California requirements

[PatPark]

Recently, I've begun to see posts expressing a lot of anxiety about new regulations adopted by the California and Texas medical boards that might jeopardize the approval of Caribbean medical schools. I can only speak for California. California law doesn't require medical schools to support residency training programs or continuing medical education programs. There is no plan to add such wording to California law in the future.

With respect to research programs, medical schools applying for recognition in California are asked to document how their school's mission statement and objectives include: "The role of research as an integral component of its mission, including the importance, nature, objectives, processes and evaluation of research in medical education and practice." We don't expect Caribbean medical schools to support world-class research campuses stretching for miles, staffed by an army of research professors, grad students and postdocs. We do expect to see the medical schools making it possible for their faculty to participate in research projects in addition to their teaching duties and for interested students to have the opportunity to assist the faculty in those projects. The Board will apply the requirement in a reasonable manner.

Officials at AUC, Ross and St. George's universities are all aware of the California Medical Board's requirements. The Board has no hidden agenda against any school or region of the world or any intent to revoke the recognition of these schools or make it unreasonably difficult for new schools to qualify for recognition in the future. So please don't stress about California's research requirement.

Pat Park, Foreign Schools Liaison, Medical Board of California

[tRmedic21]

Thank you very much for your clarification of these matters. It is a load off the minds of some students, I am sure.... now I personally would like to see a similar statement from the Texas board.... as that is a place nearer and dearer to my heart (no offense Ms. Park!) than California. :wink:

[microphage]

Thank you, Ms. Park! This little thing sprung up right before exam week #2 and got me a tad bit worried(just a tad). Now I can go back and study (worry free) on how babies are born.(embryology) :wink:

Thanks again! :D

[Doc]

Ms. Park:

It's very good to hear your take on the new rules which many topics have revolved around lately. Thanks so much for providing that reassuring information to put some of the anxiety to rest. If you don't mind, I'll convert your post into an "Important Announcement" so that it can be easily seen throughout the site.

Users, please keep in mind that Ms. Park has graciously volunteered her time in order to provide this information for you. So please extend her the courtesy she deserves and try to respect her limited time which she has chosen to spend with us.

As always, we're all very grateful for your time Ms. Park :wink:

[awdc]

Just want to say thank you for the post. As a Californian, it's a relief to hear good news regarding that matter.

[Faith]

This is a really good example of the entity known as the rumor mill. No one is ever sure how these get started, but they are always a source of worry when students already have too much to think about anyway.

To those future students: read and take note, find good, reliable resources (like Ms. Park), do a little research and place your earplugs appropriately. Save the energy for the exams!

Faith

[Nebakanezer]

Thank You, Ms. Park. The time and effort you dedicate to educate the students of this site is always appreciated.

[FLK]

thumbs up Pat

oh wait, I don't have thumbs......

antennae up Pat!

[ResearchingGuy]

Let me add my voice to the chorus of "Thank-you's" for your timely post. It always best to hear straight from the source, especially when it is good news.

Thanks for thinking of us.

Best of Luck to Us All!

[mr. rogers]

i just looked up TX today it states that a person can be licensed in TX if the school meets the same requirements as any TX medical school i have researched this and sc does meet thoes requirements. however if you want to clinicals and residency in TX you have to sign on as a visiting student at a TX medical school hospital such as UTMB in galveston. If you set up on your own you can still do this but if the board has not approved the facility you will riska chance to get a license in TX. if you go through someone like UTMB there will be no problem. go to the TEXAS STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSE click on board rules the links will be there for you to veiw. you can also look to see what off shore medical schools have had students to obtain a Tx license. there are no approved off shore med schools in texas they have to meet the requirments stated.

if need any help PM and i will be happy yo help you anyway i can

[tRmedic21]

I know all that. I've been there, read all that myself, mutiple times.

My point was to wonder about the proposed rule schanges for Texas in 2004. Their licensure page right now is the same it has always been, however the FAQ they have (which was copied in part somewhere around here), has been changed to include a 'may not be eligible' section which seems to reference the propsed rule changes. I am afraid this may reflect their assumption that these rules will pass without ammendment or scrutiny, thus causes a major SNAFU for those of us in med school now who wish to go back and practice in Texas.

[stephew]

even in school still eligible for texas, the texas licensing folks apaprently are rather inconsistant and while occasionally people get licensed without a problem, sometimes their transcript is combed through ad nauseum to pick out the tiniest of details that no one ever would have thought was an issue and they make it very difficult. The word of mouth is, if you have any ohter state youre interested in, go there instead. However we are eligable in texas.

One example of a probalme: one grad from my school applied and Texas denied licensure because their med school radiology rotation was done in an acgme approved program alright...but approved under medicine, not under radiology per se. Ross can't get licensed there however they are working on it. Once again this issue will only be resolved by proactive action by the schools, and that's being done.

