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<ns0:Id>20250AB__239899INT</ns0:Id>
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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>
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<ns0:Name>Alvarez</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Article 6.1 (commencing with Section 2127) 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>Practice of medicine: Physician Graduate License 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 and specifies educational, examination, and other qualifications for licensure as a physician and surgeon.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would establish the Physician Graduate License Act, under which the board would be required to issue a physician graduate license to an applicant who has graduated from medical school but has not completed a residency program and who satisfies specified requirements. The bill would require a physician graduate to practice under a supervising practice agreement with a sponsoring physician and surgeon who meets specified requirements, including maintaining an active practice in California. The bill would make a physician graduate license valid for 3 years and renewable for an unspecified number of 3-year
periods, subject to certain conditions. The bill would require the board to set application, licensure, and renewal fees for the physician graduate 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)
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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.
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<html:p>
(b)
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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>
(c)
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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 with the greatest need.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Article 6.1 (commencing with Section 2127) is added to Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the
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, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading type="ARTICLE" id="id_4E7E8B7A-15A7-4347-9759-10652C933FD5">
<ns0:Num>6.1.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Physician Graduate License Act</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>2127.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Physician Graduate License Act.</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>2127.1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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“Physician graduate” means an individual who has graduated from an accredited medical school but has not completed a residency program and who is issued a license under this article.
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<html:p>
(b)
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“Sponsoring physician” means a physician who holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in California and who enters into a supervising practice agreement with a physician graduate.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
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“Supervising practice agreement” means a written agreement between a sponsoring physician and a physician graduate that outlines the terms of supervision and the scope of practice.
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<ns0:Num>2127.2.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The board shall issue a physician graduate license to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
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Has graduated within the preceding four years from a medical school that is either of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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Accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Located outside the United States and recognized by the board as providing an equivalent medical education.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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Has passed Steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination or an equivalent examination as determined by the
board.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
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Has not completed a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
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Has not previously held a physician graduate license that was revoked or suspended.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
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Has proficiency in the English language.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
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Has a valid offer of employment under a supervising practice agreement with a sponsoring physician whose practice is located in California.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_5F613C1D-F4A7-496F-950D-402BAA51F47F">
<ns0:Num>2127.3.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A physician graduate shall at all times practice under a supervising practice agreement with a sponsoring physician. The sponsoring physician shall do all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Hold a full and unrestricted California physician’s and surgeon’s license.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Be board-certified in the specialty in which the physician graduate will practice.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Maintain an active practice in California.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Not be the subject of any pending disciplinary action.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The supervising practice agreement shall
be submitted to and approved by the board and shall include all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The specific scope of practice authorized for the physician graduate.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The supervision plan, including the frequency of direct supervision, chart review protocols, and availability of the sponsoring physician for consultation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The name, license number, and specialty of the sponsoring physician.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
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The locations where the physician graduate will practice.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
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The board shall establish by regulation the standards for supervision, including all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Direct supervision requirements during the initial six months of
practice.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The maximum number of physician graduates a sponsoring physician may supervise.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
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Protocols for emergency situations and after-hours care.
</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_285511B7-7CD1-42A6-AF6C-6B8A45E55F8E">
<ns0:Num>2127.4.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A physician graduate license shall be valid for three years and may be renewed for additional three-year periods if all of the following requirements are met:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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The licensee continues to practice under an approved supervising practice agreement.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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The licensee completes at least 50 hours of continuing medical education per renewal period.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
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The sponsoring physician submits a satisfactory evaluation of the physician graduate’s performance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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A physician graduate may apply for a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license after
completing five years of practice under this article if the physician graduate 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 received positive evaluations from all sponsoring physicians.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Has no history of disciplinary action.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Meets all other requirements for licensure under this chapter.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_BC97E410-ED15-4758-B59C-4F7F07526686">
<ns0:Num>2127.5.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A physician graduate shall disclose to each patient, in writing and verbally if requested, that they are a physician graduate practicing under supervision.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This disclosure shall occur before providing treatment and shall include the name and contact information of the sponsoring physician.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_E2BF39A8-91B7-4413-8084-0D9F9EAB2721">
<ns0:Num>2127.6.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_FB9E7DB4-9612-4B08-862E-179C503F22D7">
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<html:p>The board shall set application, initial licensure, and renewal fees for the physician graduate license at an amount sufficient to cover the costs of administering this article, but not to exceed the fees charged for a physician’s and surgeon’s license.</html:p>
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