THE INDIANA MEDICAL BOARD OFFERS AN APPLICATION FOR THIS PATHWAY.
Indiana now has a pathway for licensure for International Medical Graduates (IMGs). This new bill authorizes the Board to issue a limited license to an International Medical Graduate that has:
- A medical doctorate or substantially similar degree from an international medical program in good standing as determined by the Board.
- Has ECFMG certification.
- Is in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution in their country of practice and has no pending discipline.
- Have completed a residency, clinical training, or PGT “substantially similar, as determined by the Board” to those ACGME-accredited.
- Has practiced medicine or osteopathic medicine for at least five years of the last six years preceding application.
- Has passed all Steps of the USMLE.
- Has Federal immigration status.
- Is proficient in English.
- Has a written offer of employment at a health care facility, defined as a hospital, birthing center, or “other medical facility,” in an underserved area, which are designated by the Dept. of Health; and that facility both agrees to sponsor and supervise the provisional licensee.
The final requirement for the application and license is a Proof of Employment Offer and Collaborative Agreement. Pursuant to IC 25-22.5-5-7(c)(4). You must provide a copy of a written offer of employment as a physician at a healthcare facility in an underserved area. The written offer must include the following:
- A statement that the health care facility formally agrees to sponsor the individual.
- A requirement that the individual must work in collaboration with a supervising physician through a written collaborative agreement that specifies the responsibilities and scope of the individual’s practice; and the manner in which the individual must consult, cooperate, and coordinate with the supervising physician.
- A statement that: the governing board of the health care facility; or 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.
Limited licensees must practice at qualifying health care facilities defined above, may not practice “outside the scope of specialty of the onsite board-certified supervising physician,” patients must be informed that they are being seen by a limited licensee, and the licensee’s prescriptive abilities are limited, must be supervised, delineated in a written practice agreement, and a statement from the facility’s governing body granting the licensee practicing privileges.
The limited license must be renewed biennially and is valid for six years. After a minimum of five years, the limited license may be converted to full at the discretion of the Board. The Board is empowered to require a comprehensive evaluation to assess the licensee’s competency prior to issuing a full license, and also may revoke the limited license if the licensee ceases practicing at a qualifying facility, or there is another “compelling reason” to do so.
The bill is effective July 1, 2025, and sunsets December 31, 2040.
Unrelated to additional pathways, the bill also requires applicants for osteopathic licensure to complete COMLEX within 10 years of passing COMLEX Level 1.
We understand the process of the application can be confusing and we are here to help you!
