§ 5-37-16. Limited registrations.
(a) An applicant for limited registration under this chapter who furnishes the board with satisfactory proof that the applicant is eighteen (18) years of age or older and of good moral character; that the applicant has graduated from a fully legally chartered medical school or school of osteopathic medicine having power to grant degrees in allopathic or osteopathic medicine; and that the applicant has been appointed an intern, resident, fellow, or medical officer in a hospital or other institution maintained by the state, or by a city or town, or in a hospital or clinic that is incorporated under the laws of this state, or in a clinic that is affiliated with a hospital licensed by the department of health, or in an outpatient clinic operated by the state, may, upon the payment as set forth in § 23-1-54, be registered by the board as a hospital medical officer for any time that the board may prescribe. This limited registration shall entitle the applicant to practice medicine in the hospital or other institution designated on his or her certificate of limited registration, or outside this hospital or other institution for the treatment, under the supervision of one of its medical officers who is a licensed physician, of persons accepted by it as patients, or in any hospital, institution, clinic, or program affiliated for training purposes with the hospital, institution, or clinic designated on this certificate, which affiliation is approved by the board, and in any case under regulations established by the hospital, institution, or clinic; provided, that each hospital, institution, or clinic annually submits to the board a list of affiliated hospitals, institutions, clinics, or programs providing training programs that comply with the terms of this section. Limited registration under this section may be revoked at any time by the board.
(b) Notwithstanding the other provisions of subsection (a) of this section, an internationally trained physician who has been licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medicine in a country other than the United States shall be eligible to apply for a limited international physician registration (license) to practice medicine for a renewable one-year term after satisfying the criteria in subsection (c) of this section; provided, however, that such limited registration shall provide a pathway to apply for the issuance of a full unrestricted license to practice medicine in accordance with, and upon satisfaction of, the criteria in subsection (f) of this section.
(c) The board shall issue a limited license international physician license to an applicant if the participating healthcare facility and the applicant submit evidence acceptable to the board that the applicant:
(1) Is an internationally trained physician;
(2) Has a valid certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates; provided, however, that the board may waive such certification at its discretion where the applicant is unable to obtain the required documentation from a non-cooperating country;
(3) Has achieved a passing score on both of Steps 1 and 2 (clinical knowledge) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination within three (3) attempts for each step;
(4) Has entered into an agreement with the participating healthcare facility providing that the facility shall assess, train, and evaluate the applicant’s clinical and nonclinical skills to ensure standards appropriate for medical practice in Rhode Island, according to the assessment and evaluation criteria developed or approved by the board;
(5) Will enter a full-time employment relationship with that participating healthcare facility after the board issues a limited international physician license pursuant to this subsection; and
(6) Has satisfied other criteria that the board may require for issuance of a limited international physician license pursuant to this section.
(d) The one-year limited international physician license may be renewed twice, for a total three-year (3) term of limited international physician registration for physicians in primary care specialties and may be renewed for the total number of years required for ACGME-accredited residency training in other specialties, at the discretion of the board.
(e) To be eligible to apply for a full medical license to practice medicine in Rhode Island, an internationally trained physician shall provide the board with proof of the following:
(1) Successful completion of the participating healthcare facility’s assessment, training, and evaluation program, with an attestation from the facility that the physician is competent to practice their specialty independently;
(2) A passing score on Step 3 of the USMLE within three (3) attempts; and
(3) The license shall authorize the holder to practice independently in a primary care specialty, psychiatry, or other specialty approved by the board.
(f) The director may promulgate any rules and regulations that the director deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
History of Section.
P.L. 1958, ch. 158, § 1; P.L. 1971, ch. 69, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 84, § 1; P.L. 1986,
ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 301, § 5; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 39, § 10; P.L. 2012,
ch. 241, art. 9, § 12; P.L. 2025, ch. 95, § 1, effective June 23, 2025; P.L. 2025,
ch. 96, § 1, effective June 23, 2025.