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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-20</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Alvarez</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_ORIGINATING">(Coauthor: Assembly Member Ávila Farías)</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Alvarez</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Ávila Farías</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Section 2126.1 to, and to add Article 6.2 (commencing with Section 2128) to Chapter 5 of Division 2 of, the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>healing arts</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>License to practice medicine: Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program and Provisional License for Qualified International Physicians Act. </ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California to license and regulate the practice of medicine. Existing law establishes within the act the Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program, which authorizes the board to issue a limited number of nonrenewable 3-year physician’s and surgeon’s licenses to licensed physicians from Mexico who meet specified criteria.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require the board to issue a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license to a person who has completed the 3-year term of the program in good standing upon satisfaction of specified requirements, including having an offer of continued employment from a health care facility or practice in California.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would establish the Provisional License for Qualified International Physicians Act,
which would require the board to issue a provisional license to an applicant who holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in another country who meets specified requirements. The bill would make the license valid for 5 years and renewable for one additional 5-year period. The bill would require the board to issue a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license to a provisional licensee applicant who meets specified requirements, including having completed at least 5 years of practice under the provisional license without any disciplinary actions. The bill would require the board to establish application, initial licensure, renewal, and conversion fees for the provisional license, as specified.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
California faces a severe and growing shortage of physicians, particularly in primary care specialties and in federally designated health professional shortage areas and medically underserved areas.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state’s diverse population, including large Spanish-speaking communities, requires culturally and linguistically competent physicians to ensure health equity and positive outcomes.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The existing Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program, as enacted by Assembly Bill 2860 of the 2023–24 Regular Session, has demonstrated success in placing
qualified Mexican physicians in underserved settings but currently offers no pathway for these physicians to continue serving California communities beyond the three-year nonrenewable term.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
California has untapped resources of medical talent, including recent medical school graduates who have been unable to secure residency positions and experienced internationally trained physicians who seek to practice in areas of need.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
It is in the public interest to create additional supervised pathways to practice medicine that maintain rigorous standards for patient safety while expanding access to care in communities throughout the state.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 2126.1 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Business and Professions Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>2126.1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A physician from Mexico who has completed the three-year nonrenewable license program under this article may apply for a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license if the physician meets all of the following requirements:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has completed the three-year term of the nonrenewable license program in good standing.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has obtained Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certification.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has passed Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has received positive evaluations in the peer reviews
described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (e) of Section 2125 and from the federally qualified health center’s chief medical officer for each year of licensure.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
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Has an offer of continued employment from a health care facility or practice in California, including, but not limited to, a federally qualified health care center, hospital, or clinic.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has completed all continuing medical education requirements of Article 10 (commencing with Section 2190) during the three-year term.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The board shall issue a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license to an applicant who meets the requirements of subdivision (a) and who otherwise meets all requirements for licensure under this chapter.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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Article 6.2 (commencing with Section 2128) is added to Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the
<ns0:DocName>Business and Professions Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading type="ARTICLE" id="id_C50E6D70-ABD7-4FF3-9CCB-D541E507BAF0">
<ns0:Num>6.2.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Provisional License for Qualified International Physicians</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_870675C2-0AB4-47DF-999A-B9AFD82BAD7C">
<ns0:Num>2128.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Provisional License for Qualified International Physicians Act.</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_30DC1C08-1B7A-4EC7-BEF0-2A356CEF3C91">
<ns0:Num>2128.1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>For purposes of this article:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“ACGME” means the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“ECFMG” means the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“HPSA” means health professional shortage area as designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“MUA” means medically underserved area as designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_15EF9FAA-EF52-48F8-85AA-522C9C46A15B">
<ns0:Num>2128.2.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Except as provided in subdivision (b), the board shall issue a provisional license to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in another country and has been in good standing for at least three years.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has completed a residency or postgraduate training program in the other country that is substantially equivalent to an ACGME-accredited residency program as determined by the board.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has obtained ECFMG certification.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has passed Steps 1 and 2 of the United
States Medical Licensing Examination.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has proficiency in the English language as demonstrated by a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language or the Occupational English Test at levels established by the board.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Is authorized to work in the United States.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has a valid offer of employment from a health care facility or practice in California, including, but not limited to, a hospital, clinic, or facility with an ACGME-accredited residency program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A physician who is a citizen of Mexico and who is eligible for the Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program under Article 6 (commencing with Section 2125) shall not be eligible for a provisional license under this article.
</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_BA11C552-2441-400E-920C-BE2C38820AA9">
<ns0:Num>2128.3.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The provisional license shall be valid for five years and may be renewed for one additional five-year period.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
During the initial five-year period, the provisional licensee shall practice in a health care facility or practice in California under the supervision required in subdivision (c).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The provisional licensee shall be subject to supervision by a physician holding a full and unrestricted California license during the initial five-year period.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_2258775D-C12C-49BA-8F9F-623159A2246A">
<ns0:Num>2128.4.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_BE67E288-FC13-4CBF-A063-DC9F9FBC9BB5">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A provisional licensee may apply for a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license if the provisional licensee meets all of the following requirements:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has passed Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has completed at least five years of practice under the provisional license without any disciplinary actions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has received a positive recommendation from the supervising physician or director of the facility’s medical staff.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The board shall issue a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license
to an applicant who meets the requirements of subdivision (a) and who otherwise meets all requirements for licensure under this chapter.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_98FCD17F-D3ED-48C3-9C55-6E42C9FBF398">
<ns0:Num>2128.5.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The board shall set application, initial licensure, renewal, and conversion fees for the provisional license at an amount sufficient to cover the costs of administering this article.</html:p>
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