Foreign Medical School Graduates Get US Medical License
Many times a foreign medical school graduate will want to obtain a medical license in one or more US States. Whether or not they ever plan to practice here, it is always a good idea to have the option. A Social Security Number is required in order to work in the United States but it is not always required to obtain a medical license. Some state medical boards require it and some states don’t.
Same is true for Citizenship or Alien Status. Some states require you to be a Citizen or have a Green Card or a Work Visa but many states will allow you to get a medical license without any sort of authorization to work in the US. Those states consider licensure and employment to be two separate issues.
States Without Citizenship or Social Security Number Requirements
The following states DO NOT require you to be a United States Citizen or to be lawfully permitted to work in the US. They also do not require you to have a United States Social Security Number. These states are good choices for foreign medical school graduates who otherwise qualify for a medical license but do not hold a US SSN or US Citizenship. Foreign doctors who take the USMLE’s and the ECFMG and do their postgraduate training in Canada may find themselves in just such a situation.
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois (must have SSN by renewal date, July 31 every three years. The next renewal date is July 31, 2011)
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Texas
- Wisconsin
States with Social Security Requirements
The following state medical boards require you to have a United States Social Security Number but have no citizenship requirements. Go to the United States Social Security Administration website for more information about obtaining a US SSN.
- California
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wyoming
Obtaining a Social Security Number is part of becoming a Citizen or an Alien who is lawfully permitted to work in the US so all other states require both Citizenship or Alien status and a US Social Security Number.
