--- title: Tennessee’s New Rules for International Medical Graduates description: "A New Era in Medicine: The Implications of Tennessee’s New Rules for International Medical Graduates" image: https://challengercme.com/hubfs/TNBlog.png --- [![Med-Challenger-green-logo-1024x244](https://challengercme.com/hubfs/Med-Challenger-green-logo-1024x244.webp) ](https://challengercme.com/) - [SHOP EXAM PREP & CME ](https://challengercme.com/blog/a-new-era-in-medicine-the-implications-of-tn-new-rules-for-international-medical-graduates#) ### [EMERGENCY MEDICINE](https://challengercme.com/emergency-medicine-exam-review-cme-course) [ABEM exam prep](https://challengercme.com/emergency-medicine-exam-review-cme-course), [MyEMCert](https://challengercme.com/emergency-medicine-myemcert-exam-review-course), etc. ### [FAMILY MEDICINE](https://challengercme.com/family-medicine-exam-review-cme-course) [ABFM exam prep](https://challengercme.com/family-medicine-exam-review-cme-course), [ABFM KSA](https://challengercme.com/family-medicine-moc-ksa-course), etc. ### [INTERNAL MEDICINE ABIM exam prep, MOC points, etc.](https://challengercme.com/internal-medicine-exam-review-cme-course) ### [OBGYN ABOG exam prep, CREOG, etc.](https://challengercme.com/obgyn-exam-review-cme-course) ### [PEDIATRICS ABP exam prep, MOCA-PEDS, etc.](https://challengercme.com/pediatric-medicine-exam-review-cme-course) ### [PEDIATRIC EM](https://challengercme.com/pediatric-emergency-medicine-3rd-edition) [ABP/ABEM exam prep Ed.3](https://challengercme.com/pediatric-emergency-medicine-3rd-edition), [Ed.2](https://challengercme.com/pediatric-emergency-medicine-pack2), etc. ### [SPECIAL PURPOSE / SPEX FSMB exam prep, etc.](https://challengercme.com/special-purpose-exam-review-spex-exam-preparation-course) ### [PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT](https://challengercme.com/physician-assistant-exam-review-cme-course) [PANCE / PANRE](https://challengercme.com/physician-assistant-exam-review-cme-course), [CAQ-EM](https://challengercme.com/pa-caq-em-review-course), etc ### [NURSE PRACTITIONER](https://challengercme.com/family-nurse-practitioner-exam-review-cme-course) [FNP](https://challengercme.com/family-nurse-practitioner-exam-review-cme-course), [ENP](https://challengercme.com/emergency-nurse-practitioner-exam-review-cne-course), [AGNP](https://challengercme.com/adult-gerontology-nurse-practitioner-exam-review-cne-course), [PNCB/CPNP](https://challengercme.com/pediatric-nurse-practitioner-exam-review-cne-course), etc. ### [NURSING / NCLEX NCLEX, CNE, etc.](https://challengercme.com/nursing-certification-nclex-exam-review-cne-courses) ### [STATE-REQUIRED CME / CE State CME requirements, etc.](https://challengercme.com/state-required-cme) ### [JOINT COMMISSION CME](https://challengercme.com/stroke-center-ce-review-course) [Stroke](https://challengercme.com/stroke-center-ce-review-course), [Cardiac](https://challengercme.com/cardiac-center-ce-review-course), [Trauma](https://challengercme.com/trauma-center-ce-review-course), [ALS](https://challengercme.com/advanced-life-support-and-resuscitation-center-ce-review-course), etc. ### [PROFESSIONALISM CME Professionalism review with CME](https://challengercme.com/professionalism-review-course) ### [DERMATOLOGY CME Dermatology review with CME](https://challengercme.com/dermatology-review-course) ### [USMLE STEP 2CK / STEP 3 USMLE exam prep, etc.](https://challengercme.com/usmle-certification-exam-review-clerkship-exams-shelf-exam-review) - [INSTITUTIONS ](https://challengercme.com/atlas-pro-inst) - [BLOG ](https://challengercme.com/blog) - [SUPPORT ](https://support.challengercme.com/knowledge) [SIGN IN ](https://fuse.challengercme.com/sign-in?redirectURL=%2Fuserdash) 2023 # Tennessee’s New Rules for International Medical Graduates A New Era in Medicine: The Implications of Tennessee’s New Rules for International Medical Graduates [ Med-Challenger ](https://challengercme.com/blog/author/med-challenger) Jun 1, 2023 [2023](https://challengercme.com/blog/tag/2023) [Group Education](https://challengercme.com/blog/tag/group-education) [Medical News](https://challengercme.com/blog/tag/medical-news) [new guidelines](https://challengercme.com/blog/tag/new-guidelines) [Residency Programs](https://challengercme.com/blog/tag/residency-programs) ### < [All Posts](https://challengercme.com/blog) Try Med-Challenger Start a free trial today and save! 