Can graduate from med school practice without a residency?

[BOBBIO2]

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Pretty simple question that I need clarification. A friend of mine believes that you can practice after graduating from four years of medical school (being a primary care physician), but I thought a residency is required? Is this true?

Thanks in advance.

 

[njbmd]

Practice conditions depend on the state. Many, if not most, states require at least one year of residency + all three steps of USMLE/COMLEX before granting an unrestricted license to practice medicine.

In addition, most third-party payers will not pay physicians to perform primary care who have not completed a residency in primary care (peds, family medicine, internal medicine) and most hospitals will not grant admitting privileges to physicians who have not completed residency.

Thus, a person may be able to get an unrestricted license after one year of residency but would have to open a cash-only type practice and would not have hospital privileges.

Just graduating from medical school generally might get you an MD or DO but what's the point unless you can practice (takes license and residency)?

 

[schrizto]

MDs and DOs who don't do a residency aren't even legally allowed to give medical advice. I read about an MD who went directly into research after medical school, never did a residency, and came under fire when he showed up as commentary in a drug commerical.

IMGs, who are graduates of medical schools, can't practice medicine in the US unless they do their residency here.

 

[shiftingmirage]

I believe you must complete residency to get a medical license.

 

[ShinyDome19]

From what I have read on the military forums, I think you can practice as a GMO in the Navy and Airforce before doing residency...

 

[silverhorse84]

From what I have read on the military forums, I think you can practice as a GMO in the Navy and Airforce before doing residency...

The Army too. But you do have to do an internship year, so it's not like you come out of school and start treating patients without someone looking over your shoulder.

 

[njbmd]

I believe you must complete residency to get a medical license.

You do not have to complete residency to obtain an unrestricted license but you do have to complete residency in order to become board certified/board eligible which is the minimum criterion for more third party payers. Most of my colleagues had obtained their unrestricted license by the end of PYG-2 and could moonlight during our research years.

 

[J ROD]

Short answer is technically "yes". But, in order to "practice" medicine in today's world of insurance managed healthcare, you need to do the residency and learn how to become a physician. I seriously think one would need to do a residency to be able to treat patients accordingly.

 

[mvenus929]

Short answer is technically "yes". But, in order to "practice" medicine in today's world of insurance managed healthcare, you need to do the residency and learn how to become a physician. I seriously think one would need to do a residency to be able to treat patients accordingly.

You have to do one year of residency, or an internship, in order to finish the board exams. You take step III after the end of that first year, and then you're eligible to actually have a license. You can't moonlight until you have a license.

 

[J ROD]

You have to do one year of residency, or an internship, in order to finish the board exams. You take step III after the end of that first year, and then you're eligible to actually have a license. You can't moonlight until you have a license.

I know. I just think you need a full residency in order to treat patients well. I dont think one year as an intern will prepare one sufficiently.

Lets' say you moonlight as an ER resident. What kind of pay can you expect compared to say a standard $125/hr attending?

 

[baabwajones]

You must complete at least an internship plus pass all three steps of USMLE/COMLEX to obtain a full license and DEA numbers. After that you are not technically required to complete a residency, but as others have noted it will be near impossible to get third-party payers to cover your services.
The only docs that I know that have gone into practice without completing a full residency are those that have military obligations (in which case they return to residency after serving their time) or those who are working in the field of inpatient addiction/detox.

 

[Hoody]

MDs and DOs who don't do a residency aren't even legally allowed to give medical advice.

This is wrong.


And just for the record (not that I agree with it at all) but I know of a first year PC resident who has written prescriptions for people (on her own, not under the supervision/direction of an attending). Its perfectly legal (at least in this state).

 

[tkim]

This is wrong.


And just for the record (not that I agree with it at all) but I know of a first year PC resident who has written prescriptions for people (on her own, not under the supervision/direction of an attending). Its perfectly legal (at least in this state).

What's a 'PC' resident, and what state is this in?