[Steve11916]

Hi,
I have quick question. I am considering attending medical school in India (Kasturba Medical College). I was wondering if a school that doesn't require an MCAT score or a bachelors is considered by California. The school is affiliated with Loma Linda University here in southern California. But my concern is to know if I can work here in California if I go to this college.
Steve

[GeorgeMD2B]

I wanted to know if I would experience any difficulties getting licensed in California if I attended an Australian medical school. Would there be any problems whatsoever?

[october]

"Just thought I would share with all of you some info I found during some research I was doing. It has minimal bearing on the current conversation, but it is somewhat relevant.

Most caribb schools try to follow the LCME standards of medical education in an attempt to emulate US schools. However, according to Barbara Barzanski of the LCME, whiether or not a school uses the MCAT as an admission standard does not affect their accredditation at all. In other words, US schools could completely eliminate the MCAT as a requirement and still maintain US accreditation. SO, the fact that some caribb or caribb like schools do not require students to have taken the MCAT does not neccesarily indicate a lesser quality of education."

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from

http://64.4.22.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=a8126ed0a27ebaee474eaabacfa0520a&lat=1074639929&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fforums%2estudentdoctor%2e net%2fshowthread%2ephp%3fthreadid%3d87661%26goto%3 dnewpost

[stephew]

please keep on topic since this is a sticky and will always be at the top of the pile. Otherwise we have to lock the thread. Thanks.

[october]

erratum

[ShetaMD]

Is any school in Poland approved in California?

[IMG X-Files]

THERE IS A NEW SCHOOL "AMERICAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF ANTIGUA" IS IT ACCEPTED/ACCREDITED IN CA ?
PLEASE ADVISE,
REGARDS,
SECOND SCHOOL IN QUESTION IS THE XAVIER MEDICAL SCHOOL IN NORTH YORK, ONTARIO
BOTH SCHOOLS STARTED IN 2004, AND SUPPOSEBLY ARE LISTED IN THE WHO....
ANTIGUA AND RUSSIA RESPECTIVELY

[ValuelessMD]

...............

[medstuca]

personally, i feels California law is complete insult to residency training program. Medical students from out side of caribbean are better prepared than US trained residents.
COME ON YOU GOT TO BE JOKING.
OR CA MEDICAL BOARD MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR FREE VACATION PACKAGE IN CARIBBEAN.

CEARTAIN COMMENTS MADE BY PARK IS VERY IMMATURE. The evaluation process is very bias and discriminatory.

I am very interested in knowing us medical students procedures skills. Medical school does not make u doctor at all only in residency.

[CaliforniaEquality]

repost of prior material, for more information, click on the following link.

http://www.valuemd.com/state-medical...-mistakes.html

I just found out that the california list did not list any of the DO schools, not even the one in california. however, we all know that there are plenty DOs practicing medicine in california. So as you can see, california medical board set up a list that even it itself intentionally violate.

[mo5225md]

How can california say that just because you did your basic sciences at a school...YET DID YOUR CLINICALS AND RESIDENCY IN THE UNITED STATES...that you are not fit to practice in CA. THAT IS THE DUMBEST IDEA I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED!!!!

[CaliforniaEquality]

Great news, those bureaucratic at the California med. Board are finally changing.

Those members read messages on this board, but when I told them that they used the wrong name for taiwan. they refused to change.

So I notified the Chinese consulate in California like a few days ago. I just check that list again, taiwan is no longer " republic of taiwan." The speed is fast!

so it shows that that board will only change if they are being pressured to.

so people, let's united and fight for our equal justice!

[cubmd]

I wonder how California can disapprove a Caribbean Medical school based on their rules and regulations (MCAT, etc) but, then approve other medical schools that don’t follow their rules and regulations for admission, don’t have the same medical curriculum, and they don’t even know how the schools work. I am talking about Cuban medical schools. Most of Cuban schools are approved by California and they don’t meet their requirements because they don’t have the same medical curriculum of LCME US medical schools. They are very good medical schools established for more than 100 years and with a really good reputation, but I doubt the medical board of California visits Cuba to inspect these schools. I would like to know why the California medical board is so inconsistent with the accreditation of foreign medical schools.:confused:

I want to thank the California medical official for their time.

[CaliforniaEquality]

That is what I have been asking many many months now.

the board members read this site very often, they just do whatever they feel like.

I have asked why they are treating north korea and cuban med. schools so differently. they are just abusing their rights, that is plain and simple.

if they dont' change their rules by the time I graduate, I will organize all the other IMGs and we will sue the board for sure.

we are not gonna sit here, and say goodbye to california for the rest of our life! this is about equal rights for all!

