For international medical graduates (IMG), obtaining a state medical license in the US. UU. can be a complex process. All state licensing jurisdictions require a graduate of a foreign medical school to complete at least one year of accredited study in the U.
S. or Canadian postgraduate medical education before obtaining the license. It is essential for IMGs to check each state's licensing requirements, as 12 states require 2 years and 25 states require 3 years of accredited graduate medical education. To find out specific licensing requirements by state, look at Initial US License UU.
Graduates in Medicine and Graduates in International Medicine (PDF). The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) evaluates credentials for most international medical graduates and verifies each IMG medical school diploma with appropriate officials from the issuing medical school. ECFMG sponsors World Directory, and a note can be found on “Sponsor Notes” tab list of medical schools. Schools that meet all requirements will be listed with a World Directory note from ECFMG stating the school meets eligibility requirements for their students and graduates to apply to ECFMG to obtain ECFMG certification exam. Medical graduates often have advantages competing for residency programs, including well-known medical schools, professional services, support, and recent graduation.
IMGs must have received credits for at least four credit years (academic years in which credit was granted to complete the medical curriculum) from a medical school listed in the World Directory by ECFMG with a grade stating they meet ECFMG eligibility requirements. After obtaining ECFMG certification, the next step is obtaining a medical license by completing a medical residency or fellowship, also known as a graduate medical education program (“GME”). For the purposes of ECFMG certification, ECFMG defines IMGs as individuals who received their basic medical degree at a medical school located outside of the United States and Canada. Both international medical students and graduates can begin the certification process and apply for the required exams as soon as they meet eligibility requirements for the exam. The person's graduation year must be included in the ECFMG note listed in the World Medical School Directory. However, before you can apply for an unrestricted license to practice medicine at the state level, there is a complex training and examination system that applies nationally to all medical graduates in the United States, including international medical graduates. State licensing requirements are designed to ensure that graduates of foreign medical schools meet the same requirements for obtaining a medical license as graduates of accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada. All information must be verified with state licensing boards.
Medical licenses are granted to doctors who meet all state requirements and are at the discretion of the board. Learn more about American Medical Association (AMA) policies related to IMG state licensing. The AMA promotes the art and science of medicine and the improvement of public health. To help IMGs navigate this process, they offer a Toolkit for International Medical Graduates (IMG). This toolkit provides up-to-date coverage on rule changes affecting payment amounts for all medical services paid under the Medicare Physician Payment Program, key skills to expect on the first day of training, tips on who should write your letters of recommendation for residency applications, information on how proposed adjustments for income-based repayment could benefit doctors and other borrowers, access to expert real estate advice and secure financing for your next home with resources designed specifically for doctors, preferred savings when buying, leasing, or renting a car, information presented for consideration at the interim meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, how Council on Legislation (COL) makes recommendations to AMA Board of Trustees on legislation and regulations at federal and state levels, Medical Services Council recommendations policies and actions to House of Delegates on socioeconomic factors that influence practice of medicine, members AMA Medical Student Section (MSS) may submit resolutions on important medical topics that current AMA policy MSS policy do not address. Subscribe now to receive the latest news from IMG The best of medicine, delivered to your mailbox.
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