International medical school graduates (IMGs) seeking to obtain medical licenses in Kentucky often face challenges that US-educated applicants might not face. Although it's important for the state's medical licensing board to ensure licensed physicians are qualified to provide safe and effective care, these challenges can prevent dedicated medical professionals from serving patients.
Don't let IMG licensing issues prevent your career from thriving. At the Lento Law Firm, our Professional License Defense Team is available to help an IMG like you navigate the complexities of getting licensed in Kentucky. Learn more about how we can help by submitting your information through our online contact form today or by calling our offices at 888-535-3686.
Who Provides Medical Licenses for IMGs in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML) offers the following types of medical licenses to medical professionals in the state:
- Regular License
- Temporary Permit
- Institutional Practice Limited License
- Residency Training License
- Faculty License
- Fellowship Training License
The KBML is thus also responsible for licensing IMGs in Kentucky. If you're navigating licensing difficulties as an IMG, our attorneys at the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can help. For instance, depending on the type of license from the above list that you're applying for, we can assist you with gathering the documentation necessary to show you meet the requirements.
General Requirements to Apply for a Medical License in Kentucky
Per the KBML, the following requirements apply to all applicants seeking medical licenses in Kentucky:
- Graduating from a medical school, the Board approves of
- Completing at least two years of postgraduate residency training approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the National Joint Committee on Accreditation of Pre-registration Physician Training Programs
- Providing proof of having passed a Board-approved examination (such as USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3), having received a passing score in all sections/components of the test within four tries
- Being in good standing with the state that provided their original medical license, if applicable
- Being able to speak, read, and write in English
Although these requirements apply to all medical license applicants in Kentucky, our IMG issues lawyers at the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can still help if you run into any trouble having to do with the above.
Requirements for Getting Licensed in Kentucky When You're an IMG
The KBML requires IMGs to meet additional requirements in Kentucky. Specifically, an IMG must:
- Have a permanent Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification, or be a diplomat of a Board-approved American specialty board
- Show that the medical school from which they graduated is listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) directory of medical schools.
If someone graduated from a medical school outside the US or Canada, the Board will evaluate the school to ensure it meets the Board's standards. Attorneys with the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can help if you're struggling to show why the medical school from which you graduated is a valid one that provides a quality education.
Licensing Issues an IMG May Face in Kentucky
Licensing issues you may face as an IMG seeking a medical license in Kentucky include (but aren't necessarily limited to) the following:
- Medical school evaluations: Again, depending on where you studied medicine, the KBML may need to evaluate your medical school before issuing a license. Problems might arise if the Board questions whether your medical school provided an education that qualifies you to practice medicine in the US. Our lawyers could theoretically expedite the approval process by gathering documentation and evidence showing your medical school lives up to the Board's standards.
- Documentation issues: Not all medical schools document student progress the same. This becomes particularly apparent when you cross international borders. Depending on where you attended medical school, you may not have immediate access to the documentation necessary to show you fulfilled various educational and training requirements. Gathering the documentation you need to show you're eligible for a medical license in Kentucky is another way our team can assist you.
- Bias: Research indicates that IMGs may face difficulties resulting from bias (whether conscious or unconscious) that their US-educated counterparts might not face. For example, IMGs appear to report experiencing discrimination to a greater extent than medical license applicants born and educated in the US. Additionally, they may face difficulties due to cultural misunderstandings and miscommunication. If any of these issues prevent you from obtaining a medical license you deserve, our team can help.
- Proving you are in good standing: Remember, if you already received a medical license in another state, the KBML will want to confirm you remain in good standing in that state before issuing a license in Kentucky. Similarly, if you were issued a medical license in another country, the KBML may want to confirm there are no licensing issues or anything similar in your background in that country. Proving you're in good standing in your home country may require gathering additional documentation. If there are any issues in your background that might raise “red flags,” you may have to address these as well. These are also examples of the types of issues our Professional License Defense Team can help you navigate.
- Delays: Delays can arise for various reasons throughout the licensing process. For example, perhaps the Board determines it needs additional forms of documentation before it can justify issuing a license. Although some delays are understandable, if it appears the Board is unreasonably delaying your application for no legitimate reason, we can prompt the Board to complete the process. As always, if the Board requests additional documentation or material, we can help you gather said material and documentation.
These are just some of the types of problems our IMG clients face when seeking to obtain medical licenses in Kentucky. They may not mirror your situation directly.
