What are the steps for an Australian citizen to work in the US?

[lunasupernova]

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I'm an undergraduate science student at the University of QLD in Australia. I'm planning on pursuing medicine and I'm also thinking about moving to the US permanently. I am not a US citizen and do not have any links to the US. I'd like to go to med school in the US, but it is too expensive. So could I complete med school here in Australia and then do my internship/residency in the US? How would I go about doing that? Is it difficult for a non-US citizen to get into a US residency? I know it's a bit early for this but I'm most interested in specializing in Emergency Medicine and I'd like to move to NY (but I'm open to moving anywhere, this is just my preference).

 

[jp123ok]

You can obtain a residency spot in the USA after completing med school in Oz. However, be aware that as a foreign grad with visa issues you will have trouble getting into competitive programs like Emergency Medicine. In terms of visas you'd need either an H1B or J1. The H1B is the better choice but is more difficult to obtain. J1 visas include a provision that requires you to go back to your home country for 2 yrs after your training is completed. It is possible to get a waiver of this requirement but this is difficult for physicians. In order to apply for residency in the US you'd need to complete the USMLE exams and then enter the match. This is an arduous process and it would be especially onerous if you have to take Australian medical exams as well.

 

[Struvite]

I'm an undergraduate science student at the University of QLD in Australia. I'm planning on pursuing medicine and I'm also thinking about moving to the US permanently. I am not a US citizen and do not have any links to the US. I'd like to go to med school in the US, but it is too expensive. So could I complete med school here in Australia and then do my internship/residency in the US? How would I go about doing that? Is it difficult for a non-US citizen to get into a US residency? I know it's a bit early for this but I'm most interested in specializing in Emergency Medicine and I'd like to move to NY (but I'm open to moving anywhere, this is just my preference).

You pretty much have to take the USMLE step 1, step2 CK, step2 CS, and Step3; get the visa sorted out; get recommendations for professors; research; etc. I'm currently in the UQ-Ochsner program, and it's a bit more tough getting residency than it is in Australia where it is essentially automatic that you get an internship spot. In the U.S., we don't have to take the separate specialty exams, however.

One thing I remember UQ is planning (or at least considering) is that your Step 2 can take the place of taking the IFOM exam at the end of fourth year which is nice.

 

[lunasupernova]

You pretty much have to take the USMLE step 1, step2 CK, step2 CS, and Step3; get the visa sorted out; get recommendations for professors; research; etc. I'm currently in the UQ-Ochsner program, and it's a bit more tough getting residency than it is in Australia where it is essentially automatic that you get an internship spot. In the U.S., we don't have to take the separate specialty exams, however.

One thing I remember UQ is planning (or at least considering) is that your Step 2 can take the place of taking the IFOM exam at the end of fourth year which is nice.

Is the UQ-Oschsner program only for US citizens?

 

[foody]

Is the UQ-Oschsner program only for US citizens?

Yes and for US permanent citizens. As a normal UQ student (4 years in Oz) I believe you can still apply for rotations there...for how long I'm not sure. Says on the website.

 

[lunasupernova]

You can obtain a residency spot in the USA after completing med school in Oz. However, be aware that as a foreign grad with visa issues you will have trouble getting into competitive programs like Emergency Medicine. In terms of visas you'd need either an H1B or J1. The H1B is the better choice but is more difficult to obtain. J1 visas include a provision that requires you to go back to your home country for 2 yrs after your training is completed. It is possible to get a waiver of this requirement but this is difficult for physicians. In order to apply for residency in the US you'd need to complete the USMLE exams and then enter the match. This is an arduous process and it would be especially onerous if you have to take Australian medical exams as well.

So if I were to do a residency in the US, I would pretty much be limited to the less competitive programs? I'd really like to do Emergency Med, is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting into this program?

 

[Struvite]

So if I were to do a residency in the US, I would pretty much be limited to the less competitive programs? I'd really like to do Emergency Med, is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting into this program?

You'll be limited only by what score you receive on your USMLE step 1, step2 CK/CS and recommendations. There is somewhat of a stigma that because you didn't graduate from a U.S.-based medical school, you are considered a FMG, and therefore be more difficult to get a residency than if you were an AMG and had the same stats, but I believe if you score really well on the USMLE then it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Emergency Medicine, for some reason, has been getting harder to enter, especially as a foreign grad.

 

[Winged Scapula]

1) Matriculate at Australian medical school
2) Take USMLE Step 1, 2CK and 2 CS. The most important factor in your application will be your Step 1 score. Most Australian schools are underwhelming in the amount of minutiae taught which will be examined on this test (i.e., you will be doing a lot of studying material on your own). US review books are helpful.
3) Arrange US based electives during your final year, preferably before September of your final med year
4) Request US faculty Letters of Recommendation
5)Apply for US residencies; application period opens (at this time) September 15. It is important to apply early.
6) Be available for US based interviews between October and February; you may consider how you are going to find interviewing for positions and either living in the US for 5 months during interview season or flying back and forth
7)Obtain ECFMG certification after graduation
8) Hopefully match, obtain visa and plan on being back in the US for residency start by early -mid June

EM is one of the more competitive specialties. The hours are very good in comparison to nearly every other field. With an increase in the number of US medical schools without a concomitant increase in residency placement positions, the ability to match is becoming more difficult.

 

[qldking]

Whats the deal with everyone wanting to do emergency medicine these days?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Whats the deal with everyone wanting to do emergency medicine these days?

I relate it to adults who watched the tv show "ER" while growing up.

 

[qldking]

I relate it to adults who watched the tv show "ER" while growing up.

Yeah but seriously ER/ED doctors are some of the most low brow and confrontational doctors I have ever come across. Maybe it's self-selection or whatever but they all seem to be turds.

 

[Ashley_Green1988]

I am actually in a similar boat, although my reasons are different. I'm a UQ medical student (domestic) and I started dating an Oschner student and we stupidly fell in love. I'm planning on sitting step 1 (and the rest) with the aim of moving over there after graduation for internship. I also have no US citizenship or any ties, other than my boyfriend, to the US...so I'm worried that this will be impossible.

Anybody else in a similar position / knows anybody in a similar position?

 

[qldking]

...

 

[lunasupernova]

Whats the deal with everyone wanting to do emergency medicine these days?

I personally want to do EM because I like the variety that it offers. It seems like it would be different all the time and I would have the opportunity to perform many different procedures on people from all walks of life. I also thrive in that kind of fast-paced, high-stress environment.

 

[Struvite]

Regardless of your passion to do any sort of residency in the States, you will need to do extraordinarily well on all steps because you will be considered an FMG. In addition, you will need to get good recommendations FROM THE US (recs from profs in Australia wont be effective especially for ER because you will need SLOEs from doing rotations in the states). The match rates for FMG are rather low as well when you look at the match rates. I'm not trying to tell you not to attempt to go for it, but if you do decide to go for residency in the states, you will need to dedicate much more time in the sciences (Aussie med schools focus more on clinical sciences so you'll be doing a lot of catch up to learn the sciences) and will have to be dedicated to doing USMLE world questions, First aid, and possibly Kaplan just to pass step1. Not to mention that because you're domestic, you will most likely be doing this on your own. Good luck but let us know if you have other questions or concerns

 

[lunasupernova]

Hey everyone, I have another question. Can I still be accepted by med schools in the US if I have a 3-year undergraduate degree? I have heard that most US schools require you to have at least a 4-year degree. If this is true, what are my options? Would I need to complete further study in the US? Also, if I did an honors year for my Bachelor of Science, would it be accepted as a 4-year degree?