A Licensing "What If" Question

[Trader56]

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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!

 

[awdc]

You are generally correct in your understanding. However, most states do not have as strict a criteria as say California, Texas, or Pennsylvania for example. Each state (not the federal gov't) sets up their own licensure laws for physicians, U.S. and foreign grads. However, individual states have pretty much deemed the LCME accreditation of U.S. med schools as adequate. Since there is no recognized U.S. organization that accredits foreign medical schools, certain states have taken it upon themselves to come up with their own criteria for licensing foreign medical graduates.

 

[McGillGrad]

To add to awdc's nice post, you will not get passed the red tape of a state like CA if you come from a school that was not approved (or was disapproved) by their medical board. That is, unles you are helped by someone who can navigate the red tape...cough cough...politician.

 

[shaggy411]

You are generally correct in your understanding. However, most states do not have as strict a criteria as say California, Texas, or Pennsylvania for example. Each state (not the federal gov't) sets up their own licensure laws for physicians, U.S. and foreign grads. However, individual states have pretty much deemed the LCME accreditation of U.S. med schools as adequate. Since there is no recognized U.S. organization that accredits foreign medical schools, certain states have taken it upon themselves to come up with their own criteria for licensing foreign medical graduates.

so are you saying if i go to a carrieban school i may not be able to practice in pennsylvania?

 

[MD Rapper]

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