Which Caribbean Schools are Approved in All 50 States?

[TheDude19]

Thanks in advance.

[Dr E]

The only school that is approved in all 50 states including texas, without going through individual applicant evaluations is Ross University. There are others also but Ross has the only Texas approval. As a matter of fact, the texas board has deamed the education at Ross to be at the same level as their schools.

[Compassion MD]

What about SGU and AUC? Don't they have fifty states as well?

[Mr.Doc]

What about SGU and AUC? Don't they have fifty states as well?

They do, but Ross gives you less trouble when applying for licensure. Ross is the 'Mother' of all.

[emt036]

What about SGU and AUC? Don't they have fifty states as well?
Yes, and so does Saba (I think - I am not sure of FL.)

Ross is the only school that has gone through an approval process for TX, allowing their graduates automatic acceptance, whereas graduates of the other schools (SGU, AUC, Saba) are evaluated on an individual basis.

The reason Ross went through the approval process is that their grads were banned in Texas for a short while. SGU grads (and I am assuming the others) aren't having a problem getting licensed in Texas, so these schools don't see a need yet to go through the approval process. (At least that's what we're hearing from the admin.)

[Compassion MD]

I thought... Saba.. doesn't have CA yet.. and Saba's sister school MUA along with Saint. E.

Just one question...

So would you say after graduating form Ross is less trouble ti obtaining licens than anyother schools in Caribbean?

[microphage]

I thought... Saba.. doesn't have CA yet.. and Saba's sister school MUA along with Saint. E.

Just one question...

So would you say after graduating form Ross is less trouble ti obtaining licens than anyother schools in Caribbean?

Saba has California. Besides AUC, Ross and SGU; the others don't.

Ross grads have an easier time going through the paperwork for licensure in Texas.

[Doc]

This is probably the biggest misconception about medical licensing....

Actually, NO INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL IS 'APPROVED' IN ALL 50 STATES. That's right....absolutely NONE. The way the laws are written now, it is not even possible for any international medical school to gain approval in all 50 states. That is because the vast majority of states do not have a specific approval process in place for international medical schools. Instead, the majority of states grant medical licenses on an individual basis based on their individual credentials and NOT based on the medical school they attended.

If anyone ever tells you that a specific international medical school is 'approved' in all 50 states, they are either lying, or, more likely, incorrectly stating the facts. However, it would be correct to say that certain international medical schools' graduates can be eligible to be licensed in all 50 states (assuming the individuals meet the respective states requirements). But, in reality, this simply means that those particular international medical schools have not been banned from any particular states. So maybe the correct way to say this would be, "X International Medical School is not disapproved/banned in any of the 50 states". But that would be misleading as well since most states do not have an official "disapproved" or "banned" list.

But the real take home message is that there are 50 different states with 50 different sets of laws regarding medical licensing (of which any can change at any time). The best way to determine whether or not the school you would like to attend will be accepted by any particular states is by contacting the respective State Medical Boards. Contact information can be found here (http://www.valuemd.com/medicalboards.php).

Best of luck!

[Picard]

I think the proper terminology is

"What offshore schools have the track record of placing graduates in all 50 states; and have been, and are currently capable, of allowing their graduates to be licensed in all 50 states with relative ease, provided that the students have done their part and met specific state requirements (such as primary practice requirement in CA, affilited electives, not being a convicted felon... etc)." Whew, what a mouth full. :)

Now, as for TX... a bit of history here.
When TX changed it's licensing laws a few years ago, Ross graduates were disallowed to even apply for licensure due to some research requirement that TX did not think Ross met at the time. Graduates from SGU, AUC (and now SABA) were (and are allowed) to apply on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, the only recourse Ross had at the time was to apply for formal recognition from TX medical board. This was a one time, special consideration from TX board. SGU (and I think AUC as well) did not go through the process because TX board was (and still is) in the process of formulating a formal offshore school evaluation/approval process similar to California, and did not want SGU/AUC to go through what Ross had gone through because there was no "need" to do so as SGU/AUC grads were/are eligible for licensure on a case-by-case bases, and TX want to defer formal evaluation of offshore schools until their evaluation program was up and running.
Now, fast forward to 2006, this "formal evaluation" program has yet to be finalized, and TX has more or less been using the California List in the mean time, unofficially. So, this created an interesting situation where Ross is now the "only" offshore school recognized in TX, due to the necessity several years ago to allow its graduates to even apply. And schools like SGU/AUC were not allowed to go through the same process due to their ability for case-by-case licensure at the time, while waiting for this formal evaluation program to take off.
In reality, graduates from SGU/AUC are routinely licensed in TX without much problem. My own brother, a recent SGU grad, got his permenent TX license without any problems just within this past year, along with many of his classmates.

That's the history behind the TX thing.

P

[mozman]

Picard-very well put. Texas is unique. If I can add a few notes based on personal experience and those of family members regarding Texas.... There is one stipulation that Texas follows. If you reveiw their licensing requirements, Texas will not approve licensure if a medical school has been formally disapproved in any other state. For example, St. Matthews applied for CA approval and was denied. It would be difficult for someone graduating from St. Matthews to become licensed in Texas. However, Texas would allow you to prove that St. Matthews disapproval in CA was not warranted. I don't know how that would be done. I know two St. Matts grads who are in residency right now in Texas....will they be able to obtain full licensure, only time will tell.

