Dr in Uk moving to US

**golaiya1** · 24-01-2007, 04:32 PM

hi i'm about to start a medicine degree in the uk and trying to see routes in the future. How easy and more importantly what do you have to do if you are a doctor in england and want to start practicing in the us.

All answers welcome thanks.

**munkeey** · 24-01-2007, 08:20 PM

The main thing is that you need to sit the USMLE exams. Step 1 is usually after first 2 or 3 years of med school and is on medical sciences e.g. anatomy, pharmacology, physiology etc.

Step 2 is usually sat after graduting from medical school and Step 3 when you start working. Step 3 definitely has to be sat in the USA - not sure about the other two.

If you're going for a mildly competitive specialty in the US, you'd need very good Step scores and at least a few publications and probably at least an elective at a US hospital. Obviously, US graduates are going to be more likely to get the more competitive jobs so you need these things if you don't want to be sidelined to family practice (unless that's what you want to do which of course makes things easier).

**Scottish Chap** · 28-01-2007, 03:56 AM

Originally Posted by golaiya1

hi i'm about to start a medicine degree in the uk and trying to see routes in the future. How easy and more importantly what do you have to do if you are a doctor in england and want to start practicing in the us.

All answers welcome thanks.

Step 1 and Step 2 (written component) can be taken in the U.K. by computer. However, you will need to come to the U.S. for the clinical component of Step 2. I would take Step 1 no earlier than the end of year 3 in a British medical school because you will not have covered all of the basic sciences before that. I would also highly recommend getting your hands on board review books (from Kaplan, BRS, etc.) because a lot of the details in the basic sciences are not taught in the U.K. and it's best to become comfortable with the exam format. Good luck!