License reciprocity?

[g6pddfishnc]

To Sree (and anyone else who might know the answer to this question),

Now that we better understand the implications of doing greenbook vs. non-greenbook rotations, my queston is, if you a get a license in one state, as a general rule of thumb, do some of the other states recognize this and are willing to grant a license for their state because of this?

I understand that we would need to contact a state's licensing board individually, but I ask this because I've read where you mentioned that there are some states that are a little bit more lenient in that they don't require all greenbook core rotations (but for the most part electives can pretty much be done anywhere?). So because of the waiting period at some areas/hospitals, if someone accepted to do non-greenbook rotations in order to avoid delays and gaps of time, and they eventually get a license in a more lenient state, is there reciprocity among some of the other states?

Also, thank you Sree, for explaining the greenbook issue and for inspiring "The Greenbook Awareness Movement" .

Kinda sorta off topic--a good movement should have a commemorative holiday. Any suggestions for which day we should set aside? There are already quite few other "green" holidays. March has St. Patrick's Day, April has Earth Day, Christmas is red and green...any ideas?

[g6pddfishnc]

I appreciate any helpful input.

[Tipton]

Found what I was looking for: State Medical Licensing Board Requirements, International Medical Schools

Of course who knows how accurate or up-to-date the info is. But at least it's a good starting point.

[Sree Cheruku]

Also, thank you Sree, for explaining the greenbook issue and for inspiring "The Greenbook Awareness Movement" .

Kinda sorta off topic--a good movement should have a commemorative holiday. Any suggestions for which day we should set aside? There are already quite few other "green" holidays. March has St. Patrick's Day, April has Earth Day, Christmas is red and green...any ideas?

That's pretty funny. More seriously, I'm going to be an AUA graduate in 6 months. And, I want the school's clinical sciences program to be as good as the basic science program.

And, the school has taken significant steps to improve the clinical situation. Clinical adviser response time is lower than it ever has been - I get same day responses to e-mails now, sometimes within hours. The clinical deans are putting actual curricula together as well as final exams for our rotations - which made a really good impression on the doctors at the hospital I'm at now. (Apparently, our psych chair is from Harvard and the exams he prepared were so good that even non-AUA students at St. John's are being asked to take them.)

The only important change that needs to be made is for clinical advisers to be better informed about Greenbook rotations.

Now that we better understand the implications of doing greenbook vs. non-greenbook rotations, my queston is, if you a get a license in one state, as a general rule of thumb, do some of other states recognize this and are willing to grant a license for their state because of this?

Don't expect reciprocity unless you have something in writing from the individual medical board. The only medical board that I've contacted about this is California and they do not license you just because another state already has.

I understand that we would need to contact a state's licensing board individually, but I ask this because I've read where you mentioned that there are some states that are a little bit more lenient in that they don't require all greenbook core rotations (but for the most part electives can pretty much be done anywhere?).

AUA has plenty of elective spots. You can even do all greenbook electives without any wait time at many of the places I've rotated at. (For example, there are like 8-9 Green electives at St. Joes in Michigan and the entire hospital has maybe 3-4 students rotating through the electives at any given time.)

So because of the waiting period at some areas/hospitals

It's a good idea to plan ahead to avoid wait times. I've noticed that students who spend a lot of time waiting are those who haven't scheduled hard-to-get rotations way way ahead of time. You want to schedule Peds at Wyckoff the minute you have your passing Step 1 score even if it means you have to wait 7-8 months to actually begin. During those months, you can get IM, family, surgery etc. over with. I think that students have a false impression that once you're in the clinical system, you spend a lot of time waiting between rotations. There's an initial wait time, but you can do pretty much everything else back to back. I've had a total wait time of one week between rotations.

So, contact the medical boards of the states that you plan to practice in before making the decision between doing Green and non-Green rotations.

[Jakeislove]

This is one area where students are really required to do the homework and make decisions based upon their anticipated needs.

[g6pddfishnc]

Thank you Sree, as always your info was very helpful. I didn't know that Michigan has a lot of green electives. Also nice to know that things are getting better.

And thank you to Mr. Carlson, the link you provided was very informative. It seems that there are some states who recognize licenses from other states, but there are also a lot of states that do not. A lot of other info there as well. Very handy reference.

Thanks again!

Edit (to add one more question): I noticed that on the chart in the link provided by Mr. Carlson that there is something called endorsement. For example, as Sree mentioned, California does not engage in reciprocity, but in the chart it states that it does so with endorsement, as do a number of other states, including New York. What does this mean?

[Tipton]

Originally Posted by g6pddfishnc

Edit (to add one more question): I noticed that on the chart in the link provided by Mr. Carlson that there is something called endorsement. For example, as Sree mentioned, California does not engage in reciprocity, but in the chart it states that it does so with endorsement, as do a number of other states, including New York. What does this mean?

Don't know a whole lot about the licensure process. What I can guess from a few minutes of research is the difference between how a State treats:

1) a "new" application for licensure from a physician who has not yet gained licensure in the US

and

2) an application "by endorsement" from a physician whose education, exam results and experience has been "endorsed" by another State's licensing board

This is a good example of how this list and lists in general are only useful up to a point. It gives you a general idea of how licensing boards treat applications but not the detail needed to apply to a particular applicant for licensure.

Maybe someone else can clarify further?

[g6pddfishnc]

Originally Posted by Tipton

2) an application "by endorsement" from a physician whose education, exam results and experience has been "endorsed" by another State's licensing board

Thanks Mr. Carlson. I was thinking that maybe the endorsement part applies to those physicians who have been practicing for several years and graduated from medical school before a certain date. Perhaps those years of experience get endorsed. I have seen on licensing board websites where this is indeed a different catergory of application for licensure, as you have pointed out.