International medical school graduates are one of the best assets that the United States has. Not only do they provide culturally diverse care, but they also typically take up positions that other American physicians make look down upon. Unfortunately, they are an extremely underutilized asset. For most international medical school graduates, especially those who have no ties to America, getting a medical license in the U.S. is incredibly difficult, forcing many of them to work elsewhere. This is especially true when these graduates hope to obtain a medical license in a particular state.
Attempting to get a New Hampshire medical license after attending an international medical school can be incredibly overwhelming. Medical school graduates who attended a U.S. based school and then matched with a New Hampshire based hospital for their residency will be placed on an easier track to licensure than international medical students or immigrating physicians. However, there is still a path to receiving your medical license in New Hampshire. Working with a skilled professional defense attorney who understands these issues will make the entire process a lot more manageable.
If you or someone you know is working towards getting their medical license in New Hampshire, the Lento Law Firm can help. Call our offices today at 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.
Licensing Requirements for International Medical School Graduates in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is home to just over 1.4 million individuals, all of which who will need comprehensive medical care at one point in their lives. Of these 1.4 million people, about 2,300 are active physicians in several different specialties. Yet only about 18.5% of these active physicians were international medical school graduates in 2020.
While getting a medical license in New Hampshire as an international medical school graduate can seem impossible, there are several paths to achieving it. To be eligible for a medical license in New Hampshire, an applicant must have:
- Completed at least two years of pre-medical college coursework before going to medical school.
- Graduated from a U.S. or Canadian medical school that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, or graduated from an international medical school that is recognized by the United Nations World Health Organization (UNWHO) and who's studies have been confirmed by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
- Completed two years of post-graduate training in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, American Osteopathic Accreditation, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or its equivalent, which includes a minimum of a:
- Board certification, or
- Completion of 10 or more years of practice combined with two or more years of post-graduate training done outside of the U.S. or Canada.
Additionally, all applicants must have passed on of the exams listed below:
- USMLE Step 1, Step 2, Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills, and Step 3,
- National Board of Medical Examiners, parts I, II, and III,
- FLEX components 1 and 2,
- National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, parts I, II, and III, or
- Medical Council of Canada Examination.
One of these exams must have been passed within three attempts. If a medical school graduate fails to pass them after three attempts, they will have to repeat the entire examination sequence to qualify for a medical license in New Hampshire. However, this requirement can be waived if the graduate is board certified.
Other requirements for licensure in New Hampshire include:
- Presenting verification of any other state licenses the applicant has held.
- Four letters of reference from practicing physicians.
- A list of all of their professional activities, including the dates since they graduated from medical school.
- A passport sized photo of their full face.
- $300 application fee.
- A background check by the Federation Credentials Verification Service.
- Any disciplinary actions or adverse actions taken against the applicant in the past should be explained in the application.
The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Board of Medicine Physician Licensure Requirements goes on to state that individuals who graduated from an international medical school can apply for licensure if:
- they are enrolled in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited training program under the direct guidance of a New Hampshire licensed physician who is also a medical officer of the training program and
- they have passed USMLE Steps 1 and Steps 2 (both the Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills exams).
These graduates must have also their program director the director of Graduate Medical Education certify their application for licensure or get a letter from them certifying their status as a member of the training program.
As such, for an international medical school graduate to receive a medical license in New Hampshire, they must be enrolled in a residency in New Hampshire. However, qualifying for, and being matched with, a New Hampshire based residency is difficult.
IMG Residency Requirements for U.S. Hospitals
Unfortunately, many international medical graduates who apply for residency programs in the U.S. have significantly lower chances of being matched than those who graduate from a U.S. based medical school. Where the average match rate for graduates of American medical schools is 94%, the average residency match rate for international medical school graduates is 57%.
To try to combat this disparity, the American Medical Association (AMA) suggests that international graduates take part in an observership rotation in the U.S. before applying to a residency program. An observership allows the graduate to familiarize themselves with the U.S.'s style of clinical practice settings and network with physicians who can be used as a reference for their residency application. They also encourage international medical school graduates to submit at least 25 applications to different programs around the country to have the best chance of being matched.
