﻿International Medical Graduate: The Ultimate Guide to Matching
Your Dream Residency in the US and Canada Are you an international medical graduate, or IMG,
looking to match to your dream residency program in the US or Canada? It is important
to be aware of the challenges you will have to overcome to match successfully. In this video,
you will learn about the eligibility criteria for IMGs in Canada and the United States and how to
make your candidacy stand out! Finally, we will go over IMG friendly Residency Programs!
Hi! My name is (your full name) and I’m an admissions associate here at BeMo. Before we get
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you don’t miss any of our upcoming videos. If you would like us to help you match to your top-choice
residency, visit bemoresidencyapplication.com to schedule your free initial consultation.
As a quick tip, check out the time stamps in the description of this video to navigate to specific
sections of the video that you are interested in. Here’s what we are going to cover:
Eligibility Requirements for IMGs in the US Eligibility Requirements for IMGs in Canada
How to Match Successfully IMG Friendly Residency Programs
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So, let’s get started! Eligibility Requirements for IMGs in the US
Before IMGs can start applying for residency positions, they must meet a set of requirements.
US medical schools have their own definition of international medical graduates.
It is the location and accreditation of the medical school attended that determines whether
the graduate is an IMG, not the citizenship of the graduate. This means that American citizens who
graduated from medical schools outside the United States and Canada are considered IMGs. Non-US
citizens who graduated from medical schools in the United States and Canada are not considered IMGs.
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) assesses whether IMGs are ready
to enter residency programs in the United States. You must be certified by the ECFMG
before you can take the USMLE or start a graduate medical education program.
The ECFMG coordinates the ERAS application process for international medical graduates.
The certification process starts when you apply to ECFMG for a USMLE/ECFMG identification number.
As soon as you get this number, you can use it to complete the application for ECFMG certification.
Once you submit your application for certification, you may apply for the USMLE
examination. As one of the requirements of certification is the verification of
your medical school diploma, you cannot complete the entire certification process
until you have graduated. State-specific requirements
The Federation of State Medical Boards publishes state-specific requirements for medical licensure,
including minimum postgraduate training required, number of attempts at licensing
examination allowed, and time limits for completion of licensing examination sequence
needed for license eligibility. Make sure to check their website in advance as you
don't want to waste your time and money applying in states that limit training permits or recognize
fewer international medical schools than the full list of World Directory of Medical Schools. It is
crucial to verify your eligibility within each US state and each program before you apply.
Residency program requirements Program requirements for each residency
position are most often listed on their websites. These may include medical school graduation year,
types of visas accepted, or how many USMLE attempts are allowed.
Make sure that you understand your program’s residency requirements before applying.
The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) updates state-specific information
for residencies. You can use this site to find out if you can get a license in
a specific state during residency. Some states, such as California, have a list of recognized
international medical schools that are eligible for licensure in the state.
Some states have restrictions on the number of USMLE attempts allowed.
Eligibility Requirements for IMGs in Canada If you are an IMG wishing to apply for
residency in Canada, these are the standard eligibility requirements:
#1. You are a current student or graduate from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical
Schools, OR your medical school must be accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian
Medical Schools (CACMS) or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) (in the U.S.)
OR your medical school must be accredited as a U.S. School of Osteopathic Medicine.
#2. You must have written and passed, or be scheduled to write the National
Assessment Collaboration (NAC) examination #3. You must have written and passed, or be
scheduled to write the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part I (MCCQE Part I).
#4. You must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
Visa holders are not eligible. Provincial requirements
The requirements I covered include just the basic requirements that would allow IMGs to participate
in the CaRMS matching process. You must research the requirements of
each province separately in order to apply for positions in those provinces.
As an international medical graduate, you may have to take additional steps to verify your
medical degree, complete additional examinations, or enter into a service agreement that commits you
to practice in a particular area for a specific amount of time. Take into account that meeting
certain provincial eligibility requirements for IMGs can be extremely challenging.
How to Match Successfully Competition is fierce for IMGs.
Each year, thousands of applicants compete for few positions. In recent years, IMGs in the US matched
at an approximate 56% rate while IMGs in Canada matched at an approximate 50% rate. According to
a study by the NRMP, IMGs that matched to their preferred specialty are most likely to:
Rank more programs within their preferred specialty
Have higher USMLE Step 1 and 2 scores Be US citizens
When considering how many residency applications you should submit, remember
that each application demands a high level of research and preparation. The quality of an
application is the most important aspect, so it's better to send fewer high-quality applications
instead of more low-quality applications. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
keeps records of the average number of residency applications per student
for different specialties. Some of the most competitive fields, including family medicine,
psychiatry, internal medicine, anaesthesiology, and pediatrics, see more than 70 applications from
one candidate. So, with all those applications, how can your application stand out?
Gain clinical experience where you want to practice.
As an international medical graduate, you should absolutely gain clinical experience in the country
to which you're applying. This is important for making your application stand out and for
convincing program directors that you’ve taken the necessary steps to transition effectively
from a foreign medical graduate to an effective physician in a new country.
In addition to gaining first-hand experiences in Canadian or US healthcare systems,
this clinical experience will also allow you to secure letters of recommendation from faculty
members who supervised you and who are familiar with the expectations of US or Canadian residency
programs. It is a good idea to consider setting up a clinical externship or enroll in an elective
program that can provide valuable hands-on experience in the American or Canadian medical
system. If you are currently a medical student, many medical schools offer opportunities for
visiting student and clinical away electives. Some programs are free, but most require a fee.
