NC S336

North Carolina joins the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, enabling physicians with unrestricted licenses in member states to obtain expedited licenses to practice in multiple participating states through a streamlined application process

Creates the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission with two voting representatives from each member state to administer the compact, establish rules, maintain a physician database, and coordinate disciplinary actions across states

Establishes a new "internationally-trained physician employee license" for foreign-licensed physicians to practice at North Carolina hospitals or rural medical practices (counties with less than 500 people per square mile) where a fully-licensed physician is on-site

Internationally-trained physicians must have at least 5 years of practice experience, 130 weeks of medical education, and demonstrate competency through approved examinations or specialty board certification before qualifying for the special license

After 4 years of active practice under the internationally-trained physician employee license with no disciplinary issues, physicians become eligible to apply for a full unrestricted North Carolina medical license; the act becomes effective January 1, 2026