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[BROWSE COURSES](https://fuse.challengercme.com/store) --- ### Share this article [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://challengercme.com/blog/a-new-era-in-medicine-the-implications-of-tn-new-rules-for-international-medical-graduates&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://challengercme.com/blog/a-new-era-in-medicine-the-implications-of-tn-new-rules-for-international-medical-graduates&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://challengercme.com/blog/a-new-era-in-medicine-the-implications-of-tn-new-rules-for-international-medical-graduates&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://challengercme.com/blog/a-new-era-in-medicine-the-implications-of-tn-new-rules-for-international-medical-graduates&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) ### Subscribe ### Subscribe ![New Rules for International Medical Graduates](https://challengercme.com/hubfs/TNBlog.png) In an effort to combat the growing physician shortage in the United States, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently signed HB 1312 into law, making Tennessee the first state to allow international medical graduates to work without attending a residency program. HB 1312 grants provisional licenses to international medical graduates who hold full licenses in good standing in other countries and have passed the same standardized medical exams that U.S. medical graduates must pass. Once they've practiced for two years under the supervision of a Tennessee‐licensed physician, they can receive unrestricted licenses. This law is expected to disrupt trends and help Tennessee address its predicted shortage of 5,989 physicians by 2030, 1,107 of them being primary care doctors. Not only will this benefit the state, but it also provides an opportunity for refugees, immigrants, and even U.S. citizens with foreign medical training to utilize their skills fully without undergoing redundant residency training. Currently, doctors who complete residency abroad and have years of experience have to restart training after post-residency practice. This new law removes this requirement, potentially freeing up residency slots for recent graduates who fail to secure a residency program after medical school each year. Despite these benefits, the law has sparked a debate. Critics worry this reform will reduce the quality of doctors treating American patients. However, the law maintains the state medical boards' quality assurance role and adds a second layer of quality assurance by requiring these newly licensed doctors to work at a hospital or licensed medical facility for the first two years of practice. There are also concerns about the creation of a "midlevel" physician cohort and the potential for hospital corporations to exploit doctors from around the world, driving down U.S. compensation. What remains unknown is the official position of significant medical associations like the American Medical Association on this new law. This information could provide further insight into how this law might be received and possibly replicated in other states. This new law represents a significant shift in the medical practice landscape in the United States. It holds the potential to address physician shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas, but also raises important questions about quality of care and the future structure of the medical profession. As the first state to take this step, Tennessee's experience will likely inform the debate in other states facing similar challenges. The real effects on residencies and medical practices across the United States will become clearer as we observe the law's implementation and impact in the coming years. [https://www.statnews.com/2023/05/18/doctors-trained-outside-us-licensing-tennessee/](https://www.statnews.com/2023/05/18/doctors-trained-outside-us-licensing-tennessee/) [https://www.cato.org/blog/tennessee-leads-way-removing-barriers-foreign-doctors](https://www.cato.org/blog/tennessee-leads-way-removing-barriers-foreign-doctors) [https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1312&GA=113](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1312&GA=113)   No matter your program, no matter the size, [Med-Challenger for Residencies](https://challengercme.com/medical-education-lms-for-residency-training-programs) can better prepare your residents and increase test scores. 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All rights reserved [Privacy Policy](https://support.challengercme.com/knowledge/what-are-your-terms-of-service-privacy-policy-user-agreement) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://challengercme.com/blog#webpage", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "The Challenger Medical Education Blog offers informative patient cases, medical certification exam preparation courses and board exam review tips.", "inLanguage" : "en", "isPartOf" : { "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Med-Challenger", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://challengercme.com/blog", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "Challenger Medical Education