Picard is correct in that each state does have their own requirements for licensure and carib. grads get licensed all of the time in most every state. In the end, LOR's from residency program directors and test scores would outweigh where you graduated from medical school.

I considered Belize Medical College which is a far inferior program to most carib. schools. I believe the school has only graduated a handful of students in their 10 year existence. One of them was my cousin, who started at UNIBE and transferred to CAHSU's Juarez facility and eventually graduated. He failed his USMLE I the first time and eventually passsed. He obtained a residency in Arkansas and became licensed and has been in practice 4 years (in AR). He did a fellowship in FL and obtained a temp. license there.

So, in the end, if you really must practice in TX or CA, then the route is clear before you...

I live in Texas and am a "non-traditional" older student. Since most of my family is here and my wife has a good job, I would like to come back to Texas. Obviously, my path included applying to UNIBE, SABA and UNPHU. I am to sit for the MCAT in Aug so I may apply to AUC and ROSS. It's whatever works for you.

A last piece of advice...don't sit around wasting your time worrying about licensure, practicing, etc. like I did. I think my balding pattern actually widened because of needless worry. :cry: I finally realized I want to be a doctor. If I can practice in Texas great...if not, my wife can work where I practice and there are airplanes last I remember to visit family members.

Sorry to be such a bore, but man, I tell you...since I have been on this site, it discourages me when I read things about licensure, the quality of this school or that school.........bottom line, if you want to be a doctor and couldn't get into a US program, the opportunity is here.

Start your education, pass step I, the rest will work itself out. It always does. When was the last time we read a post that said, "Man I wasted 4 years of my life, passed all my exams, did 4 years of residency and now I can't get a job anywhere!!! ":) My buddy works for Merrit Hawkins Associates, one of the largest physician recruiters in the US. He is the guy who finally pacified me and told me to quit worrying about licensure, what state, where, etc.... When they recruit and place you, they do all the work for your license anyway. They jump all the hurdles and if there is a problem, they assist you because 30% commission on a physicians starting pay is a big incentive. And ladies and gentleman, if you haven't heard of Merrit Hawkins now, believe me, a year before you complete your residency, you will!!! That is one number you will never forget because it repeat itself in your cell's missed calls about 100 times!!

My soapbox has ended....sorry for being long winded, hell I was in IT sales for a decade! Good luck to everyone, including me. If anyone has any questoions, please PM me or post.


The link below is for TSBME requirements for licensure.

http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/rules/rules/163.php#1631 (http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/rules/rules/163.php#1631)

[QUE_BOLA]

Saba has California. Besides AUC, Ross and SGU; the others don't.

Ross grads have an easier time going through the paperwork for licensure in Texas.

What about UAG

[QUE_BOLA]

UAG graduates can also practice in all 50 states

[IMG SURVIVOR]

UCE from Dominican Republic

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Yes, and so does Saba (I think - I am not sure of FL.)

Ross is the only school that has gone through an approval process for TX, allowing their graduates automatic acceptance, whereas graduates of the other schools (SGU, AUC, Saba) are evaluated on an individual basis.

The reason Ross went through the approval process is that their grads were banned in Texas for a short while. SGU grads (and I am assuming the others) aren't having a problem getting licensed in Texas, so these schools don't see a need yet to go through the approval process. (At least that's what we're hearing from the admin.)

Ross grads alone, were not banned! All caribbean grads were banned....so Ross highered lawyers....and ended the issue once in for all in 2004.

Ross grads will never be given any problems again!

[microphage]

What about UAG

that depends.. do u consider UAG located in the Caribbean(as the title of this thread states)?:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[emt036]

Ross grads alone, were not banned! All caribbean grads were banned....so Ross highered lawyers....and ended the issue once in for all in 2004.

Ross grads will never be given any problems again!
I don't recall hearing about grads of schools other than Ross having problems, but whatever.

Also, you should know by know that just like medicine, nothing is 100% guaranteed. Even though the "Big 3" have had Stafford loans for 30 years, a certain Senator tried to take away eligibility for US students studying at "non-domicile" schools. The TXMB could have a similar change of heart at time, so "[Ross] ended the issue once in (sic) for all in 2004" and "Ross grads will never be given any problems again" are a little strong and don't accurately portray the risks of medical boards or licensing bodies changing their minds (however slight that might be).

[Picard]

Ross grads alone, were not banned! All caribbean grads were banned....so Ross highered lawyers....and ended the issue once in for all in 2004.
No, not exactly true. The issue at the time was "research." TX made it a requirement that med schools must conduct research activies in order to be considered. And TX apparently found Ross to be lacking in research, therefore its students banned from even applying for licensure. Can't speak for AUC, but I know that SGU graduates ability to be licensed in TX was never interrupted. And SGU was not allowed to go through the same process as Ross because it has always retained the ability for "case-by-case" licensure where Ross was not.

P