ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL LICENSE TO CERTAIN FOREIGN MEDICAL LICENSE HOLDERS WITH OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT.
Tex. OCC Code § 155.1015.
in effect(a) Subject to Subsection (b), on application, the board shall issue an initial provisional license to practice medicine to an applicant who:
(1) has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine or a substantially similar degree by a program of medical education that meets eligibility requirements for the applicant to apply for certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates;
(2) has been licensed in good standing to practice medicine in another country and is not the subject of any pending disciplinary action before the licensing body;
(3) has completed a residency or a substantially similar postgraduate medical training required by the applicant's country of licensure;
(4) passes the Texas medical jurisprudence examination;
(5) has proficiency in the English language;
(6) is authorized under federal law to work in the United States;
(7) has been offered employment in this state as a physician by a person who provides health care services in the normal course of business in a facility-based or group practice setting, including a health system, hospital, hospital-based facility, freestanding emergency facility, or urgent care clinic;
(8) has passed the first and second steps of the examination described by Section 155.0511 (7) in accordance with Section 155.056 (a); and
(9) meets any other requirement the board prescribes by rule.
(b) Unless the applicant is a citizen of the United States or has been issued a visa to legally work in the United States, the board may not issue a provisional license under Subsection (a) to an applicant who is a citizen of a country:
(1) identified by the United States Director of National Intelligence as a country that poses a risk to the national security of the United States in the most recent Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community issued pursuant to Section 108B, National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. Section 3043b); or
(2) identified as a country subject to prohibitions in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 C.F.R. Part 126.1).
(c) A provisional license issued under Subsection (a) expires on the second anniversary of the date the provisional license was issued.
(d) The holder of a provisional license issued under Subsection (a) may practice only in:
(1) a facility-based or group practice setting with:
(A) an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education residency program; or
(B) an American Osteopathic Association residency program;
(2) an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-affiliated setting; or
(3) an American Osteopathic Association-affiliated setting.
(e) On application, the board shall renew a provisional license to practice medicine issued under Subsection (a) if the applicant:
(1) has passed the first and second steps of the examination described by Section 155.0511 (7) in accordance with Section 155.056 (a); and
(2) holds a valid certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
(f) The holder of a provisional license renewed under Subsection (e):
(1) may practice only in a rural community or medically underserved area or health professional shortage area, as designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, that has a current shortage of physicians; and
(2) is not subject to the restrictions of Subsection (d).
(g) Subject to Subsection (h), the board on application shall issue a license under this subtitle to the holder of a provisional license under this section if the provisional license holder satisfies the examination requirements of Section 155.051 .
(h) The board may not issue as provided by Subsection (g) a license under this subtitle to an applicant who:
(1) is subject to board investigation or discipline for conduct that occurred while holding the provisional license; or
(2) has been convicted of, is on deferred adjudication community supervision or deferred disposition for, or is under active investigation for the commission of:
(A) a felony; or
(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
(i) The board shall adopt rules for the issuance of a provisional license under Subsection (a), the renewal of a provisional license under Subsection (e), and the issuance of a license under this subtitle as provided by Subsection (g), including rules establishing eligibility for and fees applicable to the licenses. The board may adopt rules for the reporting of board specialty certification requirement information as requested by a board specialty organization.
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 733 (H.B. 2038 ), Sec. 2.001, eff. September 1, 2025.