Florida takes step toward supporting Latino physicians: Gov. DeSantis signs law on degree validation

Gov. Ron DeSantis has recently approved a new set of laws aimed at simplifying the validation process for degrees held by Latin American physicians in Florida, which will come into effect starting July 1st.

The SB-7016 Law provides benefits to medical professionals who have graduated from a foreign country and have remained active for three to four years in any region of the world before its implementation.

One of the most significant changes for Latinos is the removal of the three-year medical residency requirement that existed as a prerequisite for the medical degree ratification process in that state.

This requirement delayed the entry of thousands of healthcare professionals into the state's healthcare system.

"It's a package of laws that opens invaluable doors for us to incorporate all these professionals into the United States healthcare system," defined Julio César Alfonso, president of the organization Solidarity without Borders (SSF), in an interview with América TeVe.

Alfonso highlighted that the SB-7016 Law could offer advantages to any medical professional, including nurses, from a foreign country, on the condition that they have actively cared for patients in that location for at least three years before applying to the program in the United States.

A Latin American physician, for example, could receive a license to practice medicine in the state of Florida without having to go through a residency first. "Now a series of regulations will come to qualify the professionals who are interested in benefiting from this program," clarified the representative of SSF.

This organization, in collaboration with Green Cross International and a legal advisory firm based in Tallahassee, Florida, will host a meeting to provide detailed explanations of the new process. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 22nd, at 10 am ET at Birdside Hall, located at 12851 SW 42nd Street in Miami.

According to Alfonso, it's very likely that the exams known as Step will also be eliminated.

He referred to the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) exams, which determine whether the professional possesses all the skills, knowledge, and aptitudes required to practice medicine in the United States. These exams consist of four stages that must be completed in order: USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2CK, OET, and USMLE Step 3.

More than 30,000 Cuban doctors are projected to benefit from this measure, according to information provided by the news source CiberCuba. However, physicians from other countries in Latin America could also benefit from these new regulations signed by DeSantis.