Alabama Joins the PA Licensure Compact
Alabama lawmakers have taken steps to strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce and improve patient access to care by passing HB 156, paving the way for Alabama’s more than 1,400 PAs to participate in the PA Licensure Compact.
The bill, championed by the Alabama Society of PAs (ASPA) and sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan), passed the Senate and House unanimously (27–0 and 101–0, respectively) before being signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on March 17, 2026. Through the enactment of HB 156, Alabama became the 24th state to join the PA Licensure Compact.
“We were strategic in our advocacy efforts, focusing on coalition-building, consistent engagement with lawmakers, and clear communication about the impact of HB 156,” said ASPA President Bonnie Minton, MHS, PA-C. “Through collaboration with physician partners and support from hospitals across the state, we shared real stories from the field and maintained a steady, professional presence throughout the legislative process.”
The PA Licensure Compact creates a streamlined pathway for PAs to practice in multiple participating states without needing to undergo duplicative, state-by-state licensure processes.
By reducing these administrative barriers while maintaining strong standards for both licensure and patient safety, the PA Licensure Compact supports a more flexible healthcare workforce that can better respond to patient needs, particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to care may be limited.
With Alabama’s addition as the 24th state, the PA Licensure Compact continues to gain traction nationwide.
Further information is available at https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2026/03/following-unanimous-legislative-support-alabama-joins-the-pa-licensure-compact-as-the-24th-state/
IMLCC Announces Connecticut as a State of Principal Licensure
On March 15, 2026, The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission (IMLCC) announced the completion of technical integrations required for Connecticut’s full participation as a State of Principal Licensure (SPL) in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. This means that qualifying Connecticut physicians can now access expedited licensure across IMLCC’s 43 member states, DC, and Guam, and their 58 Member-Board Jurisdictions. They gain access to a single, integrated physician application portal that reduces the complexities of multi-state license application and renewal management.
Since Connecticut Legislation passed in May 2022, IMLCC has been working with the Connecticut Medical Board on a two-phased technical implementation. Phase I, completed in October 2022, enabled qualified IMLCC Member-State physicians to apply for expedited licensure in Connecticut. Phase II will give eligible Connecticut-licensed physicians a corresponding opportunity—to secure a “Letter of Qualification” (LOQ) from their Connecticut Board, entitling them to expedited licensure from any of IMLCC’s Member-Board Jurisdictions in every IMLCC Member-State and Territory.
Further information is available at https://imlcc.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Information-Release-Connecticut-SPL-Goes-Live-Final.pdf
MD and DO Boards Merge
The Board of Licensure in Medicine (BOLIM) and the Board of Osteopathic Licensure (BOL) started a joint workgroup in January 2025 to discuss issues related to a possible merger.
The first meeting occurred on January 28, 2025, and meetings were held monthly. All meetings were open to public and include dedicated time for public comment. Since the first meeting, the workgroup discussed issues such as representation, budget, board processes, and licensing requirements. The workgroup received public comment at each meeting.
Following these in-depth discussions, the work-group recommended that BOLIM and BOL merge. This recommendation was forwarded to both Boards. The Boards voted to support a merger with equal number of MDs and DOs on the merged board.
The Boards presented their findings to the legislative committee of jurisdiction (HCIFS) on January 27, 2026. HCIFS reviewed the material and voted to pursue a joint resolution to allow the committee to introduce a bill to merge the boards this session. The joint resolution was passed by both the house and the senate and the bill, LD 2233, was published on March 12, 2026.
The proposed legislation, along with all information reviewed by the workgroup, is available on the Board’s website at https://www.maine.gov/md/about/merger
Updates to the Physician Application and Renewal Questions
The board has made several changes to the questions on the initial physician (MD, DO, DPM) application and renewal application. The board anticipates that the updates to the application will take effect later this year.
The changes include:
Streamlined questions that are clearer and more comprehensive
Greater consistency between each application type
New qualifying questions that prompt physicians to provide additional information if they provide an affirmative response
A new question about the percentage of the practice that is telehealth
A new question that asks about the oversight of physician assistants and nurse practitioners. (If a supervision agreement or standard care arrangement is in place, the physician will also be required to upload the list of providers.)
The goal of the updates is to help the board to have a more accurate understanding of how physicians practice in Ohio. The changes are not expected to substantially extend the time it takes to complete a renewal application and do not change the timing of renewal cycles.
Further information is available at https://myemail.constantcontact.com/SMBO-March-2026-eNews.html?soid=1142211591979&aid=q86g4NfwHuA
