Thread: Which Polish Med School is the Best?

Best... for what? It depends on where you want to work, where you are from, what you want to do, etc.

The one that accepts your application !!

precisely, when you get your offer of admission - you'll know which one is the best

I still think it matters a hell of a lot where you plan to work someday. For example, if Teddy is from Modesto, wants to return to work in California, and chooses to attend a school without CBM approval, he will likely find himself in a pickle. By the same token, a student who wants to work in the EU will likely find many more schools that meet his/her needs (assuming s/he has done due diligence on the hiring requirements in the EU countries that are of interest).

Although, those without California, may still work in most other states. Some friends who are currently working in NY and completed med in schools without this accreditation may also work in California, provided they work 3 years in another state. That is the most recent info I got from those who completed in a non California approved EU medical school. Also, they may complete a California based board exam, which will also provide entry to employment in California. Is the information I received...

Um, no. The information you received was incorrect. The reciprocity change you cited is a relatively recent CMB development, and the requirements are considerably more stringent than the info you note above. I do not know where these folks got their information, but it wasn't from CMB... or if it was, they misunderstood it. Here is the quote directly the CMB's own website: (Welcome to the Medical Board of California - Licensing Process).

"What if I attended a school on the Board’s disapproved list?
If you attended a disapproved medical school, you may still be eligible for licensure in California if you qualify under Business and Professions Code Section 2135.7 This section of California law allows individuals who attend disapproved medical schools to be eligible for consideration for licensure. Some of the requirements include, but are not limited to:
- The applicant has held an unlimited and unrestricted license to practice medicine in another state or states and has held that license and continuously practiced for a period of at least TWENTY years prior to the date of application. At least five of the ten years of licensure must be continuously in a single state or federal territory. Continuous licensure includes any postgraduate training after 24 months in an ACGME or RCPSC accredited program.
- The applicant is certified by a specialty board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties;
- The applicant has successfully taken and passed the required examinations.
- The applicant has successfully completed three years of postgraduate training in an approved AGME or RCPSC accredited program.
- No disciplinary action has been taken against the applicant by any medical licensing authority;
- The applicant has not been the subject of adverse judgments or settlements resulting from the practice of medicine that constitutes a pattern of negligence or incompetence;
-The applicant has not committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure."

So... twenty years of practice is a lot more than three. (I would always suggest checking with the source directly, rather than reports from the periphery -- it can definitely burn you.)

Of course, this all presupposes a match into a US residency, which could become much rarer occurrence for the IMG set after 2016 based on the AAMC and ACGME projections. But regardless, this is why it is important to stay abreast of these kinds of developments. Good luck to everyone...

thank you very much for clarifying this!!

I guess if the school is eventually accredited, then you should be holding a valid license for a period of 4 years.

What if my medical school becomes recognized, but the recognition does not cover the dates I attended?
If you attended a medical school that becomes recognized, but the recognition does not cover the entire period of your attendance at the school, you will not be eligible for postgraduate training in California, but you may be eligible for licensure after meeting certain requirements. California Business and Professions Code Section 2135.5 provides a pathway to licensure for individuals in the above situation if they satisfy certain requirements including, but not limited to:
The applicant has held an unlimited and unrestricted license to practice medicine in another state continuously for a period of at least FOUR years prior to the date of application (any time spent by the applicant in an approved postgraduate training program or clinical fellowship is not included in the calculation of the four year period);
The applicant is certified by a specialty board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties;
No disciplinary action has been taken against the applicant by any medical licensing authority;
The applicant has not been the subject of adverse judgments or settlements resulting from the practice of medicine that constitutes a pattern of negligence or incompetence;
The applicant has not committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure.

No problem, reichmann. This is a really important issue for people who want to return to the US, and IMHO it is great when medical students check first-hand with the relevant licensing boards. At my school there were a lot of students actually making their professional plans based around third- or fourth-hand information that had absolutely NO truth to it whatsoever. Good luck to you!

Law section. change in regulations. keep in mind it says MAY determine, my friends who finished 'unrecognized' schools were able to practice and ARE practicing in california after 3 years of working in a different state. so its all up to individual applcations to the board once your licensed in a different state.