Pa. lifts licensing restrictions for doctors to practice in commonwealth

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WKBN) – Doctors who are licensed to practice in other states will now be able to get licensed faster to treat patients in Pennsylvania.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced that beginning Monday, out-of-state physicians licensed by a state or territory participating in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) who obtain a corresponding “letter of qualification” will be permitted to apply to the Pennsylvania state boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine for expedited licensure to practice in the Commonwealth.

Right now, there are 40 states and territories in the Compact.

The new rules will get health care workers on the job faster at time when Schmidt says qualified workers are critically needed to mitigate the health care provider shortage.

Schmidt cited a survey noting the practice areas with the greatest need are anesthesia, behavioral health/psychiatry, emergency medicine, family medicine/primary care, gastroenterology, hospitalists, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedic surgeons, pediatrics, and urology.

Among the preconditions is the ability to certify to other compact states that Pennsylvania applicants have undergone an FBI criminal background check, a process that requires FBI authorization. The Department of State has sought this authorization and is awaiting a final response.

“We are also working to ensure that other technical and regulatory requirements are in place so that the Commonwealth can fully implement the IMLC as quickly as possible once final FBI approval is received,” Schmidt added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.