Entrance Exam for Foreign Medical Schools?

[Omidjoon]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Is it true that if u go to Medical School in Mexico, or the Caribbean or overseas somehwere that in order for you to practice in america you have to take an entrance exam that is seperate from students who went to medical school in america?

 

[Supercluster]

Is it true that if u go to Medical School in Mexico, or the Caribbean or overseas somehwere that in order for you to practice in america you have to take an entrance exam that is seperate from students who went to medical school in america?

yep, there's a special exam (written and practical) for foreign med grads, and I've heard only about half get through it. Plus you obviously have to pass the boards, and residency programs look at board scores very carefully because it's an objective means of assessing your skills. I also know one person who had to take some sort of English exam even though she spoke fluent English because of where she studied

 

[plickfu]

I believe it also varies by state. As far as I know, in California the exam for foreign graduates is just the USMLE.

 

[whuds]

Is it true that if u go to Medical School in Mexico, or the Caribbean or overseas somehwere that in order for you to practice in america you have to take an entrance exam that is seperate from students who went to medical school in america?

No not realy just USMLE step 1, and 2 before graduation.
There is no entrance exam for US citzens it is for foreign IMGs. US citzens do not have to take the english exam.

From the ECFMG site:

"Effective with the implementation of Step 2 Clinical Skills (Step 2 CS) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) on June 14, 2004, the Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) is no longer a requirement for ECFMG Certification.

If you took an English test for ECFMG Certification:

Before June 14, 2004, passing performances on the English test were valid for two years from the date passed for the purpose of entry into graduate medical education (GME). Effective June 14, 2004, passing performances on the English test are not subject to expiration for the purpose of entry into GME.

* If you were certified by ECFMG before June 14, 2004 and your English test pass date appears on your Standard ECFMG Certificate, you are eligible to request permanent validation of your English test date. Refer to Important Changes to Standard ECFMG Certificate for detailed information.


* If you passed an English test for the purpose of ECFMG Certification, but you were not certified by ECFMG before June 14, 2004, there will be no English test "valid through" (expiration) date on your Standard ECFMG Certificate when it is issued."


But you must register with the ECFMG.

http://www.ecfmg.org/

That previous infromation is old you do not take any "Special tests".

Hopes this helps.

 

[f_w]

Anybody, US citizen or not, who went to a medical school outside of the US and canada (and accredited by these countries), has to write USMLE step1, step2ck and step2cs to be eligible to start a residency. The TOEFL was abolished once they started requiring step2cs, a structured skills examination that requires a decent understanding of the english language. The exams are exactly the same as the ones US medical students have to take. The scoring system is also the same (in the old days, until the early 90s there was a separate FMGMS and FLEX exam for foreign grads. )

After finishing the three exams and after the ECFMG verifies that you actually attended a medical school accredited in the country it is located, you receive an 'ECFMG certificate' which is a pre-requistite for residency training and licensure (but not a license by itself).

www.ecfmg.org

The initial pass rate on these exams for US citizens going overseas for a medical education is indeed in the 50-65% range. After some repeat attempts, many of the people who fail initially will get certified eventually.

 

[Omidjoon]

so basically the answer is no? all medical school students whether attending Foreign or American MD schools take the same exams after they are done?

 

[Miklos]

so basically the answer is no? all medical school students whether attending Foreign or American MD schools take the same exams after they are done?

Yes, as of 2004, the exams for both US students/graduates and international students/graduates wanting to pursue residency training and licensure are the same.

• USMLE Step 1 - basic sciences/pre-clinical
• USMLE Step 2 CK - clinical knowledge
• USMLE Step 2 CS - clinical skills
• USMLE Step 3

See the ECFMG page for info on the exams.

 

[f_w]

so basically the answer is no? all medical school students whether attending Foreign or American MD schools take the same exams after they are done?

This is correct.

In the past, ECFMG administered certain exams only for foreign grads (FLEX, FMGML(whatever) and CSA). Now, everybody is in the same boat.

In reality, there is one slight difference. In some states, US graduates are allowed to start residency even if they flunked step2ck. As a foreign grad, you don't have that opportunity.
Typically you will need step1,2ck,2cs and the ECFMG certificate in order to get on the matchlist of most residency programs. Sometimes, this can mean a year of delay between finishing medical school and starting residency. It is up to the student to schedule aggressively in order to avoid this problem.

 

[whuds]

Anybody, US citizen or not, who went to a medical school outside of the US and canada (and accredited by these countries), has to write USMLE step1, step2ck and step2cs to be eligible to start a residency. The TOEFL was abolished once they started requiring step2cs, a structured skills examination that requires a decent understanding of the english language. The exams are exactly the same as the ones US medical students have to take. The scoring system is also the same (in the old days, until the early 90s there was a separate FMGMS and FLEX exam for foreign grads. )

After finishing the three exams and after the ECFMG verifies that you actually attended a medical school accredited in the country it is located, you receive an 'ECFMG certificate' which is a pre-requistite for residency training and licensure (but not a license by itself).

www.ecfmg.org

The initial pass rate on these exams for US citizens going overseas for a medical education is indeed in the 50-65% range. After some repeat attempts, many of the people who fail initially will get certified eventually.

Yea I suppose the pass rate has to do with test taking problems and or the difference in offshore programs from US. I would think students who did well on MCATs and do well through out Med School pass more on the first time and many students Offshore did not do well or take the MCATs at all.