Mega Doctor News
Mega Doctor News
The Texas Medical Board has begun accepting applications for two new physician license categories created by House Bill 2038, known as the DOCTOR Act, expanding pathways for internationally trained physicians and medical school graduates who did not secure residency positions.
The law, which amended the Texas Occupations Code, directs the Texas Medical Board to issue new types of licenses to “certain foreign medical license holders and physician graduates,” establishing alternative routes to practice medicine in the state. These license categories are listed on the agency’s website as Foreign Physician Provisional Licenses and Physician Graduate Licenses.
HB 2038, enacted in 2025 and implemented through new board rules, was designed to address physician shortages and expand access to care by allowing qualified doctors to practice under defined conditions. The DOCTOR Act “provides new pathways to licensing foreign-trained physicians and medical school graduates who do not match into a resident training program,” according to rulemaking summaries and board announcements.
Under the provisional license pathway, internationally trained physicians must meet strict eligibility requirements, including holding a recognized medical degree, maintaining a license in good standing abroad, demonstrating English proficiency, and passing the Texas Medical Jurisprudence Exam. Applicants must also have an employment offer from a Texas health care provider and authorization to work in the United States. The provisional license allows eligible physicians to begin practicing under supervision and, after meeting additional requirements, to apply for a full Texas license.
The new Physician Graduate License is intended for medical school graduates who completed their education but did not match into a residency program, a situation that can delay or prevent licensure. The DOCTOR Act specifically created licensing pathways to capture this group of trained physicians and expand the available workforce.
The Texas Medical Board has published application instructions, eligibility criteria, and fee requirements on its website and is advising prospective applicants to review all documentation carefully before submitting materials. The agency has rulemaking authority under the law to establish application procedures, eligibility standards, and licensing fees.
State officials and medical organizations have described the new licenses as part of an effort to increase physician capacity, particularly in underserved areas, while maintaining regulatory oversight. The opening of applications marks the first operational step in implementing the DOCTOR Act’s licensing framework.
