In the US medical degrees are only available at post-graduate level. Unlinke many other countries like UK and India , US follow a different curriculum for obtaining a medical degree and license to practice. They have a Pre-Med (four years of Undergraduate programme), MD programme (Four years) and USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, 2 & 3), after completing all – a student is conferred with a license to practice medicine in the US.
So before you can apply to medical school in the US , you need to complete at-least three to four years of ‘pre-med’ undergraduate study. Here we explain the process a medical student has to go through to get into residency in USA.
During the undergraduate ‘pre-med’ course all students preparing for medical school are required to take courses in biology, chemistry, physics and English. Students are usually required to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) to gain entrance to the medical college.
After clearing the MCAT, once you’ve secured a place at medical school, students are required to study for a further four years to gain either a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or Doctor of Medicine (MD).
After choosing your area of study, you’ll then be required to complete a residency training program, which could last anywhere between three and eight years depending on your field of specialization.
Before starting the practice, you’ll have to clear the qualifying exams are called USMLEs – United States Medical Licensing Examinations. There are four exams in total – Step 1, Step2 CK, Step 2 CS and Step 3.
USMLE Step 1 – This exam is written after your third year. Step 1 exam is centered around the subjects learned during the first three years of medical school.
Now will be the time to get US clinical experience (USCE), which includes electives, internship, observer ship, research or volunteering. This stage is about gaining practical knowledge of the profession. The longer the duration of USCE, the better your chances will be.
USMLE Step 2 CK – CK stands for Clinical Knowledge. This exam is based on topics learnt in the fourth year.
USMLE Step 2 CS – CS stands for Clinical Skills. This exam tests your practical skills as a professional doctor, communication and manners. This exam can be taken only in the USA at five Clinical Skills Evaluation Centers (CSEC), located in: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
Once Step 2 exams are passed, you will be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and a certificate will be awarded to you. Now you are eligible for applying for residency.
Now is the Residency stage. You can write USMLE Step 3 either during residency or before that.
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY (AIM-U) is an institutional partner of Washington Medical Science institute and Government of Saint Lucia. AIM-U’s US Campus /Clinical Admin is centrally located at the Washington Adventist University and Hospital Campus, Takoma Park, Maryland, USA.
AIMU offers prerequisites and support programs at the above mentioned campus. AIM-U is one of the new generation medical schools, which offers residency focused on USMLE centred programs and a 4 Year accelerated MD program with high standards. This MD program is fully accredited and widely recognized in the USA
AIMU’s pre-medicals and clinical rotations are offered in both the campuses. Clinical Rotations are also offered though AIMU’s affiliate hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago, London, Ireland and in India for Electives.
Likewise at this Caribbean university, students can enjoy excellent education with higher acceptance rates and a reasonable tuition. The medical school features a program based on the US model and offers education using the latest technology and teaching methods. A major part of their curriculum includes extensive preparation for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
We also offer many opportunities for students to learn through experiences close to the actual practice. As early as their first semester, students will begin interacting with patients through supervised activities at local hospitals.
We have Partnerships and affiliations with various renowned institutions and organizations such as:
Washington Adventist University, USA
The Ministry of Health – Government of Saint Lucia
We are also widely listed and recognized by many organizations including:
ECFMG (listed with FAIMER’s IMED)
World Health Organization
Medical Council of India
Medical Council of Canada
After their basic science semesters at the St. Lucian Campus, students spend the remaining semesters in affiliate teaching hospitals located mainly in the US.
Upon completion of post-graduate residency training, graduates become eligible for a license in many countries including the United States and Canada