Moving from Canada to U.S as a Surgeon?

[Blitz2006]

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So I'm planning/hoping to match into GSurg on a J1 visa. Then move back to Canada for 2 years after my residency training to fulfill 2 year requirement. I would then like to move back to the States on H1B visa and 'settle' down in the U.S.

Is this realistic? Is it fairly easy to come back to the States to practice after the 2 year requirement outside of U.S is served?

 

[gerickson03m]

To work in Canada, you must pass many many exams, each which require mega paperwork and ~ 6 months of waiting.

1. MCCQE 1 - like USMLE step 2 but much harder
2. MCCQE 2 - is an OSCE which grades you mostly on your interaction, not if you get the dx right.

Apply to the RCPSC, this where luck comes in, they have to recognize your training in FULL. If not, you will be required to do extra training in Canada. Once they recognize the exam, you have to take a 2 days principles of surgery exam, once you pass only then are you eligible for the written and oral exams. You can write the exam in your 5th year prior to finishing residency (unlike ABS exams). Written in april, oral in june.

So good luck! all told you have 6 Full days of exams, they will cost you ~ 8-10k plus travel. Unlike America, Canada does not recognize board eligibility, only certified.

 

[Pilot Doc]

To work in Canada, you must pass many many exams, each which require mega paperwork and ~ 6 months of waiting.

1. MCCQE 1 - like USMLE step 2 but much harder
2. MCCQE 2 - is an OSCE which grades you mostly on your interaction, not if you get the dx right.

Apply to the RCPSC, this where luck comes in, they have to recognize your training in FULL. If not, you will be required to do extra training in Canada. Once they recognize the exam, you have to take a 2 days principles of surgery exam, once you pass only then are you eligible for the written and oral exams. You can write the exam in your 5th year prior to finishing residency (unlike ABS exams). Written in april, oral in june.

So good luck! all told you have 6 Full days of exams, they will cost you ~ 8-10k plus travel. Unlike America, Canada does not recognize board eligibility, only certified.

It sounds like the OP is a canadian medical student who is going to do all the canadian exams one way or another. I think his question is how hard it will be to move back to the US.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

It sounds like the OP is a canadian medical student who is going to do all the canadian exams one way or another. I think his question is how hard it will be to move back to the US.

Combining the OP's post with his other threads, he/she is an IMG in Britain trying to get around the US visa requirements for residency - I don't think he/she is canadian and likely wouldn't have taken all those exams.

 

[Blitz2006]

It sounds like the OP is a canadian medical student who is going to do all the canadian exams one way or another. I think his question is how hard it will be to move back to the US.

Yeh, Pilot Doc is right.

My bad for not clarifying.

I'm a Canadian, studying in the UK. I want to do residency in the States. So I'm gonna write USMLE steps and MCCEE.

Then to deal with J1 visa, I have to leave U.S for 2 years. So obv, I would like to go back to Canada for those 2 yeares. So yes, I will probably take MCCQE 1 and 2.

My question is, after my 2 years in Canada, if I want to come back to the States, how easy is this? I assume since I did my residency training in the U.S, shouldn't be a problem? Or am I wrong to assume this.......thx.

 

[maxheadroom]

I don't know the visa issues involved, but there are lots of Canadian physicians practicing in the U.S.