I wonder how California can disapprove a Caribbean Medical school based on their rules and regulations (MCAT, etc) but, then approve other medical schools that don’t follow their rules and regulations for admission, don’t have the same medical curriculum, and they don’t even know how the schools work. I am talking about Cuban medical schools. Most of Cuban schools are approved by California and they don’t meet their requirements because they don’t have the same medical curriculum of LCME US medical schools. They are very good medical schools established for more than 100 years and with a really good reputation, but I doubt the medical board of California visits Cuba to inspect these schools. I would like to know why the California medical board is so inconsistent with the accreditation of foreign medical schools.:confused:

I want to thank the California medical official for their time.

[iduedelfini]

Ciao! I am writing to you from Italy. I am currently practicing interventional radiology in Italy (extensive experience here of about 13 years and also a fellowship in California in 2003). I am married to an American citizen. We are in the process, with the American embassy here, of getting all of the paperwork done to get US citizenship.
I have taken Step 1 of USMLE in 2005 and passed and in April of this year 2006, I took Step 2 CK in Milan. Now I am waiting to see if I have passed that one....when I know, I will try to schedule Step 2 CS in the US. If I passed, I want to schedule and take Step 3 before the end of the year so the next couple of weeks are crutial.

My questions are....
1.) What would you recommend as the best next step?

2.) Is it best for me to wait for US citizenship (to be final) and then to look into Step 3 (as to avoid major visa problems)?

3.) If I want to work in California (luckily my school is on the California approved list!) after completing ALL of the USMLE tests, what must I do to PRACTICE AS AN INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGIST in California? ECFMG verified my experience and my education already.

4.) Do I have to do ONE YEAR as a general resident, PLUS a full residency program? Or do I just do (redo) the time for residency in my specialization? Does my past 13 years spent here practicing in Italy count as anything toward my practicing in California or to what degree does it or may it count?

5.) How long AFTER passing the ALL USMLE tests until I could realistically be practicing as a US licensed, California licensed Interventional Radiologist?

I don't know if you can help or if you know someone who can but...I had to ask.

Thank you kindly,

iduedelfini

[harbeer]

one of my friend is very upset about the future as already passed step i and two but with score of 78 and 82 with several attempts,now already completed seven years of period, applied several times for match but all in vain,having a good medical experience, but still programme directors are looking for good scores? not the candidates way of dealing with patient, other experiences. I do not understand why they have such type of thought getting a top score does not mean you are going to be a top doctor, which needs dedication, human values,.If any body can tell me whether is it possible to apply for residency to save a good doctor by not offering residency. thanks for your suggestions.

[changelaw]

California law for medical practice does not make sense.

If a student from a non-california approved medical school passes USMLE board exams, does his/her clinical rotations in the US hospitals, receives good letters of recommendations from the attendings, does his, or her residency in a US hospital (which means treating patients), WHY he /she can not practice in CA?
If the standards are met (USMLE, US hospital, US letters of recommendations) then it should work.

I say let's talk to a big law firm and prepare a strong case and see if we can modify the legislation there?

[Aviv Imanuel]

You are not the first one nor will be the last one with the same convincing argument (I have seen dozens over my years in VMD) unfortunately with no change. My take is...the more the California board reads messages like yours the more they get to enjoy it. Any changes will have to come from the legislature of the State of California, not an easy task. But keep trying.


California law for medical practice does not make sense.

If a student from a non-california approved medical school passes USMLE board exams, does his/her clinical rotations in the US hospitals, receives good letters of recommendations from the attendings, does his, or her residency in a US hospital (which means treating patients), WHY he /she can not practice in CA?
If the standards are met (USMLE, US hospital, US letters of recommendations) then it should work.

I say let's talk to a big law firm and prepare a strong case and see if we can modify the legislation there?

[october]

In fact CMB HAS indeed been sued MANY times over the years, if not decades. Claimants indeed have prevailed many times. As just one example I can recall a group of grads from Vietnam that had to sue to get a license.

The most recent chapter in CA is they no doubt rewrote their bylaws to try to be able to withstand new legal action and hopefully prevail.

[riannecortez]

hi. I am an IMG, and I would appreciate help on how i can get into a residency program in california, since as i heard, it's difficult, or the process is a little different. I would appreciate a simplified algorithm of things I need to go through to get into a residency program in california... thanks

[MetalRex]

Hello there!
I am a first year pre-clinical student at the caribbean island of st lucia. I have listed out aerospace medicine( preventive medicine) ,internal medicine, obs& gynae, family medicine some the specialties that interest me.
Now,I wanna have some first hand info regarding state residency requirements and would like you to guide me through this.
I would highly appreciate if you can plz provide me with sources/websites that list put latest,authentic state requirements for these specialties.
Thanking you in anticipation

Metalrex