Blog", "primaryImageOfPage" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/hubfs/Webpage%20Featured%20Images/Medical%20Education%20Blog%20-%20Free%20CME%20resources%2c%20certification%20exam%20tips%2c%20clinical%20challenge%20questions%20and%20more.png" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Challenger Corporation", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/" }, "url" : "https://challengercme.com/blog" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "about" : [ "HB 1312 (Tennessee)", "international medical graduates", "provisional medical licenses", "standardized medical exams", "supervised practice", "physician workforce shortages", "residency training", "medical education", "exam preparation", "immigrant and refugee physicians" ], "articleSection" : "Medical Education", "author" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Challenger Corporation" }, "dateModified" : "2024-06-11T17:35:50.935Z", "datePublished" : "2023-06-01T17:46:04.000Z", "description" : "A New Era in Medicine: The Implications of Tennessee’s New Rules for International Medical Graduates", "headline" : "A New Era in Medicine: The Implications of Tennessee’s New Rules for International Medical Graduates", "image" : [ { "@type" : "ImageObject", "caption" : "Med-Challenger Medical Education, a Division of Challenger Corporation", "description" : "Med-Challenger Medical Education, a Division of Challenger Corporation", "representativeOfPage" : false }, { "@type" : "ImageObject", "caption" : "New law allows IMGs moonlighting in Tennessee", "description" : "New law allows IMGs moonlighting in Tennessee", "representativeOfPage" : true }, { "@type" : "ImageObject", "caption" : "Study Aids (Med-Challenger)", "description" : "Study Aids", "representativeOfPage" : false } ], "inLanguage" : "en-US", "keywords" : [ "Tennessee", "HB 1312", "international medical graduates", "IMG", "provisional license", "residency", "physician shortage", "medical education", "exam prep", "Med-Challenger" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://challengercme.com/blog/a-new-era-in-medicine-the-implications-of-tn-new-rules-for-international-medical-graduates", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://challengercme.com/logo.png" }, "name" : "Challenger Corporation" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "QAPage", "mainEntity" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "HB 1312 grants provisional licenses to international medical graduates who hold full licenses in good standing in other countries and have passed the same standardized medical exams required of U.S. medical graduates. Provisional licensees must practice for two years under the supervision of a Tennessee-licensed physician (working at a hospital or licensed medical facility for that period), after which they may receive an unrestricted license." }, "name" : "Under Tennessee's HB 1312, what are the key requirements for an international medical graduate to obtain a provisional license?", "text" : "According to Tennessee's HB 1312 as described in this article, what requirements must an international medical graduate meet to receive a provisional license and what follows after provisional licensure?" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "ItemList", "description" : "Exam-style review questions based on this article’s teaching points.", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "They must hold a full medical license in good standing in another country and have passed the same standardized medical exams as U.S. medical graduates." }, "name" : "What licensing criterion does HB 1312 require of international medical graduates before granting a provisional license?" }, "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "They must practice for two years under the supervision of a Tennessee-licensed physician, working at a hospital or licensed medical facility during that time." }, "name" : "How long must provisional licensees practice under supervision according to HB 1312?" }, "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The law is expected to help address Tennessee's predicted physician shortage (estimated at 5,989 physicians by 2030, including 1,107 primary care doctors) and could free up residency slots by no longer requiring internationally trained doctors to repeat residency in the U.S." }, "name" : "What workforce effect does the article say HB 1312 aims to address in Tennessee?" }, "position" : 3 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Critics worry it could reduce quality of care, create a 'midlevel' physician cohort, and lead to potential exploitation by hospital corporations that might drive down compensation; the article also notes the position of major medical associations is not yet clear." }, "name" : "What are some concerns or criticisms of the law noted in the article?" }, "position" : 4 } ], "name" : "Practice Questions", "numberOfItems" : 4 } ```