The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a number of flaws in the United States healthcare industry over the past few years. Many facilities were not prepared for the sudden influx of ill patients, finding that there was a lack of space, a lack of beds, and even a lack of medical professionals themselves. As such, doctors have been in hot demand across the country. It would stand to reason that in these trying times, healthcare facilities would grasp at any option to bring qualified physicians into the workforce — including those who were trained internationally. However, a new study has found that a majority of foreign-trained doctors are finding the country's licensing process to be so tricky to navigate that they end up settling for lower-paying jobs for which they are overqualified. 

If you are an immigrant or refugee doctor having a tough time getting your physician's license in America, the Lento Law Firm is here to help. Our Professional License Defense Team assists clients across the country as they fight to gain and retain their professional licenses. Chat with us today by calling 888-535-3686 or leave your information via our contact form. 

The Recent Study 

According to a January study conducted by Upwardly Global, a non-profit focusing on professional career services for immigrants and refugees, international medical graduates (IMGs) are having a very difficult time getting their physician's license after immigrating to the United States. In an 18-year time period, 85 percent of IMGs found employment, but only 33 percent became medical residents or doctors. 

These are troubling numbers, and they point to a larger problem with the medical licensing process: an unwillingness to look beyond a candidate's surface-level metrics and achievements. American licensing boards see large gaps between a person's schooling and their license application and assume there is a problem with the candidate. In reality, they have been working as a physician the entire time, albeit in a location or setting the board doesn't dig deep enough to recognize. 

This is patently unfair to foreign-trained doctors who have worked hard their whole lives only to have their chosen careers ripped from their hands when they immigrate. Luckily, some states — such as Alabama, Tennessee, and Washington — have instituted new policies that allow IMGs to practice medicine more easily by waiving residency requirements or issuing temporary licenses. For more information regarding your state's specific licensing practices, see our comprehensive webpage.  

The Lento Law Firm Helps IMGs 

As an IMG attempting to secure a physician's license, having a qualified legal team is a must. Oftentimes, the IMGs that licensing boards deny are more qualified than the American-trained ones boards approve; the only difference is that the resumes of IMGs require the board to have an understanding of foreign training practices — which many, unfortunately, do not.  

The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team has years of experience dealing with state medical licensing boards. Our attorneys can lay out your qualifications in a way that will help the board better understand the strengths you bring to the profession. For a consultation, contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or by filling out our online form.