Don't worry if that's the case. Our Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm may still be able to assist you. Get in touch today to discuss your case and find out how we may help.
What to Do When Facing Licensing Issues as an IMG in Kentucky
According to research linked to in the previous section of this guide, it's relatively common for an IMG to experience greater stress than medical school graduates educated in the US may experience. This is partially due to the natural challenges someone may face when acclimating themselves to a new country and culture.
However, the stress you already experience could become even greater if you learn about a licensing issue. While the exact steps you should take in this scenario may depend somewhat on the nature of the issue, knowing the proper way to respond in this situation can help you navigate it with greater confidence.
Has the KBML alerted you to an issue with your medical license application? Take the following steps if so:
- Review the information you receive thoroughly: The KBML theoretically provided you with information explaining the nature of the issue. This information may also explain what you need to do (such as supplying the Board with additional documentation) to address the matter. Review all information the Board provides carefully and thoroughly to ensure you understand the cause of the problem and what's required of you.
- Confirm your credentials and documentation: Recheck all the credentials and documentation you originally provided the Board with when first submitting your application. It's possible a delay has resulted from a minor error that you could address by resubmitting the corrected documentation or forms.
- Get in touch with the KBML: You have to be careful when contacting the Board directly. Depending on the nature of the issue, it may be wiser to let your attorneys handle all correspondence with the Board. For example, if the issue is due to an alleged professional misconduct incident in your home country, you could accidentally make the wrong impression on the Board by getting in touch in an attempt to defend yourself. Your emotions could prevent you from presenting your case reasonably. However, if you're merely struggling to understand the nature of the issue that's causing a delay, reaching out to the Board for clarification is acceptable.
- Preserve documentation: Save copies of any documentation you receive from the Board related to your case. Save copies of any other documentation that might also be relevant, such as any documentation the Board has received from you. You should also save copies of correspondence, although, again, as your case moves forward, your lawyers may primarily handle such correspondence anyway.
Don't delay in contacting a lawyer when you're facing licensing issues as an IMG in Kentucky. You've worked hard to pursue a career in which you have the opportunity to genuinely help people. As an IMG, you're part of a valuable group that represents approximately 25% of practicing and training physicians in the US. We need dedicated physicians like you to keep us safe and healthy.
Licensing issues can prevent you from serving patients as you intend. Luckily, a licensing problem doesn't need to permanently stand between you and your career. If you're facing such issues in Kentucky, our Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help.
What NOT to Do When Facing IMG Licensing Issues in Kentucky
The stress of learning your license has been delayed due to an issue could also cause you to make errors that might negatively influence the Board's decision to issue a license. Examples of what NOT to do when facing these types of challenges include:
- Posting about the case on social media or discussing it with colleagues, as anything you say or post could make its way to the Board
- Attempting to address the issue fast without understanding the nature of it
- Lying when questioned
It's true you should never lie when the Board questions you about a matter affecting your license. That doesn't mean you should openly answer all questions the Board asks right away, though.
Consider approaching this situation with the same mentality you would have if you were facing criminal charges. If you were charged with a crime, you would likely hire a lawyer and allow them to represent you during questioning.
The same attitude will benefit you now. If the Board is delaying your license for any reason, letting lawyers with our Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm answer questions on your behalf is often much wiser than fielding questions from the Board yourself.
IMG Issues in Kentucky: Get Help from Professional License Defense Attorneys
The specific ways attorneys can help you when facing licensing issues as an IMG in Kentucky will depend at least in part on the specific nature of those issues. Generally, though, our team can assist you by:
- Reviewing any information the Board has provided to help you more thoroughly understand the nature of an issue
- Preparing you for meetings/hearings with the Board and providing representation during said meetings/hearings
- Identifying instances when bias, cultural misunderstandings, or other such issues may be preventing you from obtaining a license
- Addressing unreasonable delays in the licensing process
- Helping you gather all documentation necessary to show you're eligible to receive a medical license in the State of Kentucky
- Explaining past issues from your home country (like alleged misconduct incidents) if they shouldn't have a bearing on whether you receive a medical license in the US
Be aware that we can also offer help at virtually any stage of the process. If you haven't even submitted a license application yet but you anticipate issues arising, we can help you mitigate them during the early stages. If you've already applied for a license, but the KBML has informed you of a problem you must address before it will issue one, you can hire us now.
The best way to learn more about what the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can do for you is to contact us to speak about your case. If you're an IMG facing licensing issues in Kentucky, get in touch via our online contact form or call us at 888-535-3686 today.
