Thread: U.S. Licensure with a SABA Degree... Which states are friend

Hi Everyone,

I keep reading about which states are hard to get licensure for an IMG, specifically a SABA graduate. I read a post regarding TN, I also read a post about a state requiring 3 years of fellowship after residency before licensing a SABA graduate.

My question is: Are there states that are IMG (SABA) friendly? If so, which ones? And what makes a place "harder" or "easier"? Is it green book rotations? USMLE scores? Astrological sign?

Once all is done, I'm hoping for the North East something like Maryland, Virginia (ok south-east :-)), ... etc...

Thanks!

WantMD :-)

Short of a state by state search, it would be hard to say that particular states are "Saba-friendly". It's easier to say which states curently put restrictions on our grads. The ones I know for sure are California, New Mexico (they use the Cali list), Kansas (so I was told by someone whose opinion I respect) and Texas (they just started changing their laws this year - we have a licensed grad in Texas however). I saw something on this board about an individual having problems in Tennessee, but I have not been able to independently confirm that.

I have spoken with reps from the licensing boards (by phone) from North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina and have gotten positive responses from all. Of course, things change so I suggest you do your own research.


Best of Luck!

There are ceratin states in which it is easier to get an educational license. Some require that you document everything about your clinical rotations (number of hours, etc.). So, make sure that you keep very detailed records (especially true for PA I think).

As for licensure afterwards....I am in the process of going through the Georgia Licensure now. I can tell you that I think you misunderstood a prior post. They require 3 years of post-graduate training (which is residency)...they do not require 3 years of fellowship after residency. The reason they claim is they have no basis of evaluating the education of foreign medical schools (isn't the USMLE supposed to do that?)

I also looked into South Carolina, and they say the same thing as Georgia...require 3 years of post-grad training. I have not really researched anything else at this time as I am heading to the Southeast for the immediate year after completing residency.