International medical graduate

Medical schools around the world vary in education standards, curricula, and evaluation methods.

[citation needed] The requirements to obtain a license to practice varies by country and often by state, province, or territory.

IMGs (or Overseas Trained Doctors) who wish to be licensed in Australia must apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to arrange an appropriate assessment pathway.

IMGs who have passed the necessary exams and obtained AMC certification can then apply to Australian specialty training positions.

[14] The main process for IMGs who wish to be licensed as physicians in the United States requires them to complete a U.S. residency hospital program.

IMGs who have not met the examination requirements for ECFMG Certification by the Rank Order List deadline *usually in February" cannot participate in the Match.

[15][16] However, for most IMGs it is advisable to have an ECFMG certification prior to participating in the match as many program directors decide not to grant interviews.

[28] The largest number of licensed International Medical Graduates comes from schools in India, the Caribbean, Pakistan and the Philippines.

[29] Source: 2018 FSMB Census[29] One study examining quality of care by international medical graduates is noted as follows.

"One-quarter of practicing physicians in the United States are graduates of international medical schools.

[31] This difficulty in attaining success to become licensed physician in their newly adopted countries, many IMGs end up taking survival jobs completely unrelated to their educational and training backgrounds.