I. Foreign Nationals – Graduate of International Medical Schools

Requirements for

International Medical Graduates at UCDHS

I.Foreign Nationals – Graduate of International Medical Schools

(Not US Citizens, Permanent Residents, Refugee or Asylee)

1. 
   Visa – A clinical J-1 visa is required for admission to UCDHS residency and fellowship training programs. The visa can only be sponsored by ECFMG, which requires passage of USMLE Steps 1 and 2. Applicants on a J-1 with a waiver from the Department of State (DOS) can only be accepted into our programs on an EAC or clinical J1 visa.
   

NOTE: UCDHS follows the AAMC guidelines regarding H1-B sponsorship and does not support the H-1B visa for international medical graduates (IMG). In addition, UCDHS does not accept H1-B visa transfers.

2. 
   ECFMG Certificate – International Medical Graduates (IMG) must have a current, valid ECFMG certificate in order to be eligible for postgraduate training. To obtain an ECFMG certificate, IMG must meet the following examination and medical education credential requirements.
   

1. 
   Pass Step 1 and Step 2 of USMLE. Step 2 exam has two separate administered components, the Clinical Knowledge (CK) component and the Clinical Skills (CS) component;
   
2. 
   California law states that passing scores on the written examinations shall be valid for a period of 10 years from the month of the examination for purposes of qualification for licensure in California. Upon expiration of the 10-year period, the applicants may be required to re-take the expired examination.
   
3. 
   Pass the English exam; and,
   
4. 
   Meet all educational requirements as specified by ECFMG.
   

3. 
   IMG must furnish a current “Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) from the Medical Board of California (MBC) when submitting an application for postgraduate training. Applications will not be considered nor interviews granted without this document.
   

II.U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, Refugee or Asylee – Graduate of International Medical Schools.

1. 
   Permanent resident, refugee or asylee must provide proof of resident alien status and have the legal right to work in the United States.
   

2. 
   ECFMG Certificate – IMG must provide a copy of a current, valid ECFMG certificate regardless of citizenship
   

3. 
   US Citizens who attend International Medical Schools must furnish a current “Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) from the Medical Board of California (MBC) when submitting an application for postgraduate training. Applications will not be considered nor interviews granted without this document.
   

4. 
   IMG with pending applications for Permanent Residency will sometimes qualify for a Work Authorization permit (EAD). A copy of the current permit must be submitted along with a copy of the receipt for filing the I-485 (Application to Change Status to Permanente Residents.
   

III.Foreign Nationals – Graduates of U.S. Medical Schools

5. 
   Non-U.S. citizens, who graduate from a U.S. medical school, sponsored by an F-1 student visa, are not required to meet ECFMG requirements.
   

6. 
   Non-U.S. citizens, who graduate from a U.S. medical school are not considered IMG and therefore can be sponsored by an H-1B visa.
   

7. 
   The F-1 student visa is not permitted for postgraduate training at UCDHS and must be converted to a one-year Work Authorization permit (EAC) before the start of training. This permit will cover the resident while waiting for the issuance of the H-1B visa.
   

IV.Graduates of Canadian Medical Schools

8. 
   Effective July 1, 2009, Graduates of Canadian medical schools, will be required to obtain a clinical J-1 visa for admission to UCDHS residency and fellowship training programs which will be sponsored by ECFMG.
   

NOTE: USMLE exam Steps 1, 2 are required for entrance and you must obtain a U.S. Social Security Card.

9. 
   ECFMG certificate and English test are not required.
   

V.Requirements for IMG Licensure in California – Foreign Nationals or U.S. Citizens

10. 
    The following examinations are currently acceptable for licensing purposes in California.
    

USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3

MCCQE (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (formally LMCC Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada)

11. 
    Two years of approved postgraduate training in any state in the U.S. If training is not in Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN or Psychiatry, IMG must have 4-months of approved general medicine postgraduate training.
    

12. 
    Graduates of Fifth Pathway Programs are not required to obtain a PTAL.
    

VI.References

A, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)

P. O. Box 828262

Philadelphia, PA 19182-8262

Telephone: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

http://www.ecfmg.org/
B. Medical Board of California (MBC)

Division of Licensing and Applications

2025 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200

Sacramento, CA 95815

Telephone: [phone]

http://www.medbd.ca.gov/

Revised 9/22//09