Can you apply or a residency program straight from med school?

[Elvis]

..assuming you've sat USMLE steps 1 & 2?

Second question: If you complete the program to become an attending physiscian, can you return to work in the UK at the same level or do you need to sit membership exams or PLAB or what?

All advice gratefully received.

[Simon]

I think you can apply for a US residency straight out of UK med school with USMLE 1 and 2.

However, you are not registered with the General Medical Council in the UK until you've finished your F1 year. And this, as you know, is part of a two-year contract. So, you would NOT be able to come back and work in the UK as a consultant, for example, even if you've become an attending (the equivalent) in the States. If anything, you would have to come back and do an F1/2 job to become GMC registered. Not sure if you'd also have to sit PLAB and college exams.

Also, I don't know how each of the colleges view US residency training. For example, it's 3 year residency to become an EM attending in the States; here it would take 7-8 years after graduation. The college of A&E medicine requires that you have worked at leats 6 years as an EM attending before you can apply for equivalent level posts in the UK (plus PLAB if you're foreign, F1/2 years etc.)

BUT THIS IS ALL CHANGING WITH MMC! So take it with a pinch of salt.