Going abroad for residency

Started by StevenRF
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StevenRF

Senior Member
15+ Year Member
Would it be possible to go to Europe for my residency, say the UK? How hard would it be to get a residency there? How would this harm my ability to return to the US at a later time to practice? Would it be better in the long term to do my residency in the US then move?

Basically, my girl works between the US and UK, but wants to shift mostly to the UK. Right now I'm tied down until med school is over, so I'm trying to figure out how I can do my residency and then practice abroad.

I wasn't sure if I should post this here or the international forum, but every post there is about foreign students coming to the US.
 
Hiya!

I actually have sorta the same dilemma. i'm actually far far far from residency (entering med school in the states soon) but am considering eventually practicing in the UK due to personal issues and preferences.

I haven't seen much information about this issue b/c I don't think it's done often. But it has to have been done. I know there are postgraduate training int he UK but they are very hard to obtain for non-EU/UK citizens since training positions are already limited in the first place. So if you are looking for a specific specialty training, you might want to stick to the US first. Might want to check out this:

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=599

Getting training done there and then coming back to the US is probably not the best idea since I don't htink the US converts it easily.

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes or if you find out anymore info b/c i'd also like to know more!
 
Yea, I figured that I would be grounded in the US at least until I finish residency. It sucks that this is the only profession that is so werid about training and working. I could go abroad and use my engineering degree assuming I get a work visa. But with medicine, it's like every country assumes the doc's of every other country are mentally ******ed and can't do anything.
 
If you train in a foreign country, you will be unable to become board certified here in the US, and will have great difficulty getting a medical license (since every state I know of requires some residency in order to be licensed). This is why doc's who have completed international residencies are forced to "start over" in the US if they want to work there.

Also, you cannot apply to fellowships without a medicine residency.

Hence, no matter what the quality, foreign residency training will not be of much help if you want to work in the US.

(I'm sure there are rare exceptions to this rule, but not many)
 
aProgDirector is correct.

Without a US residency, you will be forced to start your training over again if you wish to work in the US, FOR THE MOST PART.

There are exceptions for internationally recognized experrts, but as noted above, you cannot be BC in a US specialty without US residency training.

You CAN do US fellowships without US residency, but the expectation is that you will leave the country upon completion.

thus, your best chances are to do your residency training in the country you expect to work in fior the rest of your life. It is easier to train in the US and try to work abroad than vice versa, if that makes any difference to you.
 
Yeah,

The only there are some exceptions (such as the US and Canada that recognize a lot of residency work from each other), but for the most part, you have to train in the country in which you practice. The UK is notoriously difficult in terms of actually getting training spots and even worse in terms of actually getting the equivalent of an attending's position. This will be even worse if you go to US medical school and are not a UK citizen.

All of that being said, many countries will let people bypass MANY of their rules if you are willing to work in a shortage area. It won't help you get a residency though.
 
any idea about the prospects/process of practicing in the UK after residency? Is it just as difficult/near impossible?
 
Miami_med said:
Yeah,

The only there are some exceptions (such as the US and Canada that recognize a lot of residency work from each other), but for the most part, you have to train in the country in which you practice. The UK is notoriously difficult in terms of actually getting training spots and even worse in terms of actually getting the equivalent of an attending's position. This will be even worse if you go to US medical school and are not a UK citizen.

All of that being said, many countries will let people bypass MANY of their rules if you are willing to work in a shortage area. It won't help you get a residency though.
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anyone have more info about canadian residency options for US grads? it's something that has crossed my mind. i've been told the US accepts canadian residency training for licensure, but is this commonly done? except for quebec language wouldn't be an issue, but the main concern would be the ability to move freely back and forth across the borders. i figure this is doable with a US residency, but is the converse true?
 
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