International student getting medical license after taking USMLE

[cardioplegia]

Hello guys, so I am an international student without green card or citizenship. I am pre-med so it might seem to be a little too early for me to think about this. Someone posted this http://www.studentdoc.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12276, and to be honest, I do not like this guy.

Anyway, now I am not sure if we are allowed to have a license after we take USMLE, because apparently there are many schools that take international students and those M.D programs are just like the regular one. Those schools never mentioned any issue where you might have problem receiving a medical license.

I am in Oregon by the way.

If I said anything wrong, please correct me.

Thank you for reading the post. : )

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[Gut Shot]

Hello guys, so I am an international student without green card or citizenship. I am pre-med so it might seem to be a little too early for me to think about this. Someone posted this http://www.studentdoc.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12276, and to be honest, I do not like this guy.

Anyway, now I am not sure if we are allowed to have a license after we take USMLE, because apparently there are many schools that take international students and those M.D programs are just like the regular one. Those schools never mentioned any issue where you might have problem receiving a medical license.

I am in Oregon by the way.

If I said anything wrong, please correct me.

Thank you for reading the post. : )

Uhhhh... is your plan to apply to medical school in the US, or to go to medical school in another country and then come to the US?

 

[LizzyM]

I personally know at least one physician who attended medical school here in the US as a non-citizen, was licensed, has practiced for years and just became a citizen. Numerous foreign medical graduates (FMG) come to this country, complete residencies (not easy to get if you are FMG) and are licensed to practice medicine.

 

[cardioplegia]

Thank you Gut Shot and LizzyM : ) I am attending U.S college as an undergraduate now, and I am planning applying to an U.S medical school, and practise in the U.S. Basically, I want to do everything in the U.S. I just want to know if it is possible. Just to clarify, I do not have green card, and I am an international student with F-1 Visa.

I do know some med schools refuse to take international students, but there are plenty of schools out there who will take international students.
My core question here is, is it possible for me to receive a medical license, and be a doctor here in the U.S after I graduate from an U.S med schools? I know it is going to be very hard, and I am willing to fight for it. However, is it possible at all?
I talked to a PhD in the Casey Eye Institute today, and he told me that you can not work as a doctor in the U.S if you do not have green card(Even tho you finish USMLE and receive a license). Also, it is very hard for an M.D to apply for a green card.
My idea is that you should be allowed to receive a medical license and finish your residency in the U.S, and you should be able to apply for an H-1B visa to work, and apply for a green card.

If anyone knows anything or has any link, please post it.

Thank you very much

 

[r1d1]

you can not work as a doctor in the U.S if you do not have green card(Even tho you finish USMLE and receive a license)

You need either green card or H1 visa to be eligible for employment. Few residency programs, mostly community hospitals in undesirable areas, offer to sponsor H1 visa. Then again, when you finish residency, you need to find a job that sponsors this visa.

 

[r1d1]

Most international students do not know this, but you can actually apply for green card with F1 visa. What you need is continuous on-campus employment. I know someone who got her green card by the time she finished her PhD. The success is not guaranteed. Also, once you submit your green card application, you cannot leave the country until it gets approved. When you leave you will not be granted F1 visa to enter again, because you show the intent to reside here.

 

[cardioplegia]

Thank you r1d1, I think your advise is realistic. I do think about MD/PhD program too, because it is easier for me to apply for green card. Also, I think you were talking about working in medical shortage area as a doctor to get green card. If it is what it takes, I might do that to. Ultimately, I want to be a doctor here, I do not mind waiting for extra years.

 

[Gut Shot]

My core question here is, is it possible for me to receive a medical license, and be a doctor here in the U.S after I graduate from an U.S med schools?

Of course. If you attend an allopathic medical school in the US, obtaining a license is contingent upon graduating and passing Steps 1-3 of the USMLE.

Taking Step 3, however, is contingent upon completing at least one year of residency training, depending on the state. You can see the various state requirements for initial licensure here. The bottom line is that if you can get into medical school, through medical school, pass the Steps, complete a residency, and retain a Visa or Green Card, you will be fine.

If you cannot resolve your Visa issues I would recommend considering Canada. Our friendly neighbor to the north has a much saner immigration system, one which is quite welcoming to highly educated individuals (such as physicians).

 

[CodeBlu]

Of course. If you attend an allopathic medical school in the US, obtaining a license is contingent upon graduating and passing Steps 1-3 of the USMLE.

Taking Step 3, however, is contingent upon completing at least one year of residency training, depending on the state. You can see the various state requirements for initial licensure here. The bottom line is that if you can get into medical school, through medical school, pass the Steps, complete a residency, and retain a Visa or Green Card, you will be fine.

If you cannot resolve your Visa issues I would recommend considering Canada. Our friendly neighbor to the north has a much saner immigration system, one which is quite welcoming to highly educated individuals (such as physicians).

Hey now... we don't just take anyone...


But yes, Canada is a great option... however, it's about 3 times harder to get into medical school in Canada. So if you finish your medical education in the US and do a US residency... then go to Canada, you will need a Royal College Physician (Canadian equivalent of board certified... which everyone must have might I add...) to co-sign all of your charts for a year... which can get annoying depending on the specialty that you're in.

Try sorting out your US stuff here first. But I do think you'll like Canada... I know I can't wait to get back there... no offense US of EH... but the great white north... is... well... GREAT 😀

 

[Docforthepeeps]

You need either green card or H1 visa to be eligible for employment. Few residency programs, mostly community hospitals in undesirable areas, offer to sponsor H1 visa. Then again, when you finish residency, you need to find a job that sponsors this visa.

http://www.valuemd.com/imgfriendlyhospitals.php

Please take a look at the list. If you consider NYC and San Francisco to be undesirable areas then you're right. Please at least try and Google before blabbering a bunch of crap and discouraging people with unreliable info 🙄

To the OP: Please do your own research and don't just depend on random pre-meds

 

[cardioplegia]

Thank you guys, I am really grateful that you guys provide those information and honest opinions. I will definitely want to serve in underserved area, because I think it is a great thing that I can use my knowledge to make people around me live better.
CodeBlu, Canada is a beautiful country, and I have some friends moved to there from China when we were kids. They definitely like there. However, like you said, the procedure is long and complicated, so I will consider staying in U.S as my first priority.
Docforthepeeps, your list is so helpful, thank you very much.

I don mind waiting, I don mind working without sleep (in fact, that is common things that Chinese students do since middle school). All I need is a chance.