Close Window
ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT ACGME Institutional Requirements state that accredited programs may only select applicants who are graduates of: 1. medical schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) OR 2. colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) OR 3. medical schools outside the United States and Canada and who have: 3.1. received a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates prior to appointment OR 3.2. a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a US licensing jurisdiction in which they are in training OR 4. medical schools outside the United States who have completed a Fifth Pathway* program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school. www.acgme.org/acWebsithttp://e/irc/irc_IRCpr703.asp Please refer to the Bylaws of the Professional/Medical Staff for Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital for more information Documents you will need to provide include, but are not limited to: 1. three (3) letters of recommendation 2. a copy of your medical school transcript/diploma 3. a completed Initial Credentialing Application 4. a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form www.is.partners.org/registrar/Forms/Default.htm 5. an application for a limited (or full) Massachusetts license www.massmedboard.org/regs/ Foreign nationals/international medical graduates must have: 1. a valid visa appropriate to the level of training www.unitedstatesvisas.gov 2. a valid ECFMG certificate (if applicable) www.ecfmg.org/cert/certfact.html 3. passing scores on USMLE steps 1 and 2, or equivalent www.usmle.org VISA OPTIONS FOR CLINICAL TRAINEES F-1 Visa: Students ("plus one year" GME) Foreign nationals holding an F-1 visa who have graduated from a U.S. medical school are eligible for one year of practical training on the F-1 visa (often an internship year). Such employment must be an extension of their academic studies. Students obtain an employment authorization document (EAD) identification card with the dates of validity inscribed. A change of visa status will be needed to continue employment (i.e., residency/fellowship training) beyond the expiration date on the EAD. Often, students apply for H-1B visas for continued employment. There is no guarantee of visa issuance. J-1 Visa: Exchange Visitors Program (Clinical) The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is solely authorized by the United States Department of State (DOS) to sponsor foreign national physicians as exchange visitors (J-1s) in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training. Visa documents are issued by ECFMG to the incoming phsycian who applies directly at a US Consulate for entry permits. Exchange Visitors (J-1s) are eligible to stay for the length of time required for accreditation (or, with permission, the length of time required to complete a longer GME program), up to a maximum of seven years. Advancement is required each year in the approved program, and an annual renewal is required to ensure that all requirements are being met. Physicians are required to return home for at least 2 years following training. Foreign national physicians seeking ECFMG sponsorship must fulfill a number of requirements in order to be eligible for a J-1 visa, as listed here: http://ecfmg.org/evsp/j1fact.html · ECFMG Sponsorship The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) generally extends sponsorship to International Medical Graduates (IMGs) only if the trainee will be enrolled in a nationally accredited program. If you require additional years of training beyond accreditation, you will need to obtain formal approval of the “non-standard” training from the Partners Education Committee AND provide documents to support the trainee's visa application. These should be in place at least three months prior to the anticipated appointment date for the ECFMG trainee. Please contact Georgi Bland (gbland@partners.org) if you need an application for Partners approval of non-ACGME training years. For more information, please click here: http://www.ecfmg.org/ . H-1B Visa: Professionals in Specialty Occupations The H-1B is a temporary nonimmigrant visa defined as a “specialty occupation” visa, which permits professionals to work in the U.S. for three years, with a possible maximum stay of six years upon approved extension. The Immigration Act of 1990 opened the door for foreign physicians to perform clinical work via the H-1B visa. Eligibility relies upon successful completion of the following: 1. Graduates of International Medical Schools: USMLE Step I and Step II (to include CK and CSA exams), as well as Step III. a Massachusetts medical license (limited or full) AND a valid ECFMG Certificate (Canadian medical school graduates are exempt from the ECFMG certificate requirement) 2. Graduates of U.S. Medical Schools: Proof of graduation AND a Massachusetts medical license The H-1B application involves both the U.S. Department of Labor and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The Partners Office for International Staff, Scholars and Students (PIO) prepares the visa applications (after the applicant and the Program Director complete necessary forms and provide documentation). The program is responsible for paying filing fees associated with H1B visas. O-1: Alien of Extraordinary Ability An O-1 visa is reserved for those who can demonstrate that they have risen to the top of their field; therefore, extensive documentation must be submitted in support of an O-1 petition. Such documentation includes awards, publications, media mention and very strong letters of recommendation from persons prominent in the field. MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL LICENSURE According to M.G.L. c. 112, 9, the Board may issue a limited license to an international medical graduate who, among other qualifications, holds a standard certificate granted after an examination by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). Effective July 1, 1997, the Board of Registration in Medicine will only issue limited licenses to those international medical graduates who have obtained an ECFMG certificate by passing United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Steps 1 and 2. In addition, FULL licensure requires USMLE Step 3 and two years of U.S. clinical training. TRAINEE CONTRACT AND BENEFITS Matriculants will be asked to sign a contract ("Graduate Trainee Benefits and Responsibilities") before or upon arrival for a term of one year. The current "template" of the contract and policies that will be attached to it can be found on the GME website: www.partners.org/research/gme/research_gme_trainee.html USMLE COMPLETION FOR RESIDENTS Applicability: Residents and Clinical Fellows (physician trainees) offered their position on or after July 2005. Documentation of successful completion of USMLE Step II must be submitted for initial appointment as a resident or clinical fellow (or for reappointment, if not previously provided). Documentation of successful completion of USMLE Step III is required for appointment (or reappointment) at the PGY 3 level or higher. Documentation of successful completion of USMLE Step III is required for graduation from all Partners residency and fellowship programs. Program Directors/Chiefs, in consultation with the Director or Associate Director of GME, may grant individual exceptions to this policy for one year at a time.
© Copyright Partners HealthCare System, Inc.	Back to Top