Earning a medical license in the USA yet becoming a doctor abroad? Help?

Question

I want to become a physician, but the idea of studying abroad intrigues me. I was thinking about what I could do, and I was wondering if anyone can give me any tips? (I'm going into my senior year of high school)

I was thinking I could complete undergrad in the USA as well as med school. Once I finish that, I suppose I'd be licensed in the USA. If I was to move to become a dr in another country, how would I go about getting licensed? Would I still have a license in the USA if I went to school in another country, even after graduating from a med school here? I suppose the question is kind of confusing...yet any tips would help.

Answer 1

Actually, after medical school you will still need to complete residency training in a particular field of medicine, which is an additional 3-5 years at least.  During your residency, you will have to take your licensing examination and then apply for a medical license to practice in a state in the U.S.  There really isn't a medical license that allows you to practice anywhere in the U.S.A.  If you move to another state, you have to apply for a license there as well.  Once you get your license from the medical board of that state, then you can start practicing as a doctor after you apply and get a DEA number which will allow you to prescribe medications.

You have to renew that state issued medical license every 2 years in addition to renewing your DEA number every 3 years.  So if you were to practice in another country and return to the U.S., you will either have to continue paying to maintain your license in that state or allow it to expire and pay a penalty fee in addition to previously unpaid  renewal fees if you return to that state.  Otherwise, you will have to apply again for another license in another state.

Regardless, if you graduate from a medical school in the U.S. and complete a residency training program in the U.S. you can always apply for a license in the U.S. and practice after paying the fees provided you haven't gotten into trouble with any of the medical boards in the U.S.

Getting a license to practice medicine in another country as a U.S. trained doc usually isn't a problem.  The protocol depends on each country.  However, there are some countries that will require you to take their licensing examinations as well.  But I'm not an expert in this area.

Hope this helps.