FAQs on Florida’s Amendment to Senate Bill 7016; Creating A New Path to Licensure by Endorsement for Foreign Trained Physicians
Licensure by Endorsement for Foreign Trained Physicians
FAQs SHEET
At Jones Health Law we strive to be at the forefront of the latest information on healthcare laws that affect our clients, healthcare practitioners. We’ve received many calls and inquiries from physicians and attorneys worldwide regarding the amendment to Senate Bill 7016 which provides a new avenue of licensure for foreign physicians. We’ve decided to create this fact sheet to provide information on this trending topic based on questions we’ve received. We will update this sheet as we receive new information.
Last updated: 05/20/2025
Question: How does the new amendment to Senate Bill 7016 affect the path to licensure for foreign physicians?
Answer: The amendment to Senate Bill 7016 provides opportunities for foreign physicians to apply for licensure if they meet all of previously established requirements but have not completed a residency program in the United States.
Question: Is the USMLE still a requirement? Do physicians need to have a ECFMG certificate to be eligible?
Answer: Yes, the USMLE and ECFMG are still requirements under the amendment. The amendment only waives the requirement of having completed a residency but will require “substantially similar” post-graduate training. The Board of Medicine may approve a restricted license if an application is submitted without having completed one of these steps but it is up to the discretion of the Board. An incomplete application is subject to rejection.
Question: Is there a list of countries for eligible applicants?
Answer: No, there are no limits to where applicants may apply from.
Question: Is this license limited or restricted in any way? And is there is a cap to the amount that a physician can earn as compensation?
Answer: No, there is no limit or restriction to the license. There is also no cap to the amount that a physician can earn if becoming licensed under this pathway.
Question: Is there a specific application for foreign physicians interested in this pathway?
Answer: Yes. The Board of Medicine has updated the application as of 12/2024.
Question: Do sponsors have to pay for the visa and the medical license application for the applicants?
Answer: No, there are no rules on who must pay for the visa and application.
Question: If an applicant only passed the USMLE Step 1 and 2, is their certificate still valid?
Answer: The USMLE is valid indefinitely. However, the Board of Medicine has not considered whether an applicant that hasn’t completed Step 3 is in compliance with this requirement under the law. The Board would need to confirm validity based on the individual application and other eligibility requirements.
Question: Can applicants complete the required electronic fingerprinting in a foreign county?
Answer: Yes, there are accepted ways to have fingerprints completed in a foreign county. We can provide our clients with approved fingerprinting sources and have a process for individuals with no social security number and who don’t reside in the U.S.
Question: What if I don’t meet all of the other requirements?
Answer: Once an application is submitted a regulatory specialist will review for completion. If the application fails to meet all eligibility requirements, the applicant (and attorney) will go before the Board of Medicine to plead their case.
As previously stated, while the residency requirement is now waived, applicants must prove that their post-graduate training is “substantially similar” to that of a U.S. residency program. Currently, the Board of Medicine is discussing what an appropriate “substantially similar” post-graduate training would consist of. Foreign programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I) will likely be accepted. All other applications who have not completed programs accredited by ACGME-I will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you have any other questions, please read our other blog post, Florida’s “Live Healthy” Initiative Provides Foreign Trained Physicians a Path to Licensure for more information.
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It should be noted that I am not your lawyer (unless you have presently retained my services through a retainer agreement). This post is not intended as legal advice, it is purely educational and informational, and no attorney-client relationship shall result after reading it. Please consult your own attorney for legal advice. If you do not have one and would like to retain my legal services, please contact me using the contact information listed above.
All information and references made to laws, rules, regulations, and advisory opinions were accurate based on the law as it existed at this time, but laws are constantly evolving. Please contact me to be sure that the law which will govern your business is current. Thank you.