Participate in observerships. If you are no longer in medical school,
your chances of obtaining clinical experience in the US is limited, but not impossible. Your best
option is to participate in observerships. Similar to shadowing, observerships will
provide you with an opportunity to learn about the healthcare system in the country you’re applying,
make connections, and increase your overall knowledge. In some Canadian provinces, IMGs
may apply for a clinical observership permit. For example, Nova Scotia issues clinical observership
permits to students who were trained outside of Canada and do not yet meet requirements
for a license to practice medicine in Nova Scotia. The permits allows you observe, learn,
and gain insight into the practice of medicine in Nova Scotia under the supervision of practicing
doctors in hospitals and medical practices. This will be helpful in preparation for your
licensing examinations and skill assessment. Keep in mind that the observership permit is
not a license to practice medicine, nor is it considered as training or work experience.
Gain research experience. Another way to improve your
residency applications, especially for programs that focus on academic progress
and training future researchers, is to gain research experience. Securing a position
as a research assistant will help set you apart from other IMGs as most programs highly value
US or Canadian research experience. Try to gain a position where you’ll be testing hypotheses,
analyzing results, and preparing reports. Make sure that you form a good bond early on with
your research mentor in order to secure an excellent letter of recommendation.
Strengthen your extracurriculars. Extracurricular activities matter for one simple
reason: every strong candidate has them. You will not be a program director’s top choice if you have
nothing to put in the CaRMS or ERAS experiences section. Clinical experience, volunteering,
teaching, and research are great experiences to possess. These activities can make you stand out
above other applicants and can be the difference between simply matching and matching with your
preferred program. The directors of residency programs will want to see that you are passionate
about medicine and your specialty choice and that you’re constantly learning and growing as a person
and future physician. It’s important to note that not all extracurriculars have to be related to
medicine. Showing dedication and a long term time commitment to activities that are important to you
are just as meaningful. For example, commitment to a particular sport, a musical instrument,
or even a type of dance. Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to join every single student-run
clinic or apply for every leadership program. Make sure that you are only participating in activities
that you actually enjoy and are significant to your growth and development.
Demonstrate core competencies. It is crucial for IMGs to familiarize
themselves with Canadian and US guidelines that dictate the expected behavior and abilities of
future physicians. The CanMEDs framework is a good reference for any future physician,
as it identifies the qualities and abilities physicians require to develop in order to perform
their jobs well. These qualities and abilities can be grouped into these seven roles: medical expert
(primary role), professional, communicator, collaborator, leader, health advocate,
scholar. When preparing your personal statement, CV, or if you are practicing for an interview,
try to relate your extracurricular activities and experiences to these seven roles. AAMC
competencies is another framework that can help you choose and highlight appropriate
extracurricular activities. Fifteen abilities and skills are grouped into three categories:
pre-professional competencies, thinking and reasoning competencies,
and science competencies. These 15 core competencies can help you organize your
developed skills and abilities, and connect them with your program’s expectations.
Craft an eye-catching personal statement. For most residency programs, the personal
statement is a key factor in their choice of candidates. It’s important to demonstrate
reflection in your personal statement and write concisely. You’ll have to write a
separate residency personal statement for each specialty you apply to, but not for each program,
so it's important to adhere to any word or character count stated in the program-specific
instructions. Let’s examine some of the things you should keep in mind when preparing your
personal statement for each program. IMGs looking to match in Canada and the
United States can find helpful information in program directories. First, be sure to study the
description of the program you’re applying to as it will give you some clues as to what you should
emphasize in your personal statement. Read between the lines – the description may give direct or
indirect indications as to what this program likes to see in their residency candidates.
Does the program stress public service or research? Does it seem to highlight specific
qualities like interpersonal skills, or academic prowess? Perhaps the description questions
candidates’ level of commitment, ability to handle pressure, and communication skills?
Decide accordingly what the main message of this description is and what kind of impression
you want to make. Create a strong connection between your candidacy and the program.
Next, your statement needs to answer why you want to pursue a particular specialty.
Remember, your personal statement is not a recitation of your CV,
instead, it's an opportunity to discuss who you are as a person,
how your experiences have led you to apply, and why you are a suitable candidate for the position.
You'll need a strong, unique introduction, evidence filled body paragraphs, and a conclusion
that ties everything together and leaves program directors wanting to learn more about you.
Finally, your personal statement should be free from grammatical errors and
spelling mistakes and should be reviewed, ideally by a professional, multiple times,
in order to get it just right. Have a look at successful residency personal statement examples
to help you craft your own effective essay. IMG Friendly Residency Programs
According to the most recent NRMP Main Residency Match, the following are the
most IMG friendly residency programs: Pathology with IMG Success rate of 42.7%
Internal Medicine with Success rate of 26% Neurology with Success rate of 24.8%
Pediatrics with Success rate of 15.7% Family Medicine with Success rate of 10%
Radiology-Diagnostic with IMG Success rate of 9.9%
Psychiatry with IMG Success rate of 7.4% Anesthesiology with IMG Success rate of 5.9%
Obstetrics/Gynecology with Success rate of 3.8%
Emergency Medicine with IMG Success rate of 1.6%
Check out our blog to learn more about matching your dream residency as an IMG. I have included
a link in the description of this video so you can find the blog easily. If you would like us to
help you with your residency application, visit bemoresidencyapplication.com to schedule your
free initial consultation. Hopefully you enjoyed the video so please subscribe, like and leave a
comment. If you have any questions about matching as an IMG that I didn’t cover in this video,
let me know in the comment section and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Don’t forget that
we're giving away $50 Amazon gift cards every week to best comments and questions - comment
below for a chance to win. Thanks so much for watching this video, see you next time.