Effective January 1, 2025, Idaho State Board of Medicine allows international physicians that have matriculated through an international medical program, defined as any “medical education or training outside of the U.S. or Canada that is substantially similar” to the training required for physicians in Idaho and has been certified by ECFMG” to apply for the licensure pathway, so long as they are not a legal resident of the U.S. or Canada, completed a residency or PGT, practiced medicine for at least three years post PGT or completed at least 500 hours of clinical experience, are in good standing, and practiced within the last five years prior to application, possess basic fluency in English (passed OET), and have an offer of employment from a sponsoring entity, defined as health systems, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, independent physician practices, primary care clinics, and urgent care clinics. Qualifying international physicians are granted three-year, provisional licenses so long as they obtain federal immigration status and pass USMLE Steps 1 and 2. An applicant that fails to pass either step on two separate occasions “may be required to be interviewed, evaluated, or examined by the Board.” The applicant must submit to a background test and notify the Board of any changes in employment, and must work with a sponsoring entity for the duration of the provisional license. Provisional licenses convert to full licenses after three years of practice, so long as they are not under investigation, are given a letter of recommendation from their supervising physician, and passed USMLE Step 3. H 542 (2024)
