News  Board Adopts Policy Outlining Criteria for an Additional Licensing Pathway for Internationally Trained Physicians

Wakefield — The Board of Registration in Medicine (BORIM) adopted policy 2025-03 to implement St. 2024, c.238 “An Act Relative to Strengthen Massachusetts’ Economic Development” (Chapter 238), which was signed by Governor Maura Healey on November 20, 2024. This law amends M.G.L. c. 112, § 9 to add an additional pathway to full physician licensure for physicians already licensed and practicing in another country. This law is intended to address physician shortages in primary care and psychiatry by requiring physicians licensed under this pathway to practice for at least 3 years in geographical areas identified as having a health care provider shortage.

The law establishes, as an initial step towards full licensure, a limited license to be issued to physicians who meet the preliminary qualifications set in the statute. Qualifications include having been licensed and practicing in another country for at least 1 year in primary care or psychiatry and entering into an agreement with a BORIM-approved participating healthcare facility.

The policy sets the criteria necessary for implementation of the initial step of the pathway. First, BORIM sets out the criteria by which BORIM determines whether a healthcare facility qualifies as a “participating healthcare facility” under the statute. Second, BORIM sets out options for approaches to assessment and evaluation that participating healthcare facilities must incorporate into their programs. In addition, this policy sets forth the process by which health care facilities may request BORIM approval.

As outlined in the law, the physician must practice for at least one year under this limited license, which is renewable for an additional one-year period. Only after successful completion of practice as a limited licensee at a participating healthcare facility is the physician eligible to move on to the second step in this alternative pathway.

The second step in this alternative pathway is issuance by BORIM of a restricted license (physician must meet qualification for licensure). The restricted license allows the physician to practice independently for two years in a designated “physician shortage area” in primary care, psychiatry, or other specialty approved by BORIM. The restricted license is renewable for one additional two-year period.

The third and final step in this alternative pathway after successfully practicing for at least two years under a restricted license is applying to BORIM for a full, unrestricted license to practice medicine.

There are a number of steps that need to be completed before the BORIM opens and accepts applications pursuant to this legislation and policy:

1. Participating healthcare facilities must establish programs that “develop, assess and evaluate the applicant's familiarity with nonclinical skills and standards appropriate for medical practice in the Commonwealth according to assessment and evaluation criteria developed or approved by BORIM”.
2. The participating healthcare facility must be in a “physician shortage area”.
3. Limited License applications pursuant to this legislation will be available when participating healthcare facilities have established such programs.
4. When the programs are established, applicants will be required to enter into an agreement with the participating healthcare facility to participate in such a program and to work full time upon issuance of such a limited license.
5. Applicants must enter a full-time full employment relationship with the participating facility after BORIM issues a limited license to practice medicine to the applicant.

Please contact BORIM at (781) 876-8230 with any questions.