Bill Text: AZ HB2148 | 2025 | Fifty-seventh Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Foreign medical graduates; nurses; licensure
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (N/A) 2025-01-13 - Prefile [HB2148 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2025-HB2148-Introduced.html
PREFILED JAN 13 2025
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REFERENCE TITLE: foreign medical graduates; nurses; licensure |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
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HB 2148 |
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Introduced by Representative Blackman
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AN ACT
Amending title 32, chapter 32, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 3.1; relating to health professionals.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 32, chapter 32, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 3.1, to read:
ARTICLE 3.1. ARIZONA LICENSURE PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN MEDICAL
GRADUATES AND NURSES
32-3247. Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Designated health care shortage area" means an area of this state that the department of health services has identified as medically underserved or facing a critical shortage of health care professionals.
2. "Foreign medical graduate or nurse" means an individual who has completed either:
(a) A medical education outside of the United States and possesses a medical degree from an institution recognized by the world directory of medical schools or an equivalent directory.
(b) A nursing education outside of the United States and possesses a nursing degree or an equivalent qualification from an accredited institution.
3. "Program" means the Arizona licensure program for foreign medical graduates and nurses established by this article.
4. "Provisional license" means a temporary license granted to a foreign medical graduate or nurse that allows the person to practice under supervision in designated health care shortage areas.
5. "Supervised practice" means the practice of medicine or nursing by a provisional licensee under the direct supervision of a fully licensed physician or nurse in this state.
32-3247.01. Program; provisional licensure; eligibility
A. The Arizona licensure program for foreign medical graduates and nurses is established. A foreign medical graduate or nurse who wishes to apply for a provisional license under the program shall submit documentation demonstrating that the applicant meets all of the following:
1. completed a medical or nursing degree from a recognized institution.
2. Is lawfully present in the United States.
3. Passed a recognized English-language Proficiency test that meets the standards adopted by the ARizona medical board and the Arizona state board of nursing.
B. Each applicant shall complete a criminal background check as required by the ARizona medical board and the Arizona state board of nursing.
C. The ARizona medical board or the Arizona state board of nursing, as applicable, shall verify the applicant's credentials through a recognized credential evaluation service such as the education commission for foreign medical graduates or the commission on graduates of foreign nursing schools.
D. To verify lawful presence in the United States and work status, each applicant shall provide one of the following:
1. A permanent resident card.
2. An employment authorization document issued by the United States citizenship and immigration services.
3. H-1B or O-1 Visa status documentation.
4. Asylee or refugee status documentation.
5. Temporary protected status documentation.
6. Certification of United States citizenship or NATURALIZATION.
7. A form I-94 arrival and departure record.
32-3247.02. Supervised practice requirements
A. Each foreign medical graduate or nurse who holds a provisional license shall engage in supervised practice in a designated health care shortage area for at least twelve months and may extend the supervised practice period in six-month increments up to twenty-four months based on an evaluation of the provisional licensee's performance and specific medical or nursing specialty requirements.
B. Supervised practice of a foreign medical graduate or nurse must be provided by a physician or nurse who is fully licensed in this state, who is responsible for evaluating the provisional licensee's professional performance and who provides regular reports to the Arizona medical board or Arizona state board of nursing, as applicable. The provisional licensee's scope of practice shall be clearly defined, including the level of supervision required and the specific procedures that the provisional licensee may perform. the Arizona medical board or Arizona state board of nursing shall tailor the supervision and training requirements based of the specific needs of each specialty.
C. the Arizona medical board and Arizona state board of nursing shall establish a formal assessment and feedback process for supervising physicians and nurses to submit quarterly performance evaluations of provisional licensees.
D. During the period of supervised practice, the Arizona medical board or Arizona state board of nursing, as applicable, shall offer provisional licensees ongoing mentorship, additional training opportunities and assistance with credentialing and examination preparation.
E. Each foreign medical graduate or nurse must successfully pass all parts of the individual's respective licensure examination and meet any additional requirements set forth by the Arizona medical board or Arizona state board of nursing, as applicable, to be eligible for full licensure.
32-3247.03. Full licensure; service commitment; exceptions
A. After successfully completing the period of supervised practice and passing the examinations, a provisional licensee may apply for full licensure to practice independently in this state. A foreign medical graduate or nurse who obtains full licensure shall engage in the practice of the individual's respective health profession in either a county with a population of less than one million persons or a designated health care shortage area for a period of two to four years.
B. The Arizona medical board or Arizona state board of nursing, as applicable, shall determine the duration of each foreign medical graduate's or nurse's service requirement based on the individual's medical specialty, the community's needs and any incentives or support provided as part of the foreign medical graduate's or nurse's service. The Arizona medical board or Arizona state board of nursing, as applicable, may approve an exception or reduction in the service commitment required by this section for exceptional circumstances.
32-3247.04. Arizona medical board; Arizona state board of nursing; support services; duties
The Arizona medical board and Arizona state board of nursing shall do all of the following to support the program and foreign medical graduates and nurses who have provisional licenses or who have obtained full licensure under this article:
1. Develop a comprehensive orientation program to help foreign medical graduates and nurses integrate into this state's health care system.
2. Provide ongoing English language training and access to medical interpretation services for participants of the program during the period of supervised practice.
3. Establish incentives for fully licensed physicians and nurses to supervise provisionally licensed foreign medical graduates and nurses under the program, including continuing medical education credits, financial compensation or formal recognition programs.
4. Offer or facilitate access to examination preparation resources for foreign medical graduates and nurses.
5. Provide resources and guidance to help foreign medical graduates and nurses navigate the credentialing processes.
6. Establish partnerships with health care institutions, particularly in underserved areas, to facilitate placements of foreign medical graduates and nurses.
7. Implement a campaign to inform community leaders and the public about the program and the role of foreign medical graduates and nurses.
32-3247.05. Reporting requirements
the Arizona medical board, in conjunction with the Arizona state board of nursing, shall:
1. Define metrics for evaluating the program's success, such as retention rates and patient satisfaction.
2. On or before December 1 of each year, detail the implementation and outcomes of the program and any recommendations for improvement in a report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy to the secretary of state.
3. Conduct a comprehensive review of the program every five years and report the findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy to the secretary of state.
Sec. 2. Short title
This act may be cited as the "Arizona Licensure Program for Foreign Medical Graduates and Nurses Act".
