Survey compiling info on need of the USMLE for fellowships for Cdn Medical Grads

[UofTUSMLE]

Hello all:

Some of us Canadian 2nd year students are deciding whether to start the USMLE steps (Step 1 this summer). One of the most important factors in deciding is the extent to which we need it for US fellowships (especially those fellowships with very limited spots in Canada!)

We were hoping that docs/residents who have insight regarding this issue could fill out our survey:

Click Here to take survey

We hope to compile the results and put them on a website - we will post the link here as well.

Thanks!

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[NotAProgDirector]

I think it's fair to say that you will absolutely need the USMLE if you want to do a US fellowship, at least any of the IM fellowships.

1. All the US grads and IMG's will have USMLE's.
2. All IM fellowships now use ERAS for application, and there is no way in ERAS to transmit your canadian exams.
3. PD's will not know how to interpret your exam scores, even if you should find a way to report them.
4. All fellowships require a training license, and many require a full license. Licensure is a state by state issue, and there is no guarantee that your Canadian exams will be considered equivalent, although many states do this.

I'm sure they'll be a story of someone getting a fellowship without USMLE's -- but it's likely to be rare and you put yourself at a disadvantage by not having them.

My 2 cents, for what it's worth.

 

[UofTUSMLE]

Dear aProgramDirector:

Thank you for your help - we appreciate the help!

A follow-up question regarding point #3: generally speaking are fellowship programs interested in USMLE grades, or are the USMLE steps more seen as a formality?

And yes anecdotally we have heard of many Cdn medical graduates doing fellowships in the US w/o the USMLE. One chief resident going to the US (Emergency Pediatric fellowship) said at least 42 of the states see Canadian licensure as equivalent. I had found data on this on www.fsmb.org but cannot find it now.

I think it's fair to say that you will absolutely need the USMLE if you want to do a US fellowship, at least any of the IM fellowships.

1. All the US grads and IMG's will have USMLE's.
2. All IM fellowships now use ERAS for application, and there is no way in ERAS to transmit your canadian exams.
3. PD's will not know how to interpret your exam scores, even if you should find a way to report them.
4. All fellowships require a training license, and many require a full license. Licensure is a state by state issue, and there is no guarantee that your Canadian exams will be considered equivalent, although many states do this.

I'm sure they'll be a story of someone getting a fellowship without USMLE's -- but it's likely to be rare and you put yourself at a disadvantage by not having them.

My 2 cents, for what it's worth.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

A follow-up question regarding point #3: generally speaking are fellowship programs interested in USMLE grades, or are the USMLE steps more seen as a formality?

Depends on the field, but in general it matters quite a bit. The competitive fellowships -- Cardiology, H/O and GI at the moment, require good USMLE's and a good research project to have a reasonable chance.

I agree that many states may see Cdn exams as equivalent, so it might be possible. Many states require USMLE for training licenses, so you would need a full license to be a fellow in those states. Full licenses require some lead time (sometimes 6+ months), and may require that you finish your residency first (although many states allow a full license after 1-2 years of training, but ? if canadian training would count for that).

In addition, PD's use ERAS to help sort out "complete" from "incomplete" applications. One sign of an incomplete app is no USMLE. If you have no USMLE to report, your application may simply stay in the incomplete pile.

 

[UofTUSMLE]

Thank you again for the information. I wonder if anyone could comment on whether USMLE grades matter for some non-IM specialties...

Depends on the field, but in general it matters quite a bit. The competitive fellowships -- Cardiology, H/O and GI at the moment, require good USMLE's and a good research project to have a reasonable chance.

I agree that many states may see Cdn exams as equivalent, so it might be possible. Many states require USMLE for training licenses, so you would need a full license to be a fellow in those states. Full licenses require some lead time (sometimes 6+ months), and may require that you finish your residency first (although many states allow a full license after 1-2 years of training, but ? if canadian training would count for that).

In addition, PD's use ERAS to help sort out "complete" from "incomplete" applications. One sign of an incomplete app is no USMLE. If you have no USMLE to report, your application may simply stay in the incomplete pile.

 

[HDMTX]

I went through the process coming from a Canadian med school and residency and matched into a US fellowship in heme/onc... glad to field questions via pm.

 

[UofTUSMLE]

Thank you for all the help so far!!!

Below is the wiki we have been developing:

http://usmleforcanadians.wikidot.com

Any additions/feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I went through the process coming from a Canadian med school and residency and matched into a US fellowship in heme/onc... glad to field questions via pm.

 

[tussy]

For most surgical fellowships it isn't necessary as far as i could see. I ended up getting a fellowship in Canada, but in my application process i never ran into any problem without them. Nobody in my med school class wrote the USMLEs and i didn't hear of anyone needing them for fellowships. (classmates doing anesthesia, surgery and some IM fellowships in the USA).

 

[UofTUSMLE]

Thank you Tussy for the info!

If you don't mind, which surgery areas are you familiar with?

We'd also love to hear from others.

For most surgical fellowships it isn't necessary as far as i could see. I ended up getting a fellowship in Canada, but in my application process i never ran into any problem without them. Nobody in my med school class wrote the USMLEs and i didn't hear of anyone needing them for fellowships. (classmates doing anesthesia, surgery and some IM fellowships in the USA).

 

[tussy]

I was applying to colorectal surgery. I would assume most general surgery fellowships are similar

I was able to write the American Board of Surgery exam and am now Board Certified in General Surgery (without the USMLE). Some states would require the USMLE if i wanted to be licenced there, but not all.

My advice is that if you think there is <50% chance that you'll need the USMLE then save your time and money. It is possible to do the exam at a later date if you need it (i heard of one person that wrote all 3 steps in a weekend - didn't need to get a high score, just needed to pass in order to get her licence)