Licensure of foreign trained physicians., the official text

First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)

PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.

 Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
 Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

  HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1555

   AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning professions and
occupations.

   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

   SECTION 1. IC 25-22.5-5-7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2025]: Sec. 7. (a) For purposes of this section, "health care
facility" has the meaning set forth in IC 16-21-11-1.

   (b) For purposes of this section, "underserved area" means a
county, city, town, census tract, or township designated by the
Indiana department of health under IC 16-46-5-7 as underserved
by physicians.

   (c) Except as provided in subsection (d), the board shall issue a
limited license to an individual who meets all of the following:

      (1) The individual applies in a form and manner required by
      the board.
      (2) The individual pays a fee of one hundred dollars ($100).
      (3) The individual:

         (A) holds:
            (i) a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree
            issued by an international medical program in good
            standing, as determined by the board; and
            (ii) a certificate issued by the Educational Commission
            on Foreign Medical Graduates;

         (B) is in good standing with the medical licensing or

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         regulatory institution of the individual's resident country
         and has no pending discipline before the licensing or
         regulatory institution;
         (C) completed a residency program or other similar
         postgraduate medical or clinical training that, as
         determined by the board, is substantially similar to a
         residency program accredited by the Accreditation
         Council for Graduate Medical Education;
         (D) practiced medicine as a licensed physician in a
         full-time capacity for at least five (5) years out of the
         preceding six (6) years;
         (E) achieved a passing score on steps one (1) through three
         (3) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination;
         and
         (F) is proficient in the English language.
      (4) The individual has a written offer of employment as a
      physician at a health care facility in an underserved area and
      the written offer includes the following:
         (A) A statement that the health care facility formally
         agrees to sponsor the individual.
         (B) A requirement that the individual must work in
         collaboration with a supervising physician through a
         written collaborative agreement that specifies:

            (i) the responsibilities and scope of the individual's
            practice; and
            (ii) the manner in which the individual must consult,
            cooperate, and coordinate with the supervising
            physician.
         (C) A statement that:
            (i) the governing board of the health care facility; or
            (ii) if the health care facility has no governing body, the
            chief executive;
         has, after consulting with the medical staff of the health
         care facility, granted privileges to the individual.
   (d) The board may not issue a limited license under this section
to an individual who does not possess a federal immigration status
allowing the individual to practice as a physician in the United
States.
   (e) A limited license under this section:
      (1) authorizes the recipient to practice medicine only at a
      health care facility in an underserved area; and
      (2) expires biennially in accordance with IC 25-22.5-7-1, and

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      may be renewed for not more than six (6) cumulative years.
   (f) The board may revoke a limited license under this section if:

      (1) the recipient is no longer employed as a physician at a
      health care facility in an undeserved area; or
      (2) there is a compelling reason to revoke the limited license.
   (g) Notwithstanding IC 25-22.5-3, the board may convert a
limited license under this section that is in good standing to an
unlimited license after five (5) years.
   (h) The board may require a comprehensive evaluation by an
independent organization of an individual to determine the
individual's competency in the specialty before issuing an unlimited
medical license to the individual under subsection (g).
   (i) This section expires December 31, 2040.
   SECTION 2. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) As used in this
SECTION, "board" refers to the medical licensing board of
Indiana.
   (b) As used in this SECTION, "COMLEX-USA" refers to the
Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination.
   (c) Notwithstanding 844 IAC 4-4.5-13, an applicant for an
unlimited license to practice osteopathic medicine in Indiana must
take and pass all the levels of the COMLEX-USA not later than ten
(10) years from the date the applicant first passes level 1 of the
COMLEX-USA.
   (d) This SECTION expires June 30, 2027.
   SECTION 3. An emergency is declared for this act.

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Speaker of the House of Representatives

President of the Senate

President Pro Tempore

Governor of the State of Indiana

Date:                             Time:

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