WashingtonWashington runs a pilot pathway to primary care licenses for international doctors
Washington’s medical commission runs a pilot where eligible international medical graduates can complete supervised practice and qualify for primary care licenses.
What it does
The Washington Medical Commission runs a pilot for international medical graduates with a clinical experience license issued by July 1, 2026. They need two years of supervised practice and satisfactory evaluations.
Participants who meet the program’s requirements can qualify for full, unrestricted primary care licenses after two more years of supervised practice and required exams and assessments.
The commission reports on participants’ practice and discipline, and recommends ways the pilot could include U.S. medical school graduates.
Argument forExperienced international doctors who meet the program’s checks could gain a route to full, unrestricted licenses for primary care.
Argument againstThe four years of supervised practice and limits on approved training sites could make this path hard to use for some doctors.
More detail
The Washington Medical Commission runs a pilot for international medical graduates. Applicants must be international medical graduates who hold a clinical experience license issued on or before July 1, 2026. Applicants need satisfactory evaluations, no active discipline or significant disciplinary history, and the required attestations and endorsement. Eligible sites include hospitals, federally qualified health centers, government entities, and qualifying physician groups; mental and behavioral health facilities need commission approval. The qualifying license must have been issued on or before July 1, 2026.
The pilot provides a route to full, unrestricted licenses for primary care. This route is for participants who successfully complete the pilot’s requirements. Participants must meet the clinical experience license program’s requirements, pass Step 3 of the U.S. medical licensing exam, and pass a commission-approved clinical competency assessment. The two additional years of supervised practice come after the two years needed to qualify for the pilot.
The commission reports to the legislature about the pilot each year. The reports cover the clinical experience graduate pilot program. Reports cover participants’ practice locations and specialties, relevant disciplinary actions, and recommendations on including U.S. medical school graduates. Annual reports begin by November 1, 2027, and continue until November 1, 2035. The pilot section expires June 30, 2035.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 154, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 10President signed.Passed House
- Mar 9Passed final passage; yeas, 41; nays, 8; absent, 0; excused, 0.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#13). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Senate concurred in House amendments.
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 89; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 5.Minor
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#2). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 2Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 24HCW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 10First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.Minor
- Feb 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 39; nays, 9; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#5). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 61st substitute bill substituted (HLTC 26).Major
- Feb 4Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Jan 30Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Jan 30HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 30Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 27Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Feb 18Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 14Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 31Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.Minor
- Jan 8Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Healthcare