Coronavirus: Texas Governor Waives Medical Licensing

AUSTIN, TX — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday announced regulations waivers across some medical fields allowing for emergency licensing to expand the health care workforce amid coronavirus outbreak.

Under the temporary waivers, physician assistants (PAs), medical physicists, perfusionists and respiratory care candidates for licensure who have otherwise completed all other requirements can enter the workforce under emergency licenses while under supervision prior to taking final licensure examination, the governor's office explained.

The waiver also provides for emergency licensees to undergo name-based background checks in place of fingerprint checks while fingerprint checks are unavailable due to the crisis. Additionally, the governor's office said, the waiver allows more flexibility between physicians and PAs along with advanced practice registered nurses "...including allowing for oral prescriptive delegation agreements to enable rapid deployment of those practitioners during the emergency," the governor's office said.

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"The State of Texas is bolstering our response to COVID-19 by expanding our health care workforce and removing barriers that might prevent professionals from serving their fellow Texans," Abbott said. "Our front line health care professionals play a vital role in our ongoing response to protect public health, and we are committed to supporting them and ensuring they have the ability to perform their important duties."