India, Aug. 17 -- For decades, international medical graduates (IMGs) had one clear path to practicing in the United States: completing a US residency. That remains the rule in most of the country. But with a looming physician shortage, a growing number of states are opening new doors for foreign-trained doctors. According to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), at least 18 states have now created licensing programs that allow certain IMGs to begin practicing without first completing a full US residency.

States including Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, Idaho, Minnesota, and Texas issue provisional licenses to doctors who already hold an active license abroad, pass the US medical exams, and work under supervision for a set period ...