Massachusetts license - canadian

[bellejolie]

I had emailed asking how early in advance i can apply for a Mass license (I am canadian) and received a response back saying "unfortunately our requirements are changing constantly so I can't predict what it will be next year". I haven't seen any changes for requirements in the last year and was wondering if anyone else had heard anything? I'm scared for fellowship applications now if they were to change requirements... thoughts??

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[rokshana]

I had emailed asking how early in advance i can apply for a Mass license (I am canadian) and received a response back saying "unfortunately our requirements are changing constantly so I can't predict what it will be next year". I haven't seen any changes for requirements in the last year and was wondering if anyone else had heard anything? I'm scared for fellowship applications now if they were to change requirements... thoughts??

Fellowship in mass can use a training license… your program should take care of the process.
The full license can take forever! I was a fellow with a training license and applied for the full license for my second year, and it took over 6 months.

 

[bellejolie]

Fellowship in mass can use a training license… your program should take care of the process.
The full license can take forever! I was a fellow with a training license and applied for the full license for my second year, and it took over 6 months.

ugh i wish! my training programs all require a full license, mostly because you need to be able to prescribe controlled substances. it will likely be an issue for the first 2 months of the fellowship...sigh. i emailed them and they said i shouldn't apply more than 6 months in advance otherwise documents expire. i'm just more worried they're going to change a policy that dramatically impacts my ability to be a fellow..

 

[Ironspy]

6 months is the best case scenario pre covid. Took nearly 8 months for me in 2020 and I’m a US citizen who did all my training in the US, had one prior job and never been sued or arrested

 

[shaggybill]

ugh i wish! my training programs all require a full license, mostly because you need to be able to prescribe controlled substances.

I prescribed a bunch of controlled substances with my training license in residency. There may be other barriers, but that shouldn't be one.

 

[bellejolie]

I prescribed a bunch of controlled substances with my training license in residency. There may be other barriers, but that shouldn't be one.

wow thanks all for your input. i'm just not sure what to do given the programs require a full license. i will find out with them when the time comes. are you saying you had the x waiver with your training license?

 

[rokshana]

ugh i wish! my training programs all require a full license, mostly because you need to be able to prescribe controlled substances. it will likely be an issue for the first 2 months of the fellowship...sigh. i emailed them and they said i shouldn't apply more than 6 months in advance otherwise documents expire. i'm just more worried they're going to change a policy that dramatically impacts my ability to be a fellow..

I prescribed controlled substance with a training license in Massachusetts… now things may have changed since 2015-16. But can’t imagine that is institution specific.

 

[rokshana]

wow thanks all for your input. i'm just not sure what to do given the programs require a full license. i will find out with them when the time comes. are you saying you had the x waiver with your training license?

No waiver as far as I know…you write scripts under an institutional DEA when you are on a training license…maybe your program doesn’t want to use the institutional license, but doesn’t make any sense…even with a full license, they still have to cover your med mal and are responsible for you as a trainee

Mass is one of the hardest licenses to get…I literally went to the board of medicine office to physically hand documents to my specialist…and got my unrestricted license June 26…my GME made me apply for a training license at the same time, just in case the unrestricted license wasn’t approved by July 1…because you can’t be a fellow seeing pts if you don’t have the license…maybe they can apply for both?

 

[bellejolie]

No waiver as far as I know…you write scripts under an institutional DEA when you are on a training license…maybe your program doesn’t want to use the institutional license, but doesn’t make any sense…even with a full license, they still have to cover your med mal and are responsible for you as a trainee

Mass is one of the hardest licenses to get…I literally went to the board of medicine office to physically hand documents to my specialist…and got my unrestricted license June 26…my GME made me apply for a training license at the same time, just in case the unrestricted license wasn’t approved by July 1…because you can’t be a fellow seeing pts if you don’t have the license…maybe they can apply for both?

i think the issue is that i'm applying for addictions fellowships and you need something called an x waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. you can't do that with an institutional DEA number you need an individual. i'm not sure if mass as a state allows that under a training license but i've emailed. i think its just helpful knowing the options. i obviously haven't matched or gotten in anywhere yet i'm just planning ahead because the process seems so arduous.

