Advisory Commission on Alternate Licensing Models Hosts Symposium to Discuss Pathways to Licensure for Fully-Trained International Physicians

On June 18, more than 175 individuals representing state medical licensing boards and organizations involved with medical education, accreditation, and certification joined members of the public in Washington, D.C. for a one-day symposium hosted by the Advisory Commission on Alternate Licensing Models. The Advisory Commission is co-chaired by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), Intealth^TM, and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and was formed earlier this year to provide guidance to states seeking to improve access to care by streamlining the licensure of international physicians who have already trained and practiced outside the United States.

The symposium provided a forum for attendees to exchange ideas and discuss considerations for legislative, regulatory, and procedural implementation of such alternative pathways for medical licensure. The conversations built on discussions the Advisory Commission held at its inaugural meeting on April 5, 2024, also in Washington, D.C., in response to a growing number of state legislatures interested in modifying traditional post-graduate training requirements for licensure or creating new licensure categories in an effort to improve access to care amidst a nationwide physician shortage.

The Advisory Commission will use input and feedback from the symposium to further inform its collaborative analysis and subsequent recommendations. Draft recommendations are anticipated to be released as early as this summer and will include a period of time for public commentary before being finalized.

Download this press release here.