Foreign-Licensed Doctors To Help NJ In Fight Against Coronavirus

NEW JERSEY, NJ — New Jersey is the first in the nation to enlist physicians who are licensed in another country but living in the United Statesto help in the fight against the new coronavirus, Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced Friday.

"New Jersey is the first state in the nation to fully embrace the tremendous wealth of international knowledge and experience to help us on our own front lines," said Murphy. "This will create a pathway for foreign-licensed physicians to put their skills to use in our state when and where they are needed most. Every member of our diverse New Jersey family has a role to play in our fight against COVID-19."

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The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs is now accepting applications for the program for anyone living and authorized to work in the U.S. and are currently licensed, in good standing, to practice medicine in another country. Among other criteria, eligible candidates must:

• Have engaged in the clinical practice of medicine for at least five years;
• Have not been out of practice for more than five years;
• Have no disciplinary or criminal histories that preclude them from the program; and
• Provide copies of relevant documents to support their application, including their medical license, and information about their education and professional experience.

Physicians accepted into this program will be issued a temporary emergency license that will only be valid during the current public health emergency. Doctors will also only be allowed to provide in-person medical care at facilities licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) or at another location designated as an emergency health care center by the Commissioner of Health.

"New Jersey’s frontline health care workers have been valiantly caring for our friends and neighbors with COVID-19 for weeks," said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. "Having a new infusion of physicians to supplement those who need a break or have fallen ill is vital to our ongoing effort to flatten the curve of this virus."

Foreign-licensed doctors can apply for temporary emergency licensure online on the Division's website. For more information on the Division’s program, click here.

Qualified health, mental health, and related professionals interested in volunteering can visit covid19.nj.gov/volunteer.

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