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In medicine, the top 3 measures of a physician's value lie in certification, certification and certification.
This is especially true in the United States. I have heard from doctors throughout the country who want to know if the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a necessary pre-requisite for non-clinical positions. The answer to this frequent question is - sometimes the USMLE helps and sometimes it doesn't. What is the USMLE? You are required to pass parts 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in order to get your MD degree from a US medical school. And you cannot receive a medical license without passing parts 1, 2 and 3 of the USMLE. The tricky part is that it is recommended to take part 3 of the USMLE after your internship- and it has been getting harder and harder for foreign medical graduates, international medical graduates, and some US medical graduates to match into residency programs in recent years. More doctors can't match into an internship than ever before, and thus they cannot get a medical license. And some doctors-in-training already know that they want to get out of clinical medicine early in the medical training process. This is where the question of how to succeed without taking the USMLE comes up. To find out more about 'dropping out' of residency, see here.
What if I can't take the USMLE?
If you absolutely cannot take the USMLE, but still want to work, you have to really decide whether you want to stay in the medical field or not. There are other ways to work in the medical field, and becoming an expert in regulatory matters is one of the most powerful steps you can take. Fortunately, even without the USMLE, there are a number of non-clinical entry level positions which require some form of official specialty certification. For example, a clinical research associate can earn between $40-75/hr without residency, and must take a specialized training course. Learn more about jobs for doctors without residency or licensing here.
36 Comments
nazreen
1/19/2017 10:09:32 am
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Blerona
3/20/2018 02:39:22 pm
What are tj jobs a foreign medical graduate can do, untill he got hes border exam and get ready to continue with usmle exams? Thank u
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Heidi Moawad MD
3/20/2018 03:01:47 pm
Some job options:
Shahin
7/18/2019 07:55:29 am
I have passed all steps and could not get matched in any program.
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Heidi Moawad
7/30/2019 07:23:59 pm
Dear Dr. Shahin,
Shahin
7/31/2019 06:05:27 pm
Thanks for getting back to me. Would you please be more specific ?
Heidi Moawad
8/8/2019 03:33:27 pm
Residency is very competitive, especially orthopedics. You would have to contact fellowship program directors to specifically ask of they would consider you for a fellowship and a job afterwards.
George
1/13/2020 07:00:47 pm
Take national surgical assistant (CSA) or American board of Surgical assistants exam (SA-C) (cost $500) and you will get a decent job.
Tami hamilton
1/22/2017 05:28:02 pm
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janki
3/27/2017 10:53:17 am
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Prasad
6/22/2017 09:17:01 pm
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Sushil mistry
8/9/2018 03:03:20 pm
Myself , Dr. sushil mistry from India. I want to know the way to practice in USA without USMLE.
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Heidi Moawad MD
8/10/2018 10:13:55 am
There are many options for you here: http://www.nonclinicaldoctors.com/careers-for-physicians-without-residency.html
Funmi
4/14/2018 03:26:00 pm
What options do I have as an IMG, 15years post graduation?
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Heidi Moawad MD
4/15/2018 11:26:30 am
There are some programs specially designed for IMGs: http://www.nonclinicaldoctors.com/licensing-and-programs-for-international-physicians.html
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dr sunil
6/9/2018 02:20:55 am
a 52 year old doctor MBBS MD practising a nephrologist in INDIA with ECFMG certified life long valid can i get a job in usa
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Heidi Moawad MD
6/11/2018 05:33:12 pm
If you want a job in the USA, you can apply for residency- open "outside the match" spots are at the top of this page:
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Fawad
10/23/2019 08:11:48 am
Hi Heidi Moawad,
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Heidi Moawad
10/23/2019 01:08:45 pm
Dr. Fawad,
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Zazou MD
10/23/2019 09:54:49 am
I m a MD specialist in nuclear medicine, I finished my residency in my country (not in the usa) . Now Im living in the usa. Would you help me please how to get a job in medical field? ( I don't like to pass USMEL) THX
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Heidi Moawad
10/23/2019 01:07:45 pm
Dr. Zazou,
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Avi
12/11/2019 10:01:33 pm
I am 35 years old i graduated from school of medicine in the Iran now i live in the us, i have a question how i can convert my certificate to US? the reason i think that because i was far from education about 9 years
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Heidi Moawad
12/16/2019 05:43:52 am
Dr. Avi, You cannot convert your certificate to US, but you can apply for residency.
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Heidi Moawad
1/6/2020 01:37:02 pm
Dr. Tanyous, You have to take the USMLE if you want to apply for the match. But there are other options without residency. See the page here:http://www.nonclinicaldoctors.com/careers-for-physicians-without-residency.html
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My name ihab tanyous
12/27/2019 10:05:18 pm
I have pediatric master degree from Egypt and I A work as medical assistant since 5 years / I evaluated my certificate in USA I have GPA about 3.5 I want to work in good medical field give me your advice I am 50 years old
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Heidi Moawad
5/8/2020 09:38:40 am
Dr. Tanyous,
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lola
5/8/2020 07:19:19 am
I am E.N.T. specialist doctor, was working in Saudi Arabia, graduated from Ukraine. Just moved to Houston, TX, and like to know what opportunities I have to seek.
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Alexander
5/10/2020 12:18:48 pm
Hi, I completed my MBBS in 2003. Unfortunately when I came back home (US) I had to postpone my career due issues that came up. I worked as an assistant at a cancer clinic for 10 years and now have been doing project management for clinical home trials. Yet, I still desire to complete what I had started. I am 44 years old and never practiced medicine nor did any house job/residency. Is it too late to go back? If not can someone kindly provide a roadmap outlining the process? Thanks for all your help!
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Heidi Moawad
5/14/2020 04:13:36 pm
Dr. Alexander,
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Alexander
5/16/2020 09:18:40 pm
Hi Heidi,
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Heidi Moawad
5/22/2020 11:35:47 am
Hi Alexander,
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Nathalia Martinez
5/27/2020 03:53:06 pm
Hi, I am a Colombian gynecologist and now I am applying for a fellowship in Canada. I would like to know if once I finish my fellowship, I could work in ISA without taking USMLE. By the way , thanks for all the information that you have posted. It is really helpful.
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Heidi Moawad
6/1/2020 02:04:02 pm
Dr. Martinez,
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11/12/2020 11:16:11 pm
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Marijeanne Hobson
12/3/2020 03:47:32 pm
We are trying to hire an MD that also had issue with matching into residency programs. He received his MD in March 2016, did, the Step 1, 2 CK, 2 CS, and 3 USMLE and scored well, but where he graduated internationally, his options are limited. He can't even apply for the restricted Associate physician's license because it's been more than 3 years since he graduated. We're located in Utah, does ANYONE know of ANYTHING available for him to be able to practice in Utah?
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