ALBME

Bridge Year Physician Limited Permit (2023 Physician Workforce Act)

The Physician Workforce Act of 2023 provides for limited, supervised practice for physicians who applied to, but were not accepted into, a residency training program for the first year following medical school graduation ("bridge year graduate physicians").

The physician must be a graduate of a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

The Board will issue to qualified applicants a permit to practice as a bridge year graduate physician under the on-site supervision of an Alabama-licensed physician. The permit will be valid for one year and may be renewed, upon application and payment of a renewal fee, for no more than one additional one-year period.

An individual holding a bridge year graduate physician permit may prescribe, dispense, or administer legend drugs to patients based on a formulary approved by the supervising physician and the Board.

At the end of the bridge year, the supervising physician must submit a report to the Board indicating the scope and breadth of the practice, instruction, and training provided and a statement as to whether the bridge year graduate physician would be recommended for a residency position upon reapplication. 

This permit does not confer any future right to licensure to practice medicine in Alabama.

The Board is in the process of developing rules pursuant to the Act.  Once the rules are final, the Board will begin accepting applications. We will update this site as we obtain further information.

Physician Workforce Act of 2023