How to Get Medical Residency in US

The road to medical residency in the US is a pretty complex one. From pre-med requirements to USMLE exams, we break down all the essentials. Learn about the ECFMG certification process, residency programs, and how to build a strong application. Check out everything you must know before applying for medical residency in the USA.

American medical education system is very different from the Indian system. Unlike India, in the US medical degrees are only available at the post-graduate level. So before you can apply to medical school to study in the US, you need to complete at least three to four years of ‘pre-med’ undergraduate study. Here we explain the process a medical student has to go through to get into residency in the USA.

What is Medical Residency in USA?

Residency is an important part of the physician's training, after medical school. It is a period of supervised clinical training and a full-time job, indeed a very intensive one—60 to 80 hours per week—which provides physicians, also known as residents or trainees, with hands-on experience and increasing autonomy in delivering health care under the guidance of experienced attending physicians.

These programs are offered in various lengths ranging from three years to seven years, depending on the specialty pursued. They are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

What are the Steps to Get Medical Residency in USA?

In order to get a medical residency in USA, applicants will have to:

1. Qualify for a medical program in USA
2. Get a student visa to study medical courses in USA
3. Complete observership rotation in a clinical setting before applying for medical residency in USA
4. Choose any of the four medical residency programs from transitional, preliminary, categorical and primary care.
5. Register with register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) or ECFMG 
6. Apply for the residency program in USA.

Check: MBBS/MD in USA

All About ECFMG Certification in USA

The ECFMG is a certification process to deem whether IMGs are indeed ready to enter into U.S. residency or fellowship programs: Requirements for getting certified. IMGs who wish to be certified should qualify in the following:

• Have passed USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 CK exams.
• Have completed an ECFMG pathway.
• Passing Occupational English Test-Medicine (OET).
• Verify the legitimacy of their medical education credentials with their medical schools

Also, ECFMG certification is mandatory for IMGs who are interested in:

• Entering a US program of GME accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
• Applying for Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE)
• Obtaining an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States

What after ECFMG Certification?

After ECFMG certification, applicants can apply for US medical residency and they must:

• During the undergraduate ‘pre-med’ course all students preparing for medical school are required to take courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and English. Students are required to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) to gain entrance to the medical college.
• After clearing the MCAT, once you’ve secured a place at medical school, students are required to study for a further four years to gain either a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or Doctor of Medicine (DM).
• After choosing your area of study, you’ll then be required to complete a residency training program, which could last anywhere between three and eight years depending on your field of specialization. Before starting the practice, you’ll have to clear the qualifying exams are called USMLEs - United States Medical Licensing Examinations. There are four exams in total - Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS and Step 3. The first two can be taken in India but the last two can only be taken in the US.
• USMLE Step 1 – This exam is written after your third year. Step 1 exam is centred around the subjects learned during the first three years of medical school.
  • Now will be the time to get US clinical experience (USE), which includes electives, internships, observership, research or volunteering. This stage is about gaining practical knowledge of the profession. The longer the duration of USE, the better your chances will be.
• USMLE Step 2 CK - CK stands for Clinical Knowledge. This exam is based on topics learned in the fourth year.
• USMLE Step 2 CS - CS stands for Clinical Skills. This exam tests your practical skills as a professional doctor, communication and manners. This exam can be taken only in the USA at five Clinical Skills Evaluation Centers (CSEC), located in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.
  • Once Step 2 exams are passed, you will be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and a certificate will be awarded to you. Now you are eligible to apply for residency.
• Now is the Residency stage. You can write USMLE Step 3 either during residency or before that.

It’s likely that even after this you will continue to pursue further training in your field, through training programs known as fellowships or you can practice what you have learned. There are many who go for fellowships and many others who join the hospitals.

Similar articles:

• Introduction to Medical Studies in the US
• Introduction to 'What and How' of Medical studies and Admissions in the US

How to Prepare Medical Residency Application in USA?

Applicants applying for medical residency in USA, can follow these steps to prepare a perfect application for medical residency in USA:

1. Prepare the original application, free of errors or grammatical errors.
2. Ensure to highlight your achievements, skills, qualities, volunteering experience and test scores in your CV.
3. Try to get hands-on experience in any US healthcare facility to get a strong letter of recommendation.
4. Also draft your statement of purpose based on your goals, expectations and strong candidature for obtaining medical residency in USA.
5. Applicants should be prepared about their student visa status in case they are non-US citizens.

Thus, embarking on your journey to a US medical residency is a significant step. By understanding the key stages, including pre-med education, USMLE exams, ECFMG certification, and residency programs, you can increase your chances of success. Remember, dedication, perseverance, and strong academic performance are crucial for a successful medical career in the United States.

If you are looking at admissions to US universities, you can sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling and get expert guidance.