There are some international medical schools that maintain relationships with many U.S.-based hospitals and, therefore, have a higher rate of residency matching than other international schools. For instance, Ross University School of Medicine, located in Barbados, has connections with five distinct U.S. communities, including:
- California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, California
- Center for Haitian Studies in Miami, Florida
- Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago, Illinois
- Trinity Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan
- St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Queens, New York.
When a Ross University School of Medicine student lives within a particular radius of the hospitals listed above, they can apply to the school's Return Home program. Admission to this program, which allows students to complete their core clinical rotations and elective clinical rotations at one of these hospitals, gives these students a chance to not only change their community but create relationships with local physicians that can better help their chances of matching with a residency in that state.
If an international medical student is unable to secure a U.S.-based residency, particularly a New Hampshire-based residency, it will be that much harder for them to get their medical license in New Hampshire.
Licensing Problems for International Medical School Graduates in New Hampshire
International medical school graduates can face a whole host of problems when attempting to obtain their medical licenses in New Hampshire. Firstly, as we explained above, the main requirement of getting a New Hampshire medical license for international medical students is completing a residency in New Hampshire.
However, before they can even apply for a residency program, they must apply for visa. Then, even if they are matched with a residency program in New Hampshire, they may not get the required visa to take part in a U.S. based residency. Working with an experienced attorney during this process ensures your documentation and visa application are filled out and filed properly, helping you avoid common mistakes that will get your application denied. If your visa application is denied prior to contacting the Lento Law Firm, the Professional License Defense Team will be able to help you navigate the visa appeals process.
Moreover, if they can get a visa and be matched with a residency program in New Hampshire, they could face cultural or language barriers. Trying to complete a residency in New Hampshire can be tough for any non-native American but adding in the complexity of English not being your first language, you're your residency may not go as expected. Being able to take proper care of patients, notify them of their conditions and treatment plan, and engage with their support system and other physician's is an important aspect of ensuring your medical license is not revoked or restricted later on.
Furthermore, international medical graduates can experience microaggressions, discrimination, and stigmatizations that can negatively impact their residency training, as well as their mental and emotional health.
While these issues may seem unrelated, they are extremely interconnected and can affect international medical graduates in different ways, preventing them from successfully completing their residency and obtaining a New Hampshire medical license. To ensure you are well prepared for the problems that could crop up when trying to get your medical license in New Hampshire, you will want the help of the experience the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team.
Where the Lento Law Firm Can Help in New Hampshire
The Lento Law Firm has helped students and physicians all over the country navigate the complexities of the medical field, including international medical students trying to get their medical license in New Hampshire. They have worked with individuals in:
- Manchester
- Dover
- Keene
- Londonderry
- Nashua
- Laconia
- Salem
- Goffstown
- Concord
- New Boston
- Franklin
- Clarksville
- Errol
- Shelburne
- Albany
- Conway
- Madison
- Tuftonboro
- Wolfeboro
- Orford
- Canaan
- Enfield
- Swanzey
- Marlborough
- Richmond
- Hollis
- Weare
How the Lento Law Firm Can Help
While attending an international medical school can be a good choice for some students, it offers significant challenges for most graduates. When trying to get your medical license in New Hampshire, you must complete a residency in New Hampshire before applying. However, international medical school graduates have a much harder time matching for residency programs in the U.S. than U.S.-based graduates or even international medical school graduates who are U.S. citizens.
Additionally, if an international medical school graduate is unable to obtain a residency match in New Hampshire, or unable to obtain a visa to attend their residency in New Hampshire, it limits their chances of obtaining a medical license in New Hampshire. This is true even if they completed their residency in another U.S. state. The only other way to get a medical license in New Hampshire is to have completed a board certification and ten or more years of practice with two or more years of post-graduate training done outside of the U.S. or Canada.
As such, trying to gain your medical license in New Hampshire is not as quick a process as other U.S. based medical school graduates might have. Therefore, you need to maximize whatever chances you have, and working with a skilled professional license defense attorney is the best way to do this.
The competent Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm understands how confusing the medical licensing process can be in New Hampshire. They will do their best to ensure you understand each step of the process and are aware of everything that could be at stake. Call our offices today at 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.
