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In the United States, medical study generally
follows completion of a bachelor's degree. Admission to medical
study is very competitive. Less than half of U.S. citizen
applicants are accepted to medical school, and typically less
than 3 percent of international applicants are accepted. In
one recent year only 155 of the 16,221 students who entered
medical school were foreign nationals, and most of them were
individuals who had completed their undergraduate education
in the United States. Because medical schools, particularly
public medical schools, are funded largely by taxes raised
in the states where they are located, admissions preference
is usually given to residents of that state. Some state-supported
schools will consider only U.S. citizens and permanent residents
for admission.
First Professional Degree
Medical students study four years for the medical doctorate
(M.D.) degree. It is the basic medical degree in the United
States, and the standards to achieve an M.D. as well to be
accepted into an M.D. program are very high.
Postgraduate Training
Many students who achieve the M.D. degree in their home country
choose to continue their medical education in the United States
at the postgraduate level.
Obtaining ECFMG Certification
International students wishing to do their residency in the
United States must pass a certification program administered
by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
(ECFMG).
Locating a Residency
ECFMG certification does not guarantee placement in a residency.
Residencies are competitive and standards are high. Students
looking into finding a residency inside the United States
should consult the information in this section.
Some Alternatives Not
Requiring ECFMG Certification
There are programs that do not require ECFMG certification,
many of which focus on graduate academic education or short-term
study. Students wondering about medical education in the United
States that does not require ECFMG certification should consult
this section.
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