Find my path
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International / IMG

Medicine across borders

Medical degree → certification → residency

Your International / IMG pathway

International medicine & IMG transitions

An international medical degree such as an MBBS can lead toward physician practice, but crossing borders requires additional checks. US and Canadian certification, residency and licensing pathways are different. A directory listing alone does not establish accreditation, certification eligibility or a residency place.

Doctors and a student discussing clinical training
Entry point
Country and destination-specific
Training length
Degree and transition timelines vary
When to apply
Plan before enrolling abroad; certification and residency follow their own cycles.

Your route at a glance

  1. 01

    Verify school and destination eligibility

  2. 02

    Complete medical degree

  3. 03

    Certification and examinations

  4. 04

    Residency application and match

  5. 05

    Training and licensure

Your preparation

  • Before enrolling, verify the school, degree, clinical placements and the licensing destination you intend to pursue.
  • For US eligibility, inspect the World Directory entry and its ECFMG Sponsor Note, including eligible graduation years.
  • Review current certification policies, clinical/communication requirements and exam eligibility.
  • For Canada, check credential verification, provincial IMG eligibility and residency applicant criteria.

Your application

  • US: review current ECFMG certification requirements, USMLE steps and residency application instructions.
  • Canada: review physiciansapply.ca, MCC examination requirements and the relevant CaRMS stream.
  • Investigate immigration status and program-specific visa sponsorship; do not assume all residencies sponsor J-1 or H-1B visas.

Your training & progression

  • Complete required credential verification, examinations and certification for the destination.
  • Apply to eligible residency positions; certification does not guarantee a match.
  • Complete postgraduate training and the jurisdiction's licensing requirements.

What to weigh before you commit

  • WDOMS listing is not itself accreditation or endorsement.
  • Requirements and eligibility can change by application year and graduation year.
  • Budget for examinations, verification, travel, applications and the possibility of unmatched cycles.
  • Get qualified immigration advice for your own circumstances.

Thinking about a Caribbean school?

US MD, US DO and Caribbean MD side by side: who enrols, 2026 Match rates, ECFMG certification and what to check before you choose a school.

MD, DO or Caribbean MD

Can you apply?

Citizenship and residency decide which US and Canadian schools will read your application. Check your status before you pay any fees.

Citizenship and eligibility checker

From the knowledge base

Your next three steps

  1. 1.Check the exact school entry and sponsor notes.
  2. 2.Create separate US and Canada eligibility checklists.
  3. 3.Confirm current certification and residency rules before making a financial commitment.
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