Fellowship in the US that doesnt require the USMLE

Virtually all radiology fellowships conducted through the match require ECFMG AND all steps of the USMLE for FMGs, but interestingly not for American grads grads. Sorry I don't know much about the non-match fellowshps.

 

A research fellowship without patient contact (or only incidental contact as the goverment puts it) won't require USMLEs. Any fellowship where you provide any type of medical service (e.g. by dictating reports, even if those are countersigned by the attending), you will have to be at the very least ECFMG certified and typically licensed by the state you are in (typically through a limited or graduate medical education license).

US immigration law also requires you to be ECMFG certified anytime you enter the country 'to provide services as a physician'. If you practice medicine in any sort of capacity and you are not ECFMG certified you commit a deportable offense. Some states will give limited academic licenses to physicians who have suitable foreign credentials (e.g. UK, AU or France). These physicians might be licensed but they are strictly speaking in violation of immigration laws.

 

Yes.

 

You gotta pay to play...

 

Also, ECFMG has to confirm with yur medical school that you actually graduated and that the diploma you submitted is genuine.