PSSNY's Memo of Support for Citizenship Bill

An ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the abolition of citizenship requirements for licensure in certain professions

Nearly two hundred foreign born pharmacists who are in the United States legally cannot obtain a NYS pharmacist license due to the requirement that they be citizens first. Over one hundred seventy-five foreign born temporarily licensed pharmacists have seen their licenses rescinded as their temporary status time expires. This has caused these highly trained, highly paid individuals to leave the state for any of the other 48 states that do not require citizenship as a prerequisite for licensure.

Only 13 of the 47 professions require citizenship prior to licensure, a requirement that has created hardships for both licensed professionals and our foreign born students who pay some of the highest tuition to the six schools of pharmacy located in the state. Students who complete the six-year Pharm. D program have no incentive to go on to do residencies in New York State where they are unable to become licensed.

The NYS citizenship requirement for licensure has been challenged in court as "unconstitutional". The state lost the case, but the decision applied only to the Canadian-born veterinarian who challenged state law. His case has sparked a similar case undertaken by approximately three dozen pharmacists. The question is: Do all fourteen professions have to go to court in order to vacate this statutory requirement or will the legislature work in the state's best interests by passing this legislation this session?

Respectfully submitted
On behalf of the
Pharmacists Society of the
State of New York

March, 2009