Hiring UK-Trained Physicians in Florida: What Employers Need to Know

Florida’s 2024 healthcare reform (SB 7016) created a brand-new pathway to bring internationally trained doctors into your workforce. For the first time, hospitals and clinics can hire doctors from overseas — including fully trained UK physicians with CCT — without requiring them to repeat a U.S. residency.

This change has the potential to rapidly ease staffing shortages in primary care and specialist services across the state. Here’s what you need to know as an employer.

Who is eligible?

Florida’s new law allows internationally trained doctors to apply for licensure if they:

1. Hold an active, unrestricted medical license abroad (for UK candidates, this means a valid GMC licence).
   

2. Completed postgraduate training equivalent to U.S. residency (for example:

   • MRCGP / GP Register → equivalent to U.S. Family Medicine residency.

   • CCT in a specialty (Internal Medicine, Surgery, Anaesthetics, Psychiatry, etc.) → equivalent to U.S. residency/fellowship).
     

3. Obtain ECFMG certification, which requires:

   • Passing USMLE Step 1 (basic sciences).

   • Passing USMLE Step 2 CK (clinical knowledge).

   • Passing the OET Medicine English test.
     

4. Have recent clinical practice experience in their specialty.

What this means for you as an employer

• Expanded candidate pool: You can now recruit directly from the UK’s highly regarded CCT-qualified workforce.

• Faster onboarding: No need for candidates to repeat years of residency — once licensed, they can integrate into your teams.

• Two-year tether: Florida requires the physician to remain employed with the hiring organisation for two years after licensure. This provides built-in retention and stability for your staffing plan.

• Visa sponsorship required: Physicians will need legal U.S. work authorisation. Most hospitals qualify to sponsor H-1B visas (many are cap-exempt), and exceptional specialists may qualify for O-1 visas.

Your role in the process

As an employer, you will need to:

1. Issue a formal job offer — this is required for both the Florida license application and the visa petition.

2. Support the licensing application — provide documentation and confirm readiness to onboard the physician.

3. Sponsor the visa — coordinate with your immigration counsel to file the H-1B or O-1 petition.

4. Provide initial supervision if requested — the Florida Board may impose limited supervision if the physician’s recent practice has been minimal.

Why UK-trained CCT doctors?

• UK training is highly aligned with U.S. residency standards.

• CCT specialists are consultant-level clinicians — experienced in leading care teams, managing complex cases, and working within evidence-based systems.

• They arrive ready to practice at an advanced level, bringing both clinical skill and adaptability.
  

How Merrick Global Talent supports you

At Merrick Global Talent, we:

• Identify and pre-screen UK CCT doctors who meet Florida’s new eligibility rules.

• Guide candidates through ECFMG and USMLE requirements, ensuring they arrive licensure-ready.

• Coordinate with your HR and medical staff office on documentation, supervision plans, and Board requirements.

• Work with immigration partners to ensure timely visa sponsorship.

SB 7016 allows you to fill urgent physician vacancies with world-class UK-trained talent. With the right recruitment partner, you can access a pipeline of doctors who are fully trained, English-speaking, and motivated to relocate, without the delays of traditional U.S. residency routes.