Bridge Year Physician Permit

The Physician Workforce Act of 2023 provides for supervised limited practice for medical students who have graduated from medical school and then applied to, but were not accepted into, a residency training program. Applicants are eligible for the first year following medical school graduation, with an option for a one-year extension.

The individual must be a graduate of a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners (ALBME) will issue a permit to a qualified applicant to practice as a bridge year graduate physician under the on-site supervision of an Alabama-licensed physician.
The permit is valid for one year. It may be renewed, upon application and payment of a renewal fee, for no more than one additional one-year period.
The ALBME will review applications and communicate with the applicants regarding application status.

An individual holding a bridge year graduate physician permit may prescribe, dispense, or administer legend (prescription), non-controlled drugs to patients based on a formulary approved by the supervising physician and the ALBME.

The bridge year graduate physician is expected to re-apply for a residency during the bridge year time period.  The supervising physician may submit a letter of recommendation when the applicant is applying for residency.  The supervising physician must submit a report to the ALBME at the end of the bridge year indicating the scope and breadth of the practice and the instruction and training provided.

 

 The ALBME has adopted rules to govern both the medical school graduate and supervising physician under the Bridge Year program. Click here to see the rules.








 



  The ALBME has created a set of applications to be completed as needed. They are available on the ALBME website. Click here to see the applications.
The applications are:

• Application for Bridge Year Graduate Physician
• Application for Supervising Physician
• Waiver Request Form (for those who may not have applied for residency and who are no more than 2 years post-medical school graduation)
• Job Description
• Approved Formulary for Non-Controlled Prescribing
• Covering Physician Agreement 

 
     
 Jobs Board- The Medical Association has developed a “jobs board” where interested medical school graduate candidates and interested supervising physicians/practices can post information about themselves. Click here for the Jobs Board

 

  The Medical Association has also drafted a sample services agreement that candidates and practices may use to memorialize the agreement between the parties. This is only a sample agreement. Details regarding work hours, pay, paid time off, etc., will be negotiated by the parties involved. Click here for the sample agreement.