Bill > SB601

This bill creates a new pathway for graduates of foreign medical schools to obtain a medical license in Arkansas if they are offered full-time employment in a medically underserved population. The bill modifies existing medical licensing requirements by establishing a special provisional licensing process for foreign-trained physicians. To qualify, applicants must hold an active, unencumbered medical license from their home country, have actively practiced medicine in the four years prior to application, pass the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) evaluation and examination, and receive a job offer from a healthcare provider serving a medically underserved area. The provisional license is initially valid for one year and requires the physician to maintain employment with the original healthcare provider for at least three consecutive years, notify the Arkansas State Medical Board of any employment changes, and appear before the board with their sponsoring physician. After the first year, physicians can renew the provisional license, and after two years, they become eligible for an active, unrestricted medical license upon review and approval by the Arkansas State Medical Board. The bill aims to address potential physician shortages in underserved areas by creating a more accessible licensing pathway for qualified foreign medical graduates.

Health and Social Services

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb601&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R