A Licensing Question

[Trader56]

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I posted this in the Caribbena forum, but thought perhaps it would get better exposure here.

I've read the numerous threads on the problems with med school XYZ not being licensed in all 50 states.

The facts, as I understand them, seem to be that if school XYZ is not recognized by a given state, then its grads will never be able to get licensed to practice there. Is this right?

Is there no mechanism - exam, etc - whereby a licensed physician in one state cannot get licensed in a state their original medical school wasn't approved in?

For example, you're licensed, board certified and have practiced in, say, NY for a few years. But, at the time you went to med school, your school wasn't approved in, say, CA. Why wouldn't a licensed, board certified physician be able to transfer their license or get licensed in CA? Certainly U.S, grads who graduate in NY aren't prevented from becoming licensed in CA.

I'm baffled by this!

 

[neilc]

depends on the state. some states have a list, but can allow you to practice after you have held a license and met the requirements. a good example of this is NM. they use the CA list, but under certain circumstances will waive this list requirement.

in CA, if you are not a grad of an approved school, you can never work there. typically, if a state is that strict, they are not going to grant reciprocity. when you think about it, it seems pretty logical. why would they bother to have their own laws if they are just going to accept any other states? now, whether you agree with the laws is an entirely different topic. states that are known to be tough on IMG's are CA, IN, CO, TX and PA, some more than others. and, i think TN is starting to get tough, and may be using the CA list as well.

basically, the states are independant, and able to decide who is qualified. if they base this decision partially on where you went to med school, they prob have a reason for this, and are not going to allow you to get around this requirement by getting a license in a less restrictive states...

i think it is pretty clear that by allowing reciprocity, a state would be pretty much throwing away any laws they have in place in favor of accepting another states. now, that does not seem to make much sense. we may not agree with the laws, but they are there, and the states did not make them with the hope that people would find a way around them.

(note: in your example, you used a US grad....no, they are not going to be prevented because there are no states that do not accept US schools. but, if you are talking about say a spartan grad, and they get a license and board certification in NY, they still cannot work in CA, and likely in many other states.)