UC Davis Health System - Department of Neurological Surgery - International Medical Graduates (IMG)

Requirements For Acceptance of International Medical Graduates To UC Davis School of Medicine For Postgraduate Training.

I. Foreign Nationals – Graduate of International Medical Schools

Visa – A J-1 visa is required for admission to the UC Davis School of Medicine residency and fellowship training programs. The visa can only be sponsored by Educational Comission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) which requires passage of United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Steps 1 and 2.

NOTE: University of California, Davis School of Medicine follows the Association of American Medical Colleges guidelines regarding H-1B sponsorship and does not support the H-1B visa for international medical graduates.
ECFMG Certificate – IMG must have a current, valid ECFMG certificate in order to be eligible for postgraduate training. To obtain an ECFMG certificate, IMG must meet the following examination and medical education credential requirements.
1. Pass Step 1 and Step 2 of USMLE. Step 2 exam has two separate administered components, the Clinical Knowledge component and the Clinical Skills component;
2. Pass the English exam; and,
3. Meet all educational requirements as specified by ECFMG.
IMG must furnish a current "Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter" from the Medical Board of California (MBC) when submitting an application for postgraduate training. Applications will not be considered nor interviews granted without this document.

Permanent resident, refugee or asylee must provide proof of resident alien status and have the legal right to work in the United States.
ECFMG Certificate – IMG must provide a copy of a current, valid ECFMG certificate regardless of citizenship.
IMG with pending applications for Permanent Residency will sometimes qualify for a Employment Authorization Document (EAD). A copy of the EAD must be submitted along with a copy of the receipt for filing the I-485 (Application to Change Status to Permanent Resident).

Non-U.S. citizens, who graduate from a U.S. medical school, sponsored by an F-1 student visa, are not required to meet ECFMG requirements.
Non-U.S. citizens, who graduate from a U.S. medical school are not considered IMG and therefore can be sponsored by an H-1B visa.
The F-1 student visa is not permitted for postgraduate training in the UC Davis School of Medicine and must be converted to a one-year EAD before the start of training. This permit will cover the resident while waiting for the issuance of the H-1B visa.

Graduates of Canadian medical schools, who are not permanent residents of the U.S. are eligible for an H-1B visa sponsorship issued through the UCD Office of Services for International Students and Scholars.

NOTE: USMLE exam Steps 1, 2, and 3 are required for the H visa. US Citizenship and Immigration Services will not accept the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) and the residents must obtain a U.S. Social Security Card.
ECFMG certificate and English test are not required.
The MBC considers Medical education in Canada to be equivalent to U.S. medical education. Some Canadian internships are also accepted by the MBC as meeting the 12-month hospital service requirement for licensure.

The following examinations are currently acceptable for licensing purposes in California.
USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3
MCCQE Parts 1 and 2, (formally the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada).
Two years of approved postgraduate training in any state in the U.S. If training is not in Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN or Psychiatry, IMG must have 4-months of approved general medicine postgraduate training.
Fifth Pathway trainees will be expected to present a letter from the MBC stating that medical school training meets the requirements for licensure in California. The MBC will provide these letters after a completed application to the Medical Board has been reviewed and evaluated.

These requirements are subject to change without notice.