Exam after Completing MBBS Abroad
Studying MBBS abroad offers many advantageous prospects due to the intricate and comprehensive medical curricula offered by renowned universities. However, it is important to note that every country has its own specific criteria for evaluating and regulating the quality of healthcare services, particularly with regards to doctors. Consequently, medical graduates, particularly those who have obtained their degrees from foreign institutions, often encounter certain requirements and scrutiny when pursuing further medical education or boarding on a career in the field.
Appear for Medical Licensing Examinations
Medical licensing exams are tests that new doctors need to take in different countries like India, USA, and Canada. These exams are important because they decide if these new doctors can work as doctors in that country or continue their studies. The main aim of these exams is to see if these new doctors know enough and have the right skills to fit into the healthcare system of that country. Many well-known medical exams like this exist around the world, giving new doctors good chances to have a successful career in healthcare.
India- FMGE/ National Exit Test (NExT)
In order to pursue a medical career in India, medical graduates are required to pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE).
This examination is conducted twice a year, in June and December, by the National Board of Examination (NBE).
The results of the exam and further procedures are administered by the National Medical Commission (NMC), previously known as the Medical Council of India (MCI).
The FMGE is specifically designed for students who have completed their MBBS outside of India and aims to objectively assess their learning.
Starting from 2023, the FMGE exam is expected to be replaced by the National Exit Test (NExT). The NExT will still serve as a licensing examination but will feature a revised exam pattern and schedule. It will be mandatory for all medical graduates in India, regardless of whether they studied in India or abroad.
To be eligible for the FMGE/NExT, students must have completed their medical education from a university recognized by the NMC/MCI.
United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
In the United States, the governance structure follows a federal system, meaning that each state has its own set of rules and regulations, including those related to healthcare. Consequently, the accreditation process for doctors varies from state to state.
As a result, each state has established its own medical licensing authority with specific requirements, including passing an examination to demonstrate qualification for medical licensure.
Since 1992, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has been widely adopted as an evaluation system for individuals seeking an initial license to practice medicine in the country.
This licensing exam is administered by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).
The final results of the USMLE are shared with the relevant licensing authorities and are utilized to grant the initial license for medical practice to qualified doctors.
Eligibility Criteria of USMLE
There are three steps involved in the medical licensing process for individuals in the United States and Canada.
Step 1 and Step 2:
For students or graduates of medical programs in the United States or Canada that are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), they are eligible to take Step 1 and Step 2 of the licensing exams.
Step 3:
Individuals who have successfully completed Step 1 and Step 2, whether they are graduates or current students of medical schools outside the United States and Canada, and are eligible for examination by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), can proceed to take Step 3.
In summary, Step 1 and Step 2 are for US or Canadian medical students or graduates, while Step 3 is open to ECFMG-certified graduates or medical students from outside the United States and Canada.
USMLE also known as US residency exam: The Exam consists 3 Steps
- Step-1: Basic Sciences
- Step-2: Clinical CK and CS
- Step-3: Patients managements skills
Australia – AMC -MCQ Exam
After completing the MBBS abroad, if anyone seeking to practice in Australia must apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and clear the assessment test.
All the students who want to practice in Australia should first apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to arrange an appropriate assessment pathway. The AMC is going to organize the AMC MCQ Exam and AMC clinical Exam for assessment.
Students who have obtained recognized degree from the AMC approved institution are eligible to take the AMC MCQ and AMC Clinical exam.
The AMC MCQ test consists of 150 multiple choice questions through a computer scoring system.
Candidates qualifying the AMC MCQ test must have to appear for the AMC Clinical exam. Candidates must pass 12 out of 16 cases. It is compulsory to choose any one of the Gynae and pediatrics for the clinical exam.
After successfully completing the required examinations and obtaining certification from the Australian Medical Council (AMC), candidates are eligible to apply for Australian Specialty Training Positions.
Australia has initiated a nationwide registration process for all doctors, overseen by the Medical Board of Australia. This process ensures standardized registration and regulation of medical practitioners across the country.
Medical Council of Canada (MCC) – LMCC QE Exam
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) is responsible for evaluating medical candidates, conducting examinations, and granting the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) qualification to those seeking to practice medicine in Canada.
One such exam is the MCCQE Part I, which assesses a candidate’s medical knowledge and clinical decision-making skills at a level expected of a Canadian medical student nearing the completion of their degree. This examination is based on the MCC Objectives, which are organized according to the Can MEDS roles. Successful completion of the MCCQE Part I typically leads to supervised medical practice.
The MCCQE Part I is a one-day, computer-based exam. The morning session allows up to four hours to answer 210 Multiple-Choice Questions, while the afternoon session provides up to three and a half hours for the Clinical Decision-Making component.
The latter includes 38 cases with short-menu and short-answer write-in questions.
The exam’s assessment blueprint focuses on two main categories: Dimensions of care, encompassing the entire spectrum of medical care, and Physician activities, which reflect the scope of practice and professional behaviors expected of physicians.
United Kingdom- GMC PLAB EXAM
The General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK is responsible for licensing doctors and regulating their practice. There are currently two types of basic registration, namely “provisional registration” and “full registration,” along with two types of specialty registration, known as “specialist registration” and “GP registration.” Since November 2009, the GMC has introduced the “license to practice,” which is a legal requirement for doctors to practice medicine in the UK. Therefore, all doctors must be registered and hold a valid license to practice.
The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test is one of the ways in which international medical graduates can demonstrate to the GMC that they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to practice medicine in the UK. The PLAB test assesses an individual’s ability to work safely as a senior house officer in a UK hospital within the National Health Service (NHS).
To be eligible for the PLAB test, candidates must have a primary medical qualification (PMQ) for limited registration, and their universities must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools published by the World Health Organization.
Moreover, they must achieve a minimum score of 7 overall and in the speaking section, and a score of 6 in each of the other sections in the IELTS test (academic module).
