The House Health Care & Wellness Committee convened on March 14, 2025, to discuss key legislative changes impacting international medical graduates seeking licensure in Washington State. The primary focus of the meeting was Substitute Senate Bill 5,118, which proposes significant modifications to the current licensing framework.

The bill aims to streamline the process for international medical graduates who have completed their medical education outside the United States or Canada. Under existing regulations, these individuals face additional hurdles, including certification by the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates and specific residency requirements.

Currently, Washington offers two types of limited licenses for these graduates to gain clinical experience necessary for full licensure. The first is a general time-limited clinical license issued by the Washington Medical Commission, while the second is a limited license that requires nomination by a healthcare facility or department. Both licenses have stringent requirements, including residency in Washington for at least one year and passing all three steps of the United States medical licensing examination.

Substitute Senate Bill 5,118 proposes to eliminate the time-limited clinical experience license entirely. It also introduces several changes to the second type of license. Notably, the bill removes the one-year residency requirement, reduces the examination requirement to only the first two steps of the licensing exam, and allows for up to three renewals of the license, provided the applicant has applied for residency before the third renewal.

Additionally, the bill grants the Washington Medical Commission the authority to waive certain requirements for international medical graduates facing hardships and to accept alternative demonstrations of competence. Graduates licensed under this new framework will be recognized as full-scope physicians, barring any disciplinary actions.

The committee concluded the discussion without immediate questions from members, indicating a smooth progression for the bill. The proposed changes are expected to facilitate the integration of international medical graduates into the Washington healthcare system, addressing workforce shortages and enhancing patient care. Further steps will be taken to advance the bill through the legislative process.