Licensure information for international medical graduates

1 Min Read

Every medical graduate must apply for a license in the state(s) in which they intend to practice. Generally, medical graduates must complete 1–3 years of residency or years of practice outside of the United States or Canada before applying for a license. 

Students save with AMA membership

  • Exclusive education programs & key study aids like AMBOSS.
  • Access to JAMA Network™, ClassPass gym discounts & more!

Supporting you today as a medical student. Protecting your future as a physician.

While licensure requirements for domestic and international medical graduates differ between the states, all states require proof of education, training and licensure exam completion.

Physicians looking to relocate should contact the licensing board of the state they are moving to and ask for a copy of its current licensing requirements and the time it takes to process a licensure application.

This will provide the physician with a time frame of when to consider closing an existing practice and help planning a move.

Latest on state medical licensure requirements

Review state medical licensure requirements and statistics to find the most current information on medical licensure requirements and statistics in the United States.

FEATURED STORIES

Physician looking out a window

Physicians in these 10 specialties are less likely to quit

| 6 Min Read
Perturbed patient holds up hands during an appointment

Only 1 in 3 doctors trusts insurers’ prior authorization promises

| 6 Min Read
Senior man looks off into the distance

As population ages, need for practicing geriatricians grows more acute

| 5 Min Read
Jason Mitchell, MD, featured on "Health vs. Hype" AMA podcast (episode 3)

9 things patients should know about taking creatine

| 5 Min Read