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Careers: Medical & Psychiatry/FOREIGN IMMIGRANT WANTING US LICENSE

Expert: AR - 1/15/2005

Question
DOCTOR RAZA, I AM EXPERIECED RUSSIAN DOCTOR OF 22 YEARS. MY SPECIALTY WAS RESPIRATORY and ALLERGIES.I AM NOW MARRIED TO AMERICAN AND WANT TO TAKE ENGLISH TEST AND USMLE TEST THIS YEAR? DO YOU KNOW CURRENT STEPS I MUST TAKE? I WILL RECEIVE GREEN CARD AND OTHER FORMS SOON,SO I NEED MORE INFORMATION ON WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.CURRENTLY IN MICHIGAN.(CONTACTED COMPANY IN CHICAGO TO HELP TRANSLATE AND VERIFY MY MEDICAL CREDENTIALS)THANKS ELENA

Answer
Hello Elena

yes of course.

Have you visited my website?

www.CaribbeanMedicine.com

it explains the process.

Basically you will need to pass three exams:

USMLE Step 1
USMLE Step 2 CK
USMLE Step 2 CS

( info about these exams are found at www.usmle.org )

After this you will get a certificate from the ECFMG

(info about the ECFMG is at www.ecfmg.org )

Once you have done this you are now eligible to apply for a residency in the U.S.

The list of all the residency positions in the U.S. are in this directory:

http://www.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/srch/

Here is my advice to you:

A) Pass (with a score greater than 80) the USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 CK and pass the USMLE Step 2 CS (CSA).

B) If you have already graduated, then do some visiting electives with U.S. residency programs. This will give you some valuable U.S. clinical experience.

C) Get your ECFMG certificate.

D) Apply for a residency (post graduate training) position in the United States.

(There a lot of opportunities in the U.S., as long as you choose an IMG friendly residency: e.g. internal medicine, psychiatry, family practice, pediatrics etc., things can work out.

E) If you are very motivated then after you obtain the ECFMG certificate, pass USMLE Step 3. This will help boost your application.

(USMLE Step 3, is very similiar to Step 2, it consists of 480 MCQ's and 9 CCS cases)

E) If you have married a U.S. citizen then you will get your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) within 90 days and this will allow you to work in the U.S.

Well, Elena, feel free to email me if you have additonal questions.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

Asad Raza
Admin - www.CaribbeanMedicine.com

Careers: Medical & Psychiatry

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Hello, I am a graduate of medicine. I can answer questions about medical school and in particular medical schools in the Caribbean.