The implementation of a new legal regulation in Florida, Law SB 7016, is being celebrated as a victory for doctors and nurses who graduated abroad. The law is expected to make it easier for immigrant health professionals to work in Florida without having to meet certain requirements, such as three years of medical residency, according to a report by Voice of America.
Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his support for the new law, stating, “The law will help us expand and do what we need to have an excellent healthcare workforce.”
Physicians interested in applying for this new law must ensure they are not under investigation before applying for their license. The law is set to go into effect on July 1 and will provide opportunities for qualified healthcare professionals to practice in the state.
The eligibility criteria for doctors to obtain their license through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact include having a full and unrestricted medical license in a Compact member state that can serve as a State Principal License. Additionally, applicants must meet certain requirements such as having graduated from an accredited medical school, completing graduate medical education, passing required exams, and having a current specialty certification.
Applicant doctors must also have a clean criminal record, no history of disciplinary actions towards their medical license, and must have actively practiced medicine in any country during the 4 years prior to applying for a medical license if they have degrees from foreign institutions.
The new law aims to streamline the process for qualified healthcare professionals to work in Florida, ultimately benefiting the healthcare workforce in the state.