMMON-
WEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, AND ANY OTHER TERRITORY OR
POSSESSION SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
2. PERMITS LIMITED AS TO ELIGIBILITY, PRACTICE AND DURATION, SHALL BE
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, AS FOLLOWS:
(A) AN INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIAN SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A
LIMITED PERMIT PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION.
(B) A PERMITTEE SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE ONLY UNDER
THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN AND ONLY IN A PARTICIPATING
HEALTHCARE FACILITY.
(C) A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE VALID FOR TWO YEARS, DURING WHICH THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE PERMITTEE IS MENTORED, ASSESSED, AND EVALUATED BY THE
SUPERVISING LICENSED PHYSICIAN.
3. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE SUPERVISED PRACTICE PERIOD PURSU-
ANT TO PARAGRAPH (C) OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, AN INTERNA-
TIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIAN SHALL BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT A TWO-YEAR
RESTRICTED LICENSE ALLOWING INDEPENDENT PRACTICE IN PRIMARY CARE,
PSYCHIATRY, OR OTHER SPECIALTIES APPROVED BY THE STATE BOARD FOR MEDI-
CINE, WITHIN PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE AREAS AS DESIGNATED BY THE STATE BOARD
FOR MEDICINE.
4. FOLLOWING TWO YEARS OF PRACTICE WITH A RESTRICTED LICENSE GRANTED
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION, AN INTERNATIONALLY
TRAINED PHYSICIAN SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION
SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY.
5. THE STATE BOARD FOR MEDICINE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT,
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SHALL PROMULGATE ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS
NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION, WHICH SHALL AT A MINI-
MUM INCLUDE:
(A) PROGRAM STANDARDS FOR PARTICIPATING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO
MENTOR, ASSESS, AND EVALUATE INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIANS WORKING
UNDER LIMITED PERMITS ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
SECTION;
(B) REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO ESTABLISH
FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED
PHYSICIANS WORKING UNDER LIMITED PERMITS ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
TWO OF THIS SECTION;
(C) REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO SUBMIT
EVIDENCE OF AN INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIAN'S ELIGIBILITY AND
A. 7319--A 3
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO GRANT A
RESTRICTED LICENSE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION; AND
(D) REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE TO IMPLEMENT THE LICENSURE PATHWAY ESTAB-
LISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, ENSURING CLARITY IN THE APPLICATION
PROCESS, SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS, AND CRITERIA FOR PROGRESSION TO FULL
LICENSURE.
6. THE STATE BOARD FOR MEDICINE SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT ANNUALLY ON
JANUARY FIFTH TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE ON THE STATUS OF THE
LICENSURE PATHWAY ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIANS WHO ARE
PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN THIS SECTION, INCLUDING,
WHERE APPLICABLE, THE NUMBER TRAINED AND/OR LICENSED IN A TERRITORY OR
POSSESSION OF THE UNITED STATES, THEIR SPECIALTY AND THE REGION THEY ARE
SERVING.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.