Last Updated: Aug 29, 2024
Earlier this week, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced partial implementation of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) to help ease the physician shortage in Pennsylvania. The IMLC is an agreement among participating states and territories to streamline the licensing process for physicians who want to practice in multiple states. Pennsylvania became authorized to join the IMLC with the enactment of Act 112 of 2016. Since then, the Department of State has been working diligently to implement the IMLC.
As of August 26, 2024, an out-of-state physician with a license from a Compact state and a corresponding “letter of qualification” from their state of principal licensure can apply to the IMLC to designate Pennsylvania as a state where the physician wants to practice and apply for expedited licensure from the relevant Pennsylvania licensing board. The out-of-state physician will need to demonstrate that they have satisfied two Pennsylvania requirements before obtaining a license: completing 3 hours of education in child abuse recognition and reporting, and 4 hours of education relating to pain management and opioid prescribing practices.
Allowing qualified physicians to obtain expedited licensure in Pennsylvania will provide patients access to additional healthcare resources, including telehealth resources. Out-of-state physicians who want to provide telehealth services must be licensed by the relevant Pennsylvania licensing board and comply with any state and federal laws.
Until the IMLC is fully implemented, Pennsylvania physicians will not be able to designate Pennsylvania as their state of principal licensure. Once fully implemented, Pennsylvania physicians will be able to apply for expedited licensure in other Compact states via the IMLC. The Department of State is working to satisfy preconditions necessary for Pennsylvania to fully implement the IMLC. One of the preconditions is the ability to certify to other compact states that Pennsylvania applicants have undergone an FBI criminal background check. This process requires the state to gain FBI approval to receive the results of the required criminal history inquiries. The Department of State has requested authorization and is awaiting approval.
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