Doctors, dentists, and pharmacists in the United States belong to the elite, both intellectually and in status. Plus, work in medical specialties is well paid: a newly graduated specialist can receive 40-50 thousand USD per year, and as he or she improves professionally, gaining practice, doctors receive 200-250 thousand USD.
Therefore, and also because of the advantages of American medical education, which is considered the best in the world, tens of thousands of applicants from abroad go to study in the United States annually, attracted by brilliant prospects.
Pros and cons of the medical profession in the USA
Yes, the work of a doctor in America promises many advantages.
- Demand
In the United States, there is a constant shortage of doctors, because medical education is very expensive and complex, and the range of medical specialties, technologies and tools used in this area are constantly becoming more complex. In addition, the U.S. population is growing, and with it the need for medical personnel increases. All this provides future doctors with brilliant prospects for the future: after graduating from a medical school in America, you will surely be able to find an excellent job, and on your own terms, with a decent salary (not only in the United States, but also abroad).
- High Returns
Did we talk about high salaries? No, we only mentioned in passing that the American doctor pays well! 250 thousand is good, but this is the average amount. Orthopedists and specialists in plastic surgery, radiomedicine, cardiologists, venereologists and some other specialists in entry-level positions can already earn 100-120 thousand USD.
To give you an idea of the order of the numbers, that's about 8 to 10 times the average income in the U.S. And even a pediatrician (not the most popular specialty, their income is less than that of other doctors) is provided 2-3 times better than the average American!
But there are also disadvantages. There are two main ones:
- Firstly, studying to be a doctor is very long and difficult. The corporation imposes very strict requirements on its members, and in order to get an internship, you must not only acquire a diploma, but also a license, not to mention the experience of working under the wing of a more experienced colleague.
- Secondly, medical education in the United States is very expensive, and the share of foreigners is quota (now it does not exceed 25%).
However, applicants from abroad have at least three working options for becoming a doctor in America.
Study in the USA
In favor of this method:
- You will receive an excellent and highly competitive medical education.
- Studies will take place in English – you will not only improve your skills with this language, but you will also have direct access to the most up-to-date medical literature.
- Graduates of American medical schools are almost 100% guaranteed employment, and it is much easier to obtain a practicing physician's license.
- Finally, you will be able to work not only in the United States, but also in any other country, because the American medical degree is recognized globally.
On the other hand, you have to pay for everything. Studying in the United States, you will have to pay literally - money and time, because studying is very expensive and long (also the requirements for graduates are incredibly high).
This method is perhaps the most obvious option to make a medical career in America. In total, depending on the university and profile, the study will take 10-15 years: this includes a four-year bachelor's degree, another four years at medical school, where the student supplements the basic course with elective disciplines, acquires clinical and laboratory practice, and residency — depending on the field of study, it lasts from 4 to 8 years.
It is also important to emphasize that the key condition for practicing medicine in the United States is the availability of a license, which is called ECFMG Certification. To get it, you need to pass a difficult exam, but students of American universities not only undergo special preparation, but also receive a license in a simplified manner.
In general, everyone would study in America and not blow a whistle! But bad luck - it's expensive. In some schools, a year of study will cost 80-100 thousand USD (plus you need to remember about accommodation and other expenses), which forces applicants to resort to other options.
Study in the Caribbean
The first such alternative option is studying at a medical school in one of the Caribbean countries. Among the advantages of studying here are more affordable (compared to the United States) prices, a fairly high quality of education (and even on the French-speaking and Spanish-speaking islands, teaching is always in English), and the opportunity to obtain a license under the same simplified procedure.
On the other hand, the "Caribbean" diploma is not as prestigious as the American one, the level of teaching is noticeably weaker, and the medical practice in Puerto Rico or Guadeloupe is not good enough for the one obtained in the United States (and it will not count).
In general, approximately 20% of foreign medical professionals in the United States keep a diploma from one of the medical schools in the Caribbean, so this option deserves close attention.
Study in another country and get a medical license in America
Finally, you can get a medical degree in any other country in the world and then get a medical license. This method, on the one hand, will allow you to at least partially use universities in your home country, and on the other hand, it will require additional academic experience in the United States and passing the most difficult exams, and without any concessions.
As we remember, in order to get the right to practice medicine in the United States, you will need to pass the USMLE exam, undergo preparation in the American residency and, finally, acquire a license. These requirements are universal and apply, among other things, to those who studied abroad. The exam for doctors includes three stages. An application for it can be submitted electronically - immediately after you receive a national diploma.
- During the first stage – which, by the way, lasts as long as 8 hours – the commission will check your basic understanding of medical science. The exam is paid, and you can take it not only in the United States, but also in other countries.
- The second stage is designed to test clinical skills and competencies, it is even longer - at least 9 hours. You can also take it both in the United States and abroad.
- But the third stage can only be taken in the United States, it takes two days and is devoted to such an important issue as working with people – it will be important for the commission to make sure that your communication skills are at the proper level.
All three stages are held in English, after the second stage, you can apply for residency using the ERAS mechanism.
As for residency, you get practice on the basis of large hospitals or clinical hospitals, more than a thousand institutions in total. The duration of residency depends on the specialty: for example, therapists and pediatricians are "chased" for 3 years, cardiologists for 6-7 years, and neurosurgeons or plastic surgeons are trained for as long as 8 years. Only after residency, the newly minted doctor will be able to apply for a medical license. Pay attention that there is no other way.
