Question:
What do I have to do to become a doctor in USA?
Jake
2013-08-11 03:56:27 UTC
Hi! I'm a 16 year old boy from Finland and my dream is to become a neurosurgeon in America. My father is from Sweden and in my family we always speak English, so language is not a problem. My question is, should I study medicine in Finland and then move to the states to become a doctor and if so, how long does it take me to get a doctors license in America. One option is also that immediately after high school I would leave to America but I have heard that that is quite difficult. What would be the best order to do things and do I even stand a chance?
Four answers:
rafferty
2013-08-11 03:58:55 UTC
The education will be much more expensive in the US than in Finland. I would do my studies in Finland, then come to the US and take (and pass) the medical boards.
ibu guru
2013-08-11 06:41:23 UTC
US actually has no need of foreign doctors. If you become internationally renowned neurosurgeon, develop some new techniques/therapies, etc, then a university medical school might invite you to come to the US.



Otherwise, it's long, hard slog - and extremely expensive. US medical education is called "The Million Dollar Education" for just cause. You would need to complete a standard premed program at the top of your class at a prestigious university, then get admitted to one of the few US medical schools which will admit foreign students. You have to prove you have sufficient funds for all 4 years of med school + living expenses even to apply to med school these days as they will not waste their time & money to consider any foreign application for someone who cannot afford it. NO financial aid! Costs are fierce. Friends are paying over $125,000 a year for their son's med school, housing, car, and everything.



Lots of highly qualified Americans cannot get into US med schools. And there are more US med school grads than hospital residencies. Hard to get anyone to spend the vast time, money & hassle of getting you a visa for residency unless you are a superstar.



Americans have great distrust of foreign trained doctors, dentists, etc. US requires MD degree (as do Canada & now Australia). You'd have to pass USMLE, and of the few who ever make it to Phase 3 of the exam, barely half pass.



So it's extremely difficult & extremely expensive. How good are you? And how determined?
StephenWeinstein
2013-08-11 14:56:30 UTC
If you only know English, Finnish, and Swedish, then language is a problem. The U.S. needs more doctors who speak Spanish. The U.S. already has more English speaking doctors than it needs.



Anyway, getting a license will not be enough. That will only allow you to practice medicine for free. You still won't be allowed to do any work in the U.S., for money, because U.S. law restricts most paying jobs to U.S. citizens and certain other groups. It is almost impossible for anyone from the EU to qualify to be allowed to work for money in the U.S.
anonymous
2013-08-11 07:53:56 UTC
you would need $200k for schooling

http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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