CHAPTER 148J
LICENSURE OF INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS

Referred to in §147.76

  
     
148J.1  Definitions.
  For the purposes of this chapter:
  1.  “Board” means the board of medicine established pursuant to chapter 147.
  2.  “Health care facility” means all of the following:
  a.  A facility as defined in section 514J.102.
  b.  A facility licensed pursuant to chapter 135B.
  c.  A facility licensed pursuant to chapter 135C.
  3.  “International medical program” means a medical school, residency program, medical internship program, or entity that provides physicians with a medical education or training outside of the United States that is substantially similar to the practice of medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in Iowa and that has been evaluated by the educational commission on foreign medical graduates.
  4.  “International physician” means an individual who meets all of the following requirements:
  a.  Has a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree issued by an international medical program in good standing.
  b.  Has been in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of the individual’s resident country during the immediately preceding five years and has no pending discipline before the licensing or regulatory institution.
  c.  Has completed a residency or substantially similar postgraduate medical training in the individual’s resident country.
  d.  Has practiced medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery as a licensed physician for five years following the completion of a residency or substantially similar postgraduate medical training.
  e.  Possesses basic fluency in the English language.
2024 Acts, ch 1130, §1, 3

  
     
148J.2  International physicians — provisional licenses.
  1.  a.  The board shall grant a provisional license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in this state to an international physician with an offer for employment as a physician at a health care facility in this state. However, the board shall not grant a license pursuant to this subsection to an international physician who does not possess a federal immigration status allowing the international physician to practice as a physician in the United States, or to an international physician who fails to obtain a passing score on the United States medical licensing examination.
  b.  A provisional license granted pursuant to paragraph “a” may be converted to a full license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery after three years, unless the license has been revoked pursuant to subsection 2 or surrendered by the licensee.
  2.  a.  The board may revoke a provisional license granted pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph “a”, if the board finds by clear and compelling evidence that the licensee has violated a provision of section 148.6. A licensee may appeal a revocation pursuant to this subsection in a court of competent jurisdiction within one hundred twenty days of the date of revocation.
  b.  The board may revoke a provisional license granted pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph “a”, if the international physician is not employed by a health care facility in this state during the entirety of the provisional licensing period.
  3.  This section does not require the board to grant a provisional license or full license pursuant to subsection 1 to an individual that does not do all of the following:
  a.  Complete training substantially similar to a physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon.
  b.  Receive a passing score on the United States medical licensing examination.
  c.  Pass a background check as required by the board.
  d.  Complete a licensure application as required by the board.
  e.  Pay all required fees as required by the board.
2024 Acts, ch 1130, §2, 3; 2024 Acts, ch 1154, §13, 28