Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191)

Background: Physicians are licensed by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC). A physician who graduates from a medical school within the United States or Canada must meet qualifications, including passage of an examination, completion of two years of post-graduate medical training approved by the MQAC, good moral character, and the ability to safely practice medicine.

Graduates from foreign medical schools must meet all of the requirements applicable to graduates from domestic medical schools. In addition, such graduates must pass the examination given by the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates and be able to read, write, speak, understand, and be understood in English.

A foreign medical school graduate is exempt from the post-graduate training requirement if he or she has:

• been admitted as a permanent immigrant to the United States as a person of exceptional ability in the sciences pursuant to the rules of the United States Department of Labor or been issued a permanent immigration visa; 
• received multiple sclerosis certified specialist status from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers; and
• successfully completed at least 24 months of training in multiple sclerosis at an educational institution in the United States with an accredited residency program in neurology or rehabilitation.

Summary of Bill: Medical Graduate Work Group (IMGWG) is established with the following members appointed by the Governor:

• a representative from the MQAC;
• a representative from the Department of Health's Health Systems Quality Assurance Division;
• a representative from the University of Washington School of Medicine's graduate medical education program;
• a representative from the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine's graduate medical education program;
• a representative from the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine's graduate medical education program;
• a representative from a statewide organization representing physicians;
• a representative from the Washington State Family Medicine Residency Network;
• a representative from a primary health care employer in a rural or underserved area of Washington;
• a licensed physician with experience working with international medical graduates;
• a representative from an organization specializing in refugee advocacy in Washington;
• a representative from an organization serving refugee physicians and international medical graduates;
• a representative from an organization representing community and migrant health centers; and
• at least two international medical graduates.

By June 30, 2020, the IMGWG must submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding:

• strategies and recommendations for reducing barriers for international medical graduates obtaining residency position in Washington, including pre-residency training;
• recommendations for the appropriate number of residency positions to be designated for international medical graduates and the locations and specialties of those positions; and
• recommendations on the post-residency service requirements for international medical graduates who graduate from a designated residency position. 

The work group is staffed by the MQAC and expires on June 30, 2020.