PHYSICIANS: Provides relative to rural physician licenses

Foreign-trained doctors gain restricted rural licenses

Louisiana creates a restricted rural license for qualifying foreign-trained doctors. The medical board must issue licenses to applicants who meet all requirements. Applicants need a medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Their medical education must be substantially equal to a U.S. medical or osteopathic medical degree. They must pass Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or a board-approved equivalent. They need Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certification or board-approved equivalent credential verification. They also need at least three years of clinical practice, postgraduate training, or residency in another jurisdiction. Applicants must pass a criminal background check and show English skills sufficient to practice safely. Licensed doctors may work only in rural or medically underserved areas, or at state health department- or board-approved clinics and facilities. Qualifying areas include state- or federally designated health professional shortage or medically underserved areas. They also include rural parishes with fewer than 100,000 residents in the latest federal decennial census. Doctors must practice under supervision for at least two years. Supervisors must have unrestricted Louisiana licenses, meet board requirements, and register with the board. After successful supervision, the board may allow unsupervised work in rural or medically underserved areas. Practice ownership requires board approval; violating ownership or location limits can lead to license suspension or loss. After five continuous years serving rural or medically underserved areas, doctors become eligible to apply for an unrestricted license. They must remain in good standing, face no board investigation when applying, have no disciplinary action, and meet continuing education requirements. Eligibility does not automatically grant a full license. The board must establish rules for applications, supervision, credential checks, and evaluation of medical education.