 

[Taddy Mason]

You need a full license to prescribe bup in MA. I know addiction fellowships have taken fellows in the past with a limited license but it can be a huge pain in the ass and they VERY MUCH prefer fellows have a full license. If you’ve already been accepted reach out to the program, otherwise ask during interviews to see how flexible/understanding the program will be.

Feel free to PM me.

 

[Franzd'Epinay]

I would apply as soon as you find out that's where you matched.

i emailed them and they said i shouldn't apply more than 6 months in advance otherwise documents expire.

I don't understand that advice. If the documents expire because they are taking more than 6 months to review them, how does applying later help speed up the process? All that would do is further delay you getting your license (and the documents will still expire anyways if they're that slow).

 

[bellejolie]

I would apply as soon as you find out that's where you matched.

I don't understand that advice. If the documents expire because they are taking more than 6 months to review them, how does applying later help speed up the process? All that would do is further delay you getting your license (and the documents will still expire anyways if they're that slow).

i know i agree, the whole system seems so baffling and so much slower than anything we do in canada haha. the exam results take a while to come out, but once its out the whole licensing is quite fast, and obviously there are no prescription issues when it comes to anything (i've literally started patients on microinduction on suboxone in my first week of residency, and prescribed methadone etc with no issues. it sucks that the rules are so antiquated in the US, i really hope it changes in the future.

that being said, i'm eligible for the full license and the waiver etc, at the time i would be starting fellowship. so it may just end up being a delay if/when i start fellowship. im not too too concerned i'm more worried that they might change the requirements.

 

[Franzd'Epinay]

I would not worry whatsoever about the requirements changing--if that does happen, you can always submit additional documents later on. I would prioritize getting your license as soon as you know you need it (i.e., after you match), especially if the state is notoriously slow to process applications.

 

[bellejolie]

I would not worry whatsoever about the requirements changing--if that does happen, you can always submit additional documents later on. I would prioritize getting your license as soon as you know you need it (i.e., after you match), especially if the state is notoriously slow to process applications.

yes perfect thats the plan! i'm just concerned that they may change something like not accepting the 2 year family medicine training (our length of training is less for family medicine), and not accepting our licensing exam). so that's the main thing i'm concerned about but so many canadian's come to the states and i feel like in covid they wouldn't change these core things that quickly. the rest i will figure out if and when the time comes. thanks all!

 

[rokshana]

yes perfect thats the plan! i'm just concerned that they may change something like not accepting the 2 year family medicine training (our length of training is less for family medicine), and not accepting our licensing exam). so that's the main thing i'm concerned about but so many canadian's come to the states and i feel like in covid they wouldn't change these core things that quickly. the rest i will figure out if and when the time comes. thanks all!

How are you able to apply for a fellowship in the states if you did your residency in Canada? Is it not an ACGME fellowship?

 

[Taddy Mason]

How are you able to apply for a fellowship in the states if you did your residency in Canada? Is it not an ACGME fellowship?

Pages 14-15 - ACGME Addiction Medicine Program Requirements

 

[mvenus929]

How are you able to apply for a fellowship in the states if you did your residency in Canada? Is it not an ACGME fellowship?

ACGME considers Royal College of Canada residences to be equivalent to ACGME for the purposes of training. http://www.acgme.org/portals/0/pdfs/cpr_Impact.pdf

That said, there are state requirements for ACGME training, so doing a residency in Canada doesn't mean that you can necessarily practice in the US or vice versa.

 

[bellejolie]

canadian residencies are ACGME accredited. the states i'm applying to allow and accept canadian residency programs and the licensing exams.

 

[rokshana]

Pages 14-15 - ACGME Addiction Medicine Program Requirements

Thanks!