NJ Medical Board examiners requirement for Residency Training

[shjaffri]

I need some opinion as I am getting interview invites from NJ IM programs. I just find out that NJ medical board examiners requires minimum of 4 weeks of core clinical rotations in core areas such as OGY./Gyn, pediatrics, Internal medicine, Surgery, psychiatry.

One of the NJ program rejected my application since on my med school transcript psychiatry rotation was listed only 10 hours.

However I see the other NJ programs are interviewing me. My question is SHOULD I accept such interviews invites or this requirement is not considered in other NJ programs ?


I don’t know at this time if going to NJ interviews will help by chances of getting residency, as I do lack 3 weeks of clinical rotation training in psychiatry, where as I have 12 weeks of USCE in psychiatry (not sure if that will be counted).

PLEASE ADVISE

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[Winged Scapula]

I need some opinion as I am getting interview invites from NJ IM programs. I just find out that NJ medical board examiners requires minimum of 4 weeks of core clinical rotations in core areas such as OGY./Gyn, pediatrics, Internal medicine, Surgery, psychiatry.

One of the NJ program rejected my application since on my med school transcript psychiatry rotation was listed only 10 hours.

Is that correct - you had a single day's worth of Psychiatry training in medical school? If so, that will be a problem in EVERY state, not just NJ. Every state I know of requires at least 4 weeks for each of the Core Rotations and in many cases, many more weeks than 4.

However I see the other NJ programs are interviewing me. My question is SHOULD I accept such interviews invites or this requirement is not considered in other NJ programs ?

I'll bet they haven't noticed you only had 10 hours of experience as that would be highly unusual. What you need to check on are the New Jersey license requirements. If the State Medical Board requires at least 4 weeks, you are not eligible for a NJ license, and therefore, not eligible to complete a residency in any NJ program.

I don't know at this time if going to NJ interviews will help by chances of getting residency, as I do lack 3 weeks of clinical rotation training in psychiatry, where as I have 12 weeks of USCE in psychiatry (not sure if that will be counted).

PLEASE ADVISE

What do you mean by "12 weeks of USCE?" Is this a medical school elective? If this was a post-grad observership then it will not count in most cases. If the 12 weeks was completed in the US while a medical student, you need to have some way of noting that on your transcript or in your Dean's Letter. I know she has a lot of post-grad experience in the way of observerships, volunteer work and research, but if her 12 weeks of Psychiatry was not in an medical school rotation at home or an ACGME approved rotation in the US, with all the standards for grading, evaluation and patient interaction, I'm not sure it will count.

I don't see any sense in cancelling interviews if you do have at least 4 weeks of medical training in Psychiatry; whether NJ will take post-grad training would be up to the Board. You need to call the Board of Medicine in NJ - 609-826-7100.

 

[shjaffri]

Hi Winged Scapula,

I don't think that this will be a problem in every states, however it will be a problem for NJ and IL. Please see the requirments below for each states.

http://www.scutdoc.com/residency-and-licensing/requirements-for-a-state-training-license-needed-to-start-residency/

She have much more hours of training in Psychiatry, which is definatly more that a month, somehow her med school are not listing her WARD hours in her transcript, she contacted her school already. Also she is IMG ECFMG cerified, if there is a compliance type problem ECFMG would perhaps never certify her.


12 weeks USCE experience I mentioned was a observership clinical experience.

Please advise how should I proceed in this situation, this is causing me some worries now.

Regards,

 

[Winged Scapula]

Hi Winged Scapula,

I don't think that this will be a problem in every states, however it will be a problem for NJ and IL. Please see the requirments below for each states.

http://www.scutdoc.com/residency-and-licensing/requirements-for-a-state-training-license-needed-to-start-residency/

The link above is for a "training license" which:

a) not all states have
b) does not impact whether or not she is eligible for a full and unrestricted license which her program may require she obtain
c) is 2 years out of date
d) only gives you the "bare bones" information; the requirements listed are not the only requirements for a training license.

Believe me, as an IMG, I am well aware that many states require a certain length of training to be documented and verified by your school to be licensed. I suggest you contact the state medical board for details on what exactly is required.

She have much more hours of training in Psychiatry, which is definatly more that a month, somehow her med school are not listing her WARD hours in her transcript, she contacted her school already. Also she is IMG ECFMG cerified, if there is a compliance type problem ECFMG would perhaps never certify her.

ECFMG only verifies your credentials. It does not have any requirements about number of weeks for rotations, etc. just that you have a valid medical degree, USMLE, etc. The STATE medical boards and residency programs are the ones which will require that you have medical education minimums before awarding you a license and giving you a residency position. ECFMG certification is valuable but it does not mean that she is eligible for a state license if the state has additional requirements above and beyond what ECFMG requires. She needs documentation from her school if there are programs that are refusing to interview her because they believe she does not have adequate training.

12 weeks USCE experience I mentioned was a observership clinical experience.

Please advise how should I proceed in this situation, this is causing me some worries now.

Regards,

1) call the NJ Medical Board and see what EXACTLY, including number of weeks of medical school rotations, is required to obtain a NJ Physican license

2) have her school, ASAP, provide documentation that she has completed X weeks of Psychiatry training, at which hospital, between which dates, her grade, etc.

3) contact the program that refused to interview her and see if they will accept the above in addition to the transcript

4) have the transcript amended so that it includes all clinical ward hours/weeks

 

[shjaffri]

Thanks Winged Scapula for very useful information. We contacted the med school already. Today we looked at the school transcript briefly. Also I asked misc questions so I get some idea of her hours in each core rotations. After reading transcript and her answers to my questions. I determined that she have very extensive clinical rotations training in all clincal rotations that meets or exceed her min 4 weeks requirement. E.g she had about 1 full time month of clinical training in Psychiatry as well. It's just the way information is listed in transcript is misleading they just listed 10 hours lectures in rotation period for Psychiatry, and the merged actual Psychiatry Ward rotation in general category. We did contacted the school for exact number of hours, waiting for the reply, I also replied the the person that declined the interview earlier with updated information.

At this time should I contact NJ board or wait for my med school information first. So far I know by word of mouth that she exceeds the requirement. Please advise

 

[Winged Scapula]

I think if there is any concern that she hasn't met the requirements for licensure then I would contact the board, but it sounds like you have verified that she has at least 4 weeks of clinical contact in Psychiatry.

So I would venture your first step is to contact the program that told her that she wasn't eligible because she didn't have Psychiatry training and explain the transcript problem to them and if they require it, make sure you can get documentation from your fiancee's school, asap.

Best of luck.