Bill
SF 155
Creates a supervised provisional license for eligible international physicians to work in Wyoming, expanding access and enabling eventual full licensure after two years.
Status (as of available record)
- Introduced in the Senate Jan 29, 2025. Passed the Senate (3rd reading vote 29–1–1) Feb 10, 2025. Referred to the House (H07 Corporations → H10 Labor), recommended “Amend and Do Pass” by House Labor (8–0–1), placed on the House General File. House Committee of the Whole did not consider the bill. Companion: HF 890.
Purpose
- Establish a provisional licensing pathway to allow qualified international physicians to work in Wyoming under defined conditions, with the stated intent of expanding physician access and addressing workforce shortages.
Key provisions
- New Article: Creates W.S. 33-26-801 through 33-26-803, titled the “Expanding Physician Access Act.”
- Definition of “international physician”: requires a medical doctorate (or substantially similar degree), recent good standing with the physician’s home-country licensing authority, specified post-graduate/residency or practice experience (amended to two years of active practice under provisional licensure), basic English fluency, and passage of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) (as amended).
- Provisional license:
- Board of Medicine authorized to grant a provisional license to an international physician who has a Wyoming employment offer from a Wyoming health care provider and who has immigration/work authorization permitting U.S. practice.
- Provisional licensees must practice under the direct supervision of a physician currently licensed in Wyoming (amendment).
- Application requirements include criminal background check and payment of fees.
- The Board may suspend or revoke a provisional license for cause; amendments permit suspension if the licensee loses employment and revocation if re-employment is not obtained within six months.
- After completing the provisional period (amended from three to two years) without disciplinary action and meeting other board requirements (including USMLE passage), a provisional licensee is eligible to apply to convert to a full Wyoming medical license (conversion is not automatic).
- Renewal and continuing education: provisional licensees must comply with board continuing medical education (CME) requirements and pay renewal fees as set by the board (amendments modified annual/renewal language).
- Rulemaking: the State Board of Medicine is required to adopt rules implementing the program and related procedures.
Fiscal and administrative impact
- Fiscal note (Board of Medicine estimates): modest special revenue from fees — application fee estimated at $200 and renewal $80. Estimated revenue: FY2026 $3,200; FY2027 $2,240; FY2028 $2,800 (based on estimated small numbers of applicants/renewals).
- Appropriation amendment (committee of the whole): proposed one-time appropriation of $47,800 (special revenue) to the Board of Medicine for information system expansion and ongoing costs, with $40,000 explicitly not intended to be included in the board’s base budget for the next biennium.
Who is affected
- International physicians who meet the bill’s eligibility criteria and obtain a Wyoming employer sponsor.
- Wyoming health care providers that sponsor and supervise provisional licensees (hospitals, clinics, urgent care, etc.).
- Wyoming State Board of Medicine (rulemaking, licensing administration, background checks).
- Patients and communities potentially benefiting from increased physician availability.
Procedure / next steps
- Bill passed the Senate and is active in the House; further House floor action, amendments or final passage are required for enactment. Rulemaking and administrative preparations by the Board of Medicine would follow statutory enactment.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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