licensing issues post closure of school

[Rita20]

hello everyone,
just want to post a hypothetical question that is relevant but it is not directed toward any school in particular so no-one take offense, ok.

what happens in case where someone passes all their licensing exams graduates from their school gets ecfmg certification and secures a residency then finishes residency passes state licensing exams where they are elgible to do so and starts working and then the school folds.do the graduates from that school forfeit all the work they have done and lose their license to pratice.really curious about this because if i'm not mistaken there was an american school that folded in philadelphia some years back.what happened there.
really would appreciate an answer to this and I think it bears relevance for a lot of people.again i don't want to cast any aspersions on any school here, just to put some perspective on the security that one has when they finish their education at a carribean school and then perhaps remain subject to circumstances out of their control. what do you think steph?

[dt]

I think, in theory, if a school closes, then the records would transfer to the "ministry of education" (or whatever). Does that really happen in all countries? Dont know (and I dont really want to find out).

[Japhethi]

First of all, there are a few things here.

ECFMG certification is lifelong, so once you are certified you are..

Getting into a residency program really has NO set standards, so anything could happen here, but my guess is that the more competitive programs would not look into a school that has closed down, while the others still would, as long as you are ECFMG certified.

Licensure is a different issue and resembles the ECFMG certification in so much as that it is LIFELONG as long as no adminstrative action is taken against you. Therefore, if you had any concerns about your school, I would definitely try to get licensed in as many states as possible, so even if you (God forbid) lost your license in ONE state, you were still licenses in another.

Note that many states don't want MD's to be licensed in their states just to have a "spare tire", but prefer to license only the ones that actually settle and practice there.. Therefore, as always, do your own research and be proactive..

Reactivity is to late if you come from a Diploma mill and end up in any license trouble.

Good luck.

[Rita20]

Thanx for that thoughtful answer j but just to push the enquiry a little further: say a person in such a circumstance had secured a license in one state and his alma mater had closed down would he be limited to licensure in that state alone or would he be able to use said qualifications to license in another at a later date.in other words is one compelled to seek state licensure in as many states as possible while his school is in existance in the untoward liklihood that his school were to fold.I think this whole thing could bear a lot of relevance to someone who wants to make a career of locum work - it is a growing trend.And it is like you suggest kind of claustrophobic to think that your options could be limited like that.just looking for an out in all of this

[Japhethi]

in THIS case I have to admit my knowledge is limited. Resiprocity used to be quite common and accessible, even for foreign graduates, but more and more states have taken a more cautious apporach to resiprocity nowadays.

So I guess my advice would be to seek out as many states as possible to be licensed in, or at least KNOW the requirements to pick up additional licensure requirements so you are a bit ahead and not up to any surprises.

Licensure requirements change day by day and with regard to Caribbean diploma mill schools only AUC, Ross, And St. Georges have unrestricted licensure all over the US as of now..

Again, be sure to check out the state medical boards yourself before you end up in these situations so you have SOME ideas.

Good luck..

[soon2bMS]

[quote="Rita20"]

if i'm not mistaken there was an american school that folded in philadelphia some years back.quote]

I must point out to you that no medical school in Philadelphia has closed. You must be thinking of hospitals, However all the medical schools are still going strong, Drexel, Temple, Jefferson, Penn State, UPenn and Einstien. None of these medical schools have closed.

[Kuwaituser]

Nowadays many International Medical schools have campus in different parts of the world and hence please give your opinion on FMG's who have studied in a Foreign Medical School campus which is located in a country other than its country of charter. Will they have any problem for licensure after their education, as this extended campus is not registered in the country it exists.

[Japhethi]

Why take the chance??

Going to a school with a symbolic charter that has it's basic sciences in a country of preference and a charter of convenience in a third-world country is a HUGE liability and a mockery of any rules&regulations created for a purpose.

If I were in the licensure committes and saw this ridiculous cam of rules I would get pissed and angry with people that bent the rules like that assuming I was stupid.

Stay away from these schools, at least until you encounter a physcian licensed in any of them.. Not likey to happenin at least 3-4 years form now.

[dt]

and in regards to the question asked in the first post, how would a past student get his official transcript if the school later moved to a different country or stopped functioning? Which country would be responsible in overseeing the shutdown? the past host country or the country of charter?

(why would the host country care? it is just the termination of another private company as far as the host country is concerned, is it not?)

uncharted / unknown area -- maybe someone who has undergone this experience can shed some insight?

[Rita20]

heard a rumor ...don't know if it is substantiated or not that graduates of a certain medical school a while back all lost their licences following closure of their school.think the name was grace but don't quote